NEW YORK – Broadway’s newest musical offerings ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ emerged as frontrunners for this year’s Tony Awards, each earning 12 nominations, while the revival of ‘Ragtime’ followed closely with 11 nods.
The announcement came Tuesday from presenters Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss, setting the stage for the June 7 ceremony that will celebrate a Broadway season characterized by innovative new works and high-profile revivals that drew enthusiastic audiences back to theaters.
Both leading musicals garnered recognition across multiple major categories including best musical, performance awards, and design honors, demonstrating widespread approval from Tony nominators. Meanwhile, ‘Ragtime’ proved its continued relevance with acknowledgments for its powerful musical score and exceptional cast performances.
This Broadway season has witnessed an unprecedented influx of celebrity talent, with stars like Adrien Brody, Tessa Thompson, and Patrick Ball making their stage debuts. High-profile figures including Kim Kardashian and Barack Obama also stepped into producing roles for shows like ‘The Fear of 13’ and ‘Proof,’ though these productions didn’t receive nominations.
Joshua Henry earned a best actor nomination for his portrayal of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in ‘Ragtime,’ marking one of the season’s most celebrated performances. His recognition comes after a standout moment performing Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ at Monday night’s Met Gala opening, featuring choreography by ‘Ragtime’s’ nominated choreographer Ellenore Scott.
Caissie Levy, Henry’s co-star who received her first nomination two decades after debuting in ‘Hairspray,’ shared her excitement with Reuters: ‘It gives me a huge amount of satisfaction and joy in being recognized by my community at this point in my life for this role and in this show that is so resonant right now in the world we’re living in.’
Nicholas Christopher made history as Bermuda’s first Tony nominee for his powerful performance as Anatoly in ‘Chess,’ overshadowing his more famous castmates Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit, who were overlooked. Fellow ‘Chess’ performer Hannah Cruz also received recognition for best featured actress.
‘Audiences are really responding to this show in a beautiful way,’ Christopher told Reuters. ‘The music is the hook that grabs people and then I think they’re a little bit surprised at how emotionally attached they get to these flawed human beings, and they’re rooting for everybody.’
Mark Strong received a nomination for his title role in the reimagined ‘Oedipus,’ which collected seven total nominations. Strong believes the production resonates due to its timeless themes. ‘The fact that we’re still telling that story, but to be able to update it to a modern idiom, and to a political idiom, as well as all of the family stuff that happens in the story, makes it so immediate for a modern audience,’ he explained.
Veteran performer Kelli O’Hara, earning her ninth nomination for ‘Fallen Angels’ alongside nominated co-star Rose Byrne, embraced the physical comedy aspects of her role. ‘It’s not necessarily something I knew about in myself. I’m grateful for the opportunity to try new things at this point in my life,’ she noted.
Despite numerous well-received musical revivals this season, only three secured nominations in that category: ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball,’ ‘Ragtime,’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show.’
Bess Wohl’s ‘Liberation’ earned a best play nomination just one day after claiming the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The Pulitzer committee praised it as ‘a striking blend of comedy and sincerity that explores the legacy of the consciousness-raising feminist groups of the 1970s.’
At 96 years old, June Squibb received a nomination for her Broadway return in ‘Marjorie Prime.’
The Tony Awards ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall with pop star Pink serving as host, broadcast live on CBS. Established in 1947, the Tony Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in Broadway theater.
