The 78th annual Tony nominations were announced on Thursday, May 1, 2025, recognizing an impressive lineup of plays and musicals from the past Broadway season. Leading the pack are three productions: Death Becomes Her, a campy comedy about frenemies on a quest to stay youthful; Maybe Happy Ending, a touching tale of two robots in love; and Buena Vista Social Club, a celebration of celebrated Cuban musicians, each garnering a remarkable ten nominations.
Close behind, with seven nominations each, are John Proctor Is the Villain, a modern feminist retelling of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, and The Hills of California, a poignant portrait of a musical family grappling with grief. These two plays will compete for Best Play alongside Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ family drama Purpose, Cole Escola’s quirky comedy Oh, Mary!, and Sanaz Toossi’s dramedy English.
The nominations were unveiled by Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce on CBS Mornings, generating excitement for the upcoming ceremony scheduled for June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall. This year, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will host the event, which will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
Audra McDonald made history with her 11th nomination for her role as the ultimate stage mom in Gypsy, solidifying her status as the most nominated performer in Tony Awards history. She faces tough competition from Nicole Scherzinger, who portrays Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd, as well as Death Becomes Her stars Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, and Jasmine Amy Rogers from Boop! The Musical.
Among the acting nominees, George Clooney received his first nod for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck, while Sarah Snook was recognized for her performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Other notable nominees include Sadie Sink for John Proctor Is the Villain and Bob Odenkirk for Glengarry Glen Ross.
This year’s nominations reflect a vibrant Broadway season, with 21 musicals and 21 plays eligible, all of which premiered between April 26, 2024, and April 27, 2025. This marks an increase in eligible productions compared to the previous seasons, where 37 and 38 shows were noted.
The nominees for Best Musical include:
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Dead Outlaw
- Death Becomes Her
- Maybe Happy Ending
- Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
For Best Play, the nominees are:
- English
- The Hills of California
- John Proctor Is the Villain
- Oh, Mary!
- Purpose
In the Best Revival of a Musical category, contenders include:
- Floyd Collins
- Gypsy
- Pirates! The Penzance Musical
- Sunset Blvd.
For Best Revival of a Play, the nominees are:
- Eureka Day
- Romeo + Juliet
- Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
- Yellow Face
In the acting categories, nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical include:
- Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
- Audra McDonald, Gypsy
- Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical
- Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
- Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
For Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, the nominees are:
- Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
- Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
- Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd.
- Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
- James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
- Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
In the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category, nominees include:
- Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
- Mia Farrow, The Roommate
- LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
- Sadie Sink, John Proctor Is the Villain
- Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
For Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, the nominees are:
- George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
- Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
- Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
- Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
- Harry Lennix, Purpose
- Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
As the anticipation builds for the 78th Tony Awards, the Broadway community celebrates the achievements of this vibrant season, showcasing the diverse storytelling and talent that define the Great White Way.
