2025 Tony Award Nominations: Best Musical, Leading Actress, and Play Contenders

Top Contenders for Best Musical

• 🏆 "Maybe Happy Ending" is a sentimental romance about two robots falling in love, considered a strong frontrunner.
• 🎭 "Dead Outlaw", a dark and spiky comedic musical about a corpse, is another clear favorite, particularly among critics.
• 🎶 "Buena Vista Social Club", "Death Becomes Her", and "Maybe Happy Ending" are tied with 10 nominations each, all vying for the Best Musical award.
• 🌟 Other musicals nominated for Best Musical include "Dead Outlaw" and "Operation Minsme".

Leading Actress in a Musical Race

• 🎤 Audrey McDonald has broken Tony history with 11 nominations for her role in "Gypsy", making her the most nominated performer ever.
• 🌟 Her main competition is Nicole Scherzinger for her career-boosting performance in "Sunset Boulevard".
• 🎭 Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty from "Death Becomes Her" are strong contenders, as is newcomer Jasmine Amy Rogers in "BOP".

Play Nominations and Surprises

• 🎬 "John Proctor is the Villain" and "The Hills of California" lead nominations for plays with seven each.
• 💥 "John Proctor is the Villain" is noted for its energetic, youthful cast and pop music, attracting younger audiences.
• 😂 "Oh, Mary!", a hit absurdist comedy, is a crowd-pleaser that might surprise voters despite its unserious nature.
• 🧐 "Purpose", a thoughtful family drama with a strong cast, is also expected to resonate with voters.

Notable Snubs and Underdogs

• ❌ High-profile actors like Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Kieran Culkin were surprisingly not nominated for their roles in shows like "Glengary, Glenn Ross".
• 🌟 "Athello" also did not receive any nominations.
• 🇬🇧 "Operation Minsme" is highlighted as an underdog with a cult following, with interest in whether its UK success will translate to a Tony win.