2025 Tony Awards: Nominees, Predictions, Snubs, & Performances
2025 Tony Awards Nominees, Predictions, Snubs & Performances
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were breaking down the 2025 Tony Award performance and show nomineeswhos leading the race, who got snubbed, and which show-stopping numbers were hoping take the stage!
Before we get into any nominees, we have to saywed cover every category if we could. We all know that even the best performances wouldnt be complete without the writers, composers, and designers making the magic happen. But if we tried to shout out everyone, wed still be listing names by the next five Tony Awards. So for now, were spotlighting the performance and show nominationsand sending a big, well-deserved standing ovation to the backstage heroes who bring it all together.
Okay, cue the curtain: This seasons lineup is anything but quietnew plays like The Hills of California, John Proctor Is the Villain, and Oh, Mary! made waves, while musicals from Operation Mincemeat to Death Becomes Her to Maybe Happy Ending kept things gloriously offbeat. Meanwhile revivals like Our Town, Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard reminded us that old stories still have plenty to say.
Weve also got George Clooney making his stage debut in Good Night, and Good Luck, Sadie Sink stepping out of Hawkins and into high school scandal, and Nicole Scherzinger channeling full-blown Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Not to mention Audra McDonald proving there is practically no role she cant play!
Its been a season of big risks, bold choices, and more than a few standing ovations. So, with the house lights down and the buzz still in the air, lets take a look at what made this year unforgettable
Predictions & Snubs
Best Musical is a true toss-up. Two shows seem to have the edge: Maybe Happy Ending, with Darren Criss quietly devastating lovesick robot, and Dead Outlaw, inspired by the tales of Elmer McCurdy. Both are original, affecting, and backed by standout leads likely headed for a good night at the Tonys. However, when it comes to most nominations its a three way tie between Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending with 10 noms each.
Death Becomes Her could sneak in on sheer star powerMegan Hilty and Jennifer Simard go big, bold, and brilliantly bizarre. Operation Mincemeat brings Olivier buzz and a shape-shifting performance from Jak Malone. Buena Vista Social Club might charm its way in thanks to Natalie Venetia Belcons soulful turn. We are, however, a little surprised that Old Friends didnt get more fanfare, especially with a star-studded cast featuring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga.
Perhaps thats because Best Actress in a Musical is already stacked this year. Audra McDonald in Gypsy feels unstoppableher Rose is simply a sight to behold. Megan Hilty delivers a hilariously unhinged turn in Death Becomes Her, and Nicole Scherzingers haunting Sunset Boulevard performance is a serious contender. On the flip side, Hiltys co-star, Michelle Williams, was seemingly ghosted. Jasmine Amy Rogers in Boop! is the wildcardfresh, fun, and impossible to ignore. The Drama Desk Awards committee certainly seemed to agree. Speaking of Boop!, it looks like shes the frontrunner to beat out shows like Death Becomes Her, Gypsy, and Smash for Best Choreography.
Meanwhile Best Actor in a Musical is shaping up as a showdown between Darren Criss and Andrew Durand. Criss brings heart and thoughtfulness to Maybe Happy Ending, although his co-star Helen J. Shen has been left empty-handed. Meanwhile Durand makes Dead Outlaw unexpectedly moving. Jeremy Jordan (Floyd Collins) offers grit and grace, and Tom Francis (Sunset Boulevard) broods with classic Hollywood cool. His co-star David Thaxton, however, will just have to cling to his Olivier a little tighter. James Monroe Iglehart also earned a spot in this race with his portrayal of Louis Armstrong in A Wonderful World. Criss and Durand still seem to be the ones to beat, but Jonathan Groffs Bobby Darin in Just in Time is closing in.
Over in Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Danny Bursteins Herbie in Gypsy could earn him a second win. Jak Malones versatility in Operation Mincemeat might steal the spotlight. Given its performance at the Oliviers, we wont be surprised if its an all-around strong night for this British show. Jeb Brown brings flair to Dead Outlaw, Taylor Trensch offers emotional depth in Floyd Collins, and Brooks Ashmanskas adds humor and heart to Smash. Really, its anyones game.
As for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Julia Knitels multi-role brilliance in Dead Outlaw makes her a contender, but Joy Woods transformation in Gypsy is tough to beat. Natalie Venetia Belcon brings soul to Buena Vista Social Club, while Justina Machado is a superstar in Real Women Have Curves. Were glad that Machado got some recognition for this musical, which, if you ask us, should have been among the seasons Best New Musicals. Anyway, Woods could take it, but its a tight race.
Now, onto the plays Oh, Mary! is having a bit of a moment. This absurdist First Lady fever dream has already racked up five nominations and feels like a crowd favorite. Its not the most-nominated play of the yearthat honor goes to The Hills of California and John Proctor Is the Villain, each with sevenbut its definitely still in with a strong chance. Purpose is close behind, and while English might not take home the big one, its still very much in the conversation unlike JOB which was surprisingly snubbed.
In acting races, Purpose star Jon Michael Hill has everyone talking. His turn as Nazareth Naz Jasper is heartfelt and grounded. Hes up against serious competition: Louis McCartney (Stranger Things: The First Shadow), Daniel Dae Kim (Yellow Face), Cole Escola (Oh, Mary) and Gabriel Ebert (John Proctor Is the Villain).
We also wouldnt count out George Clooney, whose Broadway debut shattered box office records and came with some glowing reviews. Star power and critical praise are a tough combo to beat. Not that it helped the star-studded cast of Our Town, led by Jim Parsons, or The Last Five Years, starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren. That being said, there was also nothing for Kieran Culkins performance in Glengarry Glen Ross, which took him out of the running for making history as the actor to score the triple crown of acting in the shortest amount of time, meaning an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony in a year and a half, a record currently held by British actor Paul Scofield. Although Culkins co-star Bob Odenkirk did get a nom.
On the Best Actress side, LaTanya Richardson Jackson shines in Purpose, drawing both crowds and critical praise. Sarah Snook offers something edgy and captivating in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Laura Donnelly delivers in The Hills of California and Mia Farrow is compelling in The Roommate. Sadie Sink continues to receive rave reviews in John Proctor, so shes certainly in with a chance. Hey, Stranger Things have happened! Like Idina Menzel and her musical Redwood getting chopped from Tony consideration.
Revivals have been pulling at our nostalgia all season, too. In plays, Yellow Face and Glengarry Glen Ross are contenders, but if the reviews are anything to go by Eureka Day might edge ahead. Othello, despite starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, missed out entirelylikely due to a lukewarm reception. Romeo + Juliet did score a nod. That said, despite its bold reimagining, we wouldnt be surprised if theyre left asking, Wherefore. We know were definitely asking that question about the absence of its stars from the nominees list.
Musical revivals have also been strong. Voters faced a tough call between Floyd Collins, Gypsy, Sunset Boulevard, and Pirates! The Penzance Musical. Although David Hyde Pierce, Ramin Karimloo, and Jinkx Monsoon were all left to walk the plank! And lets not even talk about Once Upon a Mattress getting snubbedseriously, not even one nomination? But with Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard neck and neck, its anyones guess. It does seem that its either Roses Turn or Norma Desmond is finally ready for her close-up. Although. could Jasmine Amy Rogers surprisingly Boop! her way to the top?
Performances
This seasons musical lineup is unusually strongnew shows, big revivals, and more than a few worthy productions that didnt make the cut. Honestly, theres enough material for a second ceremony. But traditionally, the Tonys spotlight performances from the Best Musical and Best Revival nominees, so were likely in for Maybe Happy Ending and perhaps one of its moving love songs and Operation Mincemeat possibly marching in with Born to Lead, as it did at the Oliviers. A few medleys wouldnt go amissDead Outlaw, Floyd Collins, and Buena Vista Social Club all have great material to pull from. If Pirates! is on the bill, heres hoping for a very Modern Major-General. Wed put money on With One Look from Sunset Boulevard and fully expect Audra McDonald to bring the house down with Roses Turn. And with Cynthia Erivo as host, were expecting shell have some Wicked performances up her sleeve too.
What are your Tony predictions and which snubs surprised you the most?Let us know in the comments
