2025 Tony Awards: Top Nominees and Surprises Revealed
The 2025 Tony Award nominees, including Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending, plus surprises like George Clooney nod.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards nominations, announced on May 1, 2025, lit up Broadway with a vibrant mix of new musicals, bold plays, and star-studded performances. Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce shared the news live from Sofitel New York, with select categories revealed on CBS Mornings and the full list streamed on the Tony Awards YouTube channel. This year, 42 productions, including 21 musicals and 21 plays, competed for the coveted honors, showcasing a season packed with creativity and celebrity power.
Leading Nominees Steal the Spotlight
Three musicals tied for the most nominations, each earning 10 nods: Buena Vista Social Club, a lively celebration of Cuban musicians; Death Becomes Her, a campy comedy about rival friends chasing youth; and Maybe Happy Ending, a heartfelt story of two robots finding love. These shows dominated categories like Best Musical, setting the stage for a fierce competition at the June 8 ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.
Plays Making Waves
Among plays, John Proctor Is the Villain, a feminist reimagining of The Crucible, and The Hills of California, a poignant tale of a musical family dealing with loss, led with seven nominations each. Their fresh takes on timeless themes resonated with voters, earning spots in Best Play and multiple acting categories.
Star Power Shines Bright
Hollywood heavyweights brought extra buzz to the nominations. George Clooney earned a nod for his role in Good Night, and Good Luck, while Sadie Sink and Sarah Snook also scored nominations for their Broadway turns. Nicole Scherzinger, making her Broadway debut as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, nabbed a Best Leading Actress in a Musical nomination, facing off against Audra McDonald, who made history with her 11th nomination for Gypsy, the most for any performer ever.
Surprises and Snubs
Not every big name made the cut. Denzel Washington absence from the nominee list shocked many, given his acclaimed stage presence. Meanwhile, Cole Escola nonbinary performance in Oh, Mary! earned a Best Actor in a Play nod, marking a historic moment as they vie to become the third openly nonbinary Tony winner. The inclusion of lesser-known shows like Dead Outlaw, with seven nominations, also raised eyebrows, proving smaller productions can hold their own.
What to Expect at the Tony Awards
The 2025 Tony Awards promise a night of glitz, with Cynthia Erivo hosting and performances expected from top-nominated shows. CBS will broadcast the event live, with streaming on Paramount+ for U.S. viewers. As Tony voters finalize their picks over the next five weeks, the race for Best Musical and acting honors remains wide open, with Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending as frontrunners.
Special awards will also highlight the night, including a Lifetime Achievement Tony for Harvey Fierstein and the Isabelle Stevenson Tony for Celia Keenan-Bolger advocacy work. With a season this competitive, the June 8 ceremony is sure to deliver unforgettable moments.
