2025 Tony Award nominees react

Hear from Broadway stars, writers, directors, and more about being nominated for the American theatre's most prestigious honor.

The 2025 Tony Award nominations have been announced! Hear what the performers, creators, and more nominees of this year's most celebrated shows had to say about being up for Broadway's highest honors ahead of the Tony Awards ceremony on June 8.

Get tickets to Tony Award-nominated shows on New York Theatre Guide.

Buena Vista Social Club (10 Tony nominations)

Natalie Venetia Belcon (Best Featured Actress in a Musical): “I didn't get into this business for [the awards], but now that this is a thing, it's beyond words.” (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

Marco Ramirez (Best Book of a Musical): “I’m honored to receive this recognition. I’m grateful to a creative team and an audience that took a giant leap of faith with us as we created a new kind of musical. For me, this whole experience has been about honoring musicians, the artists who fill our lives not just with music - but with meaning.”

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Death Becomes Her (10 Tony nominations)

Jennifer Simard (Best Actress in a Musical): “My mother was my softball coach and instilled in me the meaning of teamwork. We at Death Becomes Her are a team and I am so grateful for every single player who makes me better.”

Christopher Gattelli (Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography): “I was so excited and proud of our show, but had my phone on alerts because I was anxious. Then I heard a few 'bings' and saw the news about Best Musical and Megan and Jen’s nominations and was already proud. Then my agent Joe Machota called me from London and we listened together. Was a special moment to hear him tell me about my nominations that I won’t forget. As my first outing on Broadway as a director, I’m humbled, grateful, and filled with so much pride for our entire show and the recognition across the board.”

Marco Pennette (Best Book of a Musical): “Since I’m on the west coast, I heard about the nomination at 6 am. It was honestly the second most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced in bed.”

Julia Mattison and Noel Carey (Best Original Score): “As a couple of Bay Area kids who grew up watching the Tonys and dreaming of one day getting to be a part of it all, we are completely overwhelmed and deeply touched by this honor. We are so proud of our wild and joyful show, and of every single person who’s been a part of bringing Death Becomes Her to life.”

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Dead Outlaw (7 Tony nominations)

Andrew Durand (Best Actor in a Musical): "I had only been awake for like five minutes. I woke up right at 8:30 and I was like, "Oh my gosh, it's on. I've got to go turn it on." Now it's the processing. My phone has never blown up so much, and I haven't even had my coffee, but I don't think I will need it today. I'm so thrilled. I'm so excited. I've been doing this for a long time, and it feels so cool to finally have made it to this moment in my career. And I'm so happy that it is with this show and with this company of people." (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

Jeb Brown (Best Featured Actor in a Musical): "I made my Broadway debut 50 years ago this year, and I've watched the Tonys every year since I can remember. It was always a family event, and it means the world to me. Of course, there's a little dream that you might somehow be in that room someday, but this is maybe even a little beyond that. And yet, I've got to say, it is very welcome, and the project has just been such a solid process all along, that somehow this makes some kind of perverse sense because there seems to be some magic in the Dead Outlaw experience both for audiences and for the company." (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

Julia Knitel (Best Featured Actress in a Musical): "It's every little theatre kid's dream to get to originate a role on Broadway, and it's every little theatre kid's dream to have a Tony nomination. Grown woman Julia is overwhelmed, and the inner child is absolutely freaking out today. It feels surreal, and it also feels like something I'm so proud of because I'm so proud of the show, and so proud of the team that made it, and so proud of every single person who's had hands on it, and for us to be recognized in so many ways across the board is just as dreamy as I could possibly imagine." (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

David Yazbek (Best Original Score): “The true story of the Dead Outlaw was first shared with me decades ago by someone who remains a close friend. I wrote these songs with my close friend and bandmate Erik and then we constructed this show with my friends and valued collaborators Itamar and Dave Cromer. There is nothing like working with people you look forward to being with on a daily basis. My thrill this morning is seeing these people who I love get the flowers they deserve.”

Erik Della Penna (Best Score): “When I heard about the Tony nominations, I suddenly felt artistically validated. I’ve been pondering this story since David Yazbek told it to me many years ago. Dead Outlaw is a meditation on mortality and American culture. And these nominations corroborate that story.”

Itamar Moses (Best Book of a Musical): “I just feel really grateful that David Yazbek told me the story of Elmer, which had obsessed him and Erik Della Penna for years, so that I could become obsessed with it too, so that we could then draw in larger and larger circles of artists to become obsessed with it as well, until it turned into a musical. This recognition for the show and everyone’s collective effort is just the loveliest cherry on top.”

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Operation Mincemeat (4 Tony nominations)

Jak Malone (Best Featured Actor in a Musical): “I’m so grateful because coming to Broadway was always a lifelong dream. To come here and for it to be all it's cracked up to be, and then to be given this moment, it's too huge to talk about – which I know isn't ideal for an interview.” (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score): "To even be in this season, among the absolute best in this business feels utterly surreal. Huge congratulations to the other nominees, many of whom are our all-time heroes and inspirations. We love comedy, we love theatre, we love this story and telling it. To the city of New York and Broadway itself, we are so humbled by this welcome. Now we must stop screaming, we have a show tonight."

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Sunset Boulevard (7 Tony nominations)

Nicole Scherzinger (Best Actress in a Musical): This has been a remarkable season on Broadway with many truly amazing women shining on stage. I wake up every morning and can't believe I get to be a part of this community. I feel so blessed. Little Nicole always dreamed about doing this and to be recognized with a Tony nomination is a privilege and is deeply thrilling. I’m so grateful. A huge thank you to the Wing and the League for this honor, but especially my champions Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jamie Lloyd. I'm thrilled for everyone at the St. James, including my friend and co-star Tom Francis and our designers Jack Knowles and Adam Fisher and orchestrator David Cullen."

Tom Francis (Best Actor in a Musical): “We put so much work into this show for two years now. It always felt like this was the journey of where we wanted to get. So it’s just so nice that we got here, and that it’s been successful.” (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

Jamie Lloyd (Best Director of a Musical): I’m overwhelmed about the news of our 7 nominations and am honoured to have been nominated for Best Director. Obviously, my first calls were to Nicole, Tom, Andrew, Jack, and Adam to congratulate them as we celebrated with The Jamie Lloyd Company team. It’s hard to believe we have devoted two years of our lives to this production, and I can’t imagine doing any of this without our remarkable company and everyone at the St. James Theatre. SUNSET BLVD. has quite literally changed my life. I want to express my gratitude to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, and to the entire Broadway community, who have welcomed us with open arms. New York is my second home, and this community constantly inspires me — it gives us all 'new ways to dream.'”

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Floyd Collins (6 Tony nominations)

Jeremy Jordan (Best Actor in a Musical): "What an honor and the deepest privilege, not only to be recognized, but given the opportunity to tackle this role of a lifetime. I did not know what to do with myself this morning. Cut to me getting my daughter ready for school and suddenly full-out weeping into her backpack. My wife had to tell her they were "happy tears." If you know me, that just about says it all."

Taylor Trensch (Best Featured Actor in a Musical): "What the heck! A sincere honor to be in a category with people I admire more than stinky old words can express. And, not to brag, but now I’m getting to spend the day listening to Lizzy McAlpine record 'Through the Mountain' for our cast album!"

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Gypsy (5 Tony nominations)

Audra McDonald (Best Actress in a Musical): "I’m so honored to have been nominated for Gypsy alongside Joy Woods, Danny Burstein, and [choreographer] Camille A. Brown," she said in a statement. "As a Black actor, Rose was never a character I thought I would play until my dear friend Gavin Creel planted the idea in my head. It took a long time for the idea to germinate, and I never would’ve been able to get here without the vision of our director George C. Wolfe, and the immense talent of our creative team and cast. I feel so incredibly grateful to share this Gypsy with the world and to be a part of the legacy of one of the most perfect musicals ever written.”

Danny Burstein (Best Featured Actor in a Musical): “I am absolutely thrilled – thrilled for Audra, thrilled for Joy, thrilled for Camille, and the entire company of Gypsy. This whole project has been a labor of love and I’m just so honored to be a part of it.”

Joy Woods (Best Featured Actress in a Musical): “I am overjoyed and over the moon right now. Seeing my name among those women is such a privilege and an honor. These past few years have been a whirlwind, and it makes me so warm to be recognized in this way. Thank you to my team, to George C. Wolfe and Camille A. Brown for trusting me, and to every single person in our building for allowing me to learn from them. What’s for me is for us. I feel so lucky."

Camille A. Brown (Best Choreography): “I am beyond thrilled to receive my fifth Tony nomination for Gypsy! I am honored that George C. Wolfe invited me to contribute to the show’s legacy. Working with George, Audra, and the entire cast to create new choreography for the show was a gift. This was an opportunity for me to show another side of myself, and I’m really happy my work was acknowledged. Thank you to the nominators.”

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Oh, Mary! (5 Tony nominations)

Cole Escola (Best Actor in a Play, Best Play): “I know it's cloying and mawkish to say but I hope you'll forgive me because it's not every day you're nominated for Tony Awards. I'm astonished by how far our play has come. I could actually puke from gratitude. We busted our asses hoping to put on a good show for 8 weeks downtown. And now here we are. On Broadway. Nominated for multiple Tonys. What a gift. It's all thanks to Sam Pinkleton, the design team, the cast, and the crew who have taken this show so seriously and poured their hearts and souls into the creation of it. I am so grateful to them and to the Tony Nominating Committee for recognizing our work.”

Conrad Ricamora (Best Featured Actor in a Play): “Never thought I’d be playing Abraham Lincoln. Never thought our little Off Broadway show would become this massive. Never thought I’d be nominated for a Tony. I guess never say never. So grateful for all the recognition this show has received from The Tony Awards.”

Sam Pinkleton (Best Direction of a Play): “Y O W Z A. I honestly love making theatre so, so much and am honored to share this nomination with the brilliant, exquisite, giant-hearted, and deeply idiotic team of designers, actors, associates, stage managers, technicians, and anyone who does absolutely anything at the Lyceum or, frankly, in the whole of showbusiness. From the first time I read Cole's sublime play to the entirely surreal events of this morning, my journey directing OH, MARY! has been united by one thing: pure, unapologetic joy. This collaboration has affirmed my lifetime belief that making big stupid stuff from the heart is reason to get out of bed in the morning. I'm giddy, I'm grateful, and I'm endlessly proud of every single person who has poured their hearts and brains into making this play.”

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Stranger Things: The First Shadow (5 Tony nominations)

Louis McCartney (Best Actor in a Play): "“I've been with Henry Creel for over two years now. Every day I love the character more and more [...] I've got endless words and no words at all. I keep stumbling over them. I'm so so thankful. I'm honestly so ecstatic. To be in New York celebrating this is absolutely insane." (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

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John Proctor Is the Villain (7 Tony nominations)

Fina Strazza (Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play): "I am still in shock! I have dreamed of the possibility of the American Theater Wing granting me the distinct honor of a Tony nomination since my childhood in the Broadway community. I am so deeply grateful for their recognition of my work and the collective work forged through a crucible of commitment by the inspirationally talented cast, crew, creatives, and producers of John Proctor is the Villain. From Kimberly's brilliant script, Danya's masterful direction, powerful design, to the bewitching performances of my full cast, I am so profoundly humbled that our contributions have resonated enough to realize this dream-making moment. Someone pinch me! Thank you!!"

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The Picture of Dorian Gray (6 Tony nominations)

Sarah Snook (Best Actress in a Play): “I am truly honored and grateful, especially to be nominated alongside my brilliant director, Kip Williams, and the incredible technical and creative team that pours their heart and soul into this show eight times a week. Although this is a one-woman show, it would be impossible without the extraordinary crew and talented collaborators supporting me both on and off stage. I am immensely proud to bring Oscar Wilde’s vision of Dorian Gray to life each night. Congratulations to all my fellow nominees!” (FULL INTERVIEW)

Kip Williams (Best Direction of a Play): "I am so thrilled for the entire Dorian Gray family that our show has been recognized with six Tony Nominations. We are so humbled to receive this honor and to share in it with such a brilliant array of shows from this incredible Broadway season. It’s nearly midnight here in Sydney, but we are celebrating loudly down under, and I can’t wait to be back with Sarah and our incredible Broadway crew next week to share in this special moment together. We are so grateful to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League for this great honor."

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Purpose (6 Tony nominations)

LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Best Leading Actress in a Play): “Being back on Broadway in a play as monumental as Purpose has been an incredible challenge and a true gift. Thank you to our playwright, the once in a generation talent, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins; and to our director, the great Phylicia Rashad. I share this wholeheartedly with the entire company of our show, and especially my exceptional ensemble cast: Harry, Jon, Alana, Glenn and Kara. My cup is overflowing with the most grateful appreciation.”

Harry Lennix (Best Leading Actor in a Play): "It's a chance to get to know this community again after 17 years, I think was the last time I was on Broadway. It's a great welcome back. I guess that doesn't qualify me as an overnight smash, but it's good whenever it comes at this age."

Kara Young (Best Featured Actress in a Play): "LaTanya, Alana, Harry, Jon, and Glenn are anointed storytellers and I am honored share this sacred stage with these giants, as we breathe life into Branden’s delectable, irresistible brilliance of words and world, under Ms. Rashad’s masterful direction. With overwhelming gratitude in purpose, with purpose, on purpose."

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Best Play): "I feel a lot of gratitude - for the nominators, the audiences here and in Chicago whose outpourings of love and support have been beyond what any of us imagined! I share this honor with every single performer on that stage and, of course, [director] Ms. Phylicia Rashad. This play began as an invitation to write for one of the best acting ensembles in the world — Steppenwolf — and, more than anything, I’m overjoyed to see so many members of this production’s company celebrated as well. I’m also so proud to see, for the second year in a row, such a strong showing of plays from a diversity of voices and origins - off-Broadway, downtown, regional theatres, and beyond!"

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BOOP! The Musical (3 Tony nominations)

Jasmine Amy Rogers (Best Leading Actress in a Musical): “When I saw my name, I burst into tears. I didn’t realize, but I’d been holding my breath all morning. I can’t believe it. I’m so proud of myself. It’s not something I allow myself to say often, I’m working on that, but I am so proud. To be nominated alongside such iconic women is the most incredible honor I have ever received! I’m in awe of them. Thank you to Jerry Mitchell and the entire team at BOOP! for believing in me and tricking me into believing in myself. To all the young Black women watching, this is for us!”

Jerry Mitchell (Best Choreography): “This nomination represents a tireless cast of dancers dedicated to sharing a tsunami of JOY with audiences 8 times a week. I am grateful to their FULLOUT dedication to every step, kick, tap and turn. Nothing makes me happier than being in a room creating dance, Broadway dance that makes audiences hearts cheer.”

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Real Women Have Curves (2 Tony nominations)

Justina Machado (Best Featured Actress in a Musical): “This morning, I woke up to the incredible news that I was TONY nominated for Real Women Have Curves. However, I would be remised to not be disappointed it was not recognized for Best Musical. This show is so joyous, and I am so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking musical with such talented and hardworking cast and creatives. We need more stories like this on Broadway! Growing up in Chicago, playing the role of Ana in the play version, then moving to NY, this was my dream: to be on Broadway. Life brought me to LA for TV and film, and then, I was able to be a part of In The Heights on Broadway. This feels like a full circle moment for me as over a decade later, to be back on Broadway and originating a role like Carmen is a dream come true.”

Joy Huerta (Best Original Score): "I’m overflowing with joy! I’ve breathed, eaten, and lived this project for the past five years. I never imagined how deeply I’d fall in love with theater and this beautiful community. And just as I was beginning to process the bittersweetness of having opened on Broadway and having to let it go, this beautiful surprise arrives—placing a crown on this unforgettable chapter of my life."

Benjamin Velez (Best Original Score): "I can’t believe it’s real, I feel BEYOND grateful to have been given the gift of writing this score with my incredible collaborator Joy Huerta. And to everyone who made this show possible, to everyone bringing the house down at the theater every night, what a dream come true for this kid from Miami!!! Thank you to my friends and family for blowing up my phone with love!!! I’m on cloud ten, cloud nine wasn’t high enough!"

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Smash (1 Tony nomination)

Joshua Bergasse (Best Choreography): “I’m really happy that I can represent our show and […] spread the word about how joyous [it] is.” (FULL REACTION INTERVIEW)

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Just in Time (6 Tony nominations)

Jonathan Groff (Best Actor in a Musical): “We are all over the moon about our six Tony nominations for Just in Time! Receiving that love after eight years of developing this project means so much and I am feeling so amped to get to the theatre and celebrate with everyone — Circle in the Square is gonna be lit up tonight!”

Gracie Lawrence (Best Featured Actress in a Musical): “To be totally honest, I’m not usually awake at 9 a.m., given that I usually eat my second dinner at approximately midnight post-show… So my entire system is shocked in, like, 9 different ways right now!" she said in a statement. I’m unbelievably grateful to be nominated for a Tony. I’ve been lucky enough to tour with my band Lawrence for the past decade, but the first place I fell in love with performing was on Broadway when I was in a play at 12 years old that closed quickly. I remember thinking back then, 'Connecting with an audience is the greatest feeling in the world.' To be back now, in my first Broadway musical ever 16 years later, and to have it be this one starring Jonathan Groff, with the most brilliant creative team led by Alex Timbers at the helm, with the most talented castmates, and playing one of the most iconic women in music ever, Connie Francis, is truly a dream come true.”

Check back for information on Just in Time tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Glengarry Glen Ross (1 Tony nomination)

Bob Odenkirk (Best Featured Actor in a Play): “This group of extraordinary actors has inspired me, encouraged me, and gave me the confidence to step onto the stage in such an incredible show in a legendary venue. Kieran's take on Ricky...which is stunning and honest - a Ricky Roma with a youthful, unblinking confidence. Bill Burr is the most powerful Dave Moss you can imagine, and Michael McKean delivers more laughs per second onstage than anyone…as well as buckets of humanity. Donald Webber Jr. has been a powerful, inspirational scene partner, and Howard Overshown is a joy to work with. Lastly, John Pirruccello is the best saddest James Lingk I could imagine, such a hoot to watch every night. Patrick Marber gave us incredible free rein to re-discover this classic play, and constant encouragement that I surely needed. The Broadway experience has been incredibly fun and welcoming, from the crews to the theatre personnel, to the audiences who show up with genuine excitement and encouragement every time. I am thankful to be embraced with such support by the community.”

Check back for information on Glengarry Glen Ross tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

The Hills of California (7 Tony nominations)

Laura Donnelly (Best Actress in a Play): “To bring a play to Broadway is a daunting and magical experience, and I’m so proud of this play and all the people who made it possible. I’m thrilled and extremely grateful to the Tony nominating committee for this recognition.”

English (5 Tony nominations)

Tala Ashe (Best Featured Actress in a Play): "It’s easy to convince yourself that your quiet show about an unthought of corner of the world will be little noticed or little loved. The fact that English has garnered such a passionate response along its journey is a testament to what great art can awaken in people. It’s the honor of my life to have been a part of it - from my Broadway debut to today’s Tony nomination- my unibrowed 12-year-old self is freaking out."

Marjan Neshat (Best Featured Actress in a Play): "In many ways, we assume that a play like English is a big risk. It didn't have a huge star having that be the draw. But we were sold out for a lot of our run, and it does say that people want content they can connect with or that challenges them or moves them. For Broadway to start opening up and taking risks like that will make for a really exciting time to see theatre and experience it and to know that there isn't just one thing on offer."

Yellow Face (3 Tony nominations)

Daniel Dae Kim (Best Actor in a Play): "I am shocked, surprised and deeply honored by this recognition. To receive my first Tony nomination alongside Francis Jue and David Henry Hwang for a role that explores Asian American identity is incredibly special, and learning that I am the first Asian American to be nominated in this category makes it even more meaningful. I couldn’t be prouder of our show and the people I was lucky enough to collaborate with, especially David, Leigh Silverman, our cast and crew, and the Roundabout Theater. At a time when the arts are imperiled, it’s even more important that we remember the value of theater and the power of the artists making it. Thank you to the American Theater Wing for believing that Yellow Face, and my work, is worthy of a place in this cherished community."

Francis Jue (Best Featured Actor in a Play): "David wrote this play 20 years ago, but it feels like it was ripped from the headlines today because he's just that visionary a writer. I'm just flabbergasted and giddy all at the same time."

David Henry Hwang (Best Play): “This morning's nomination is a joyful affirmation of the work director Leigh Silverman and I have done over 20 years, to create and refine Yellow Face into a play which can bring audiences together, to laugh and think about how to move our country forward. Thank you so much to the nominators!”

Eureka Day (2 Tony nominations)

Jonathan Spector (Best Revival of a Play): “I'm so honored to be recognized by the theater community in this way. When this play first opened in Berkeley way back when, I could never have fathomed that it would have such an incredible journey. I'm so grateful to all of the people who supported Eureka Day along the way — from its premiere at Aurora Theater, to its Off Broadway debut with Colt Coeur to Sonia Friedman and the Old Vic bringing it to London, to Lynne Meadow, Manhattan Theatre Club and the remarkable team of artists who brought it life so beautifully on Broadway.”

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical (1 Tony nomination)

James Monroe Iglehart (Best Actor in a Musical): “I am honestly shocked by this but at the same time thoroughly excited. But I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the incredible work from all the people that worked on our production. I would be nothing without the four incredible ladies who played Louis’s wives and the amazing ensemble that made this show shine and the creative team and crew that created this magnificent show about this legendary giant in this industry. I am so happy to be recognized for work that I am so proud of and so glad we got to do this Wonderful show together!”