May 5, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler

Well, the 79th Annual Tony Nominations have just been announced and, as usual, theatre fans all over are reviewing the situation. In a year in which musicals numbered only 6, down from last year’s 16, I can say with some conviction, having seen all the shows this season, that the 4 nominated as Best Musical, The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Titanique, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), are the only 4 that make any kind of sense, which is something you can’t say for the overblown and misguided Queen of Versailles and the wretched Beaches. As it stands now, my prognostication is that Titanique is pretty much in second place for the big prize with the others tied for first. It’s going to make for an interesting race to the finish line.

Out of the 8 productions eligible for Best Play, the 4 chosen are worthy contenders: David Lindsay Abaire’s The Balusters, Mark Rosenblatt’s Giant, Bess Wohl’s Liberation, and Samuel D. Hunter’s Little Bear Ridge Road. Out of the non-nominated, I enjoyed Stephen Adly Guirgis’s take on Dog Day Afternoon, and I admired Lindsey Ferrentino’s Fear of 13 and James Graham’s Punch (I didn’t care much for Jamie Wax’s Call Me Izzy, which began the season last June). Don't think for a minute that both Liberation and Little Bear Ridge Road, which closed prematurely, takes them out of the running. It certainly helps that Liberation won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama yesterday, and there is precedent for shows that have folded by Tony time still taking one home. It last happened four years ago with Stefano Massini’s Lehman Trilogy. Like Best Musical, Best Play will probably remain a mystery right up until the envelope is ripped open.

The inevitable conversation about who was snubbed today is always a bit bogus. A snub means someone was hurtfully or willfully left out. That’s a hard thing to prove and the only time I can recall it happening in such a direct way was when Danny Kaye failed to get nominated way back in 1971 for his return to Broadway after a 29-year absence in the musical Two by Two. He was terrific in it, but after suffering a leg injury and returning to the show in a cast, his clear boredom and unprofessional behavior was so abominable that he was not rewarded by the committee—something he took very badly. The marvelous character actor David Burns was nominated instead of Kaye for Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen, a show that ran two weeks. Burns had died five days before the nominations were announced, resulting in Kaye being bested by a ghost.

That said, as to whether Lea Michele was snubbed, her not making the cut for her performance in Chess is something of a surprise. This revival of the 1988 musical has done excellent business based almost solely on her box office appeal. She easily could have been rewarded with a nomination, but the Tony nominators found five others more rewarding. For the record, I’m in full agreement with who they chose: Sara Chase (Schmigadoon!), Stephanie Hsu (Rocky Horror Show), Caissie Levy (Ragtime), Marla Mindelle (Titanique), and Christiani Pitts (Two Strangers). The question I always ask when someone cries, “SNUB!” is “Who do you think should be removed to make way for your favorite?”

Though a few categories had a killer list of contenders, most did not, especially the musicals. With only 6 original musicals, and 5 revivals, some contenders had no fear of being ignored. What was truly rough were three specific categories which had players jockeying it out for position: Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, and Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. Chock-full of excellent performances, a few had to be cast aside or, as in the case of Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, a tie occurred resulting in a sixth entry. And even with six, there still wasn’t any room for Elliott Levey, who won London’s 2025 Olivier Award in this same category for Giant, or Ben Ahlers, whose ingenious and original take on Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman was a true standout. Among the embarrassment of riches here, a spot was found for Danny Burstein who, with his 9th nomination across three different categories over the span of 20 years, made Tony history as the first male actor to do so. His first came in 2006 for his hilarious Adolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone, and he won in 2020 for Moulin Rouge. By passing Jason Robards’s 8 nominations, he is now in the grand company of fellow nominee Kelli O’Hara, who today received her 9th nomination (Leading Actor in a Play for Fallen Angels), which she achieved across three different categories, same as Burstein. With this honor, she has tied Rosemary Harris and, in addition to Chita Rivera and Julie Harris’s ten nominations, still must bow to Audra McDonald, who last year with Gypsy earned her record-breaking 11th nod. Congrats to Burstein and O’Hara, two of the most genuinely kind theatre people around.

Joining Burstein in Featured Actor are Christopher Abbott, who transcends almost every other actor I’ve seen play Biff in Death of a Salesman; Brandon J. Dirden, the sole nominee from the Waiting for Godot revival, who found an exceptional characterization in his Pozo; Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who is simply mesmerizing in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and Richard Thomas for The Balusters, once again giving a performance of great insight and intelligence. This is only Thomas’s second Tony nomination in a career that began in 1958 when he appeared as one of the Roosevelt children in Sunrise at Campobello when he was six years old. Congrats!

The sixth nominee, and possibly the front runner, is Alden Ehrenreich who knocked it out of the park in Becky Shaw, as a rising money guy you love to hate. Making his Broadway debut at age thirty-five, this young actor has been giving consistently good performances in film and on television for years. On a personal note, he once did his homework with my daughter in my kitchen while she tutored him for a science test. He appeared in many high school plays with my son as well and trust me when I tell you that at age sixteen, he played Andre in Chekhov’s Three Sisters almost better than anyone I’ve seen in my theatregoing lifetime. Let’s hope he has his sights set on more New York theatre over the next few years.

Up for Leading Actor is the preordained John Lithgow, who after seeing him in Giant on the London stage made me believe he would blow away any competition for a third Tony. But here is up against a slew of exceptional performances that are going to give him a run for his money. Nathan Lane, with three Tonys at home on the mantle, received some of the best reviews of his career for Death of a Salesman; Daniel Radcliffe’s beautiful one-person performance in Every Brilliant Thing is all you want it to be; Will Harrison’s Broadway debut as a young Brit in Punch was so pitch-perfect that at intermission I was stunned to find out in his bio that he was born in Ithaca, NY; and rounding out the category, Mark Strong, who gave a stunning performance in the title role of Rober Icke’s updated Oedipus. And I mean, stunning. Factor in that Adrian Brody, who barely leaves the stage in the emotionally exhausting Fear of 13 and John Bernthal, who brought an enraged bluster and exciting stage presence to the role of Sonny in Dog Day Afternoon, had to be left out of the game. This is one crazy category.

Actress in a Featured Role in Play is another heartbreaker. I am excited for Aya Cash, who I adored in Giant both on the West End and on Broadway, and Betsy Aidem was absolutely sublime in Liberation. June Squibb, who turned ninety-six while managing eight a week in Jordan Harrison’s Marjorie Prime, is a national treasure who was just lovely in the part. And what can be said that hasn’t already been said about the steel and grit that Laurie Metcalf has brought to Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman? Well, how about this: she was even better in Little Bear Ridge Road, but in the crowded Lead Actress category, she got left in the cold. Even without that happening, Metcalf will almost assuredly win here.

It’s practically a crime that Linda Emond wasn’t recognized for her sensational performance in Becky Shaw, although her character being gone for a good chunk of the play had to have played a part in her missing out. And what’s up with Kara Young not making this list? The same Kara Young who’s been in this category for the last four years straight—a record—and who won the last two consecutive years? Come on! She was all but certain to repeat, but Young—just like everyone else involved with Proof—got pushed to the side, one of only ten shows to be blanked with zero nominations. Condolences to two members of its producing team, Barack and Michelle Obama.

Finally, I’m happy to state that the fifth nominee for Featured Actress in a Play is the eighty-five-year-old Marylouise Burke for The Balusters. In my review, which posted on April 21st, I wrote: “At the preview I attended, Marylouise Burke was greeted with an ovation at her curtain call that was so euphoric it seemed to take her aback. Let’s hope in two weeks’ time she’s equally stunned by the news of a first time Tony Award nomination for Featured Actress in a Play. Personally, no other nomination would make me happier.”

Sometimes wishes do come true. 😌

Here’s to all the nominees (see below). The Tonys will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday evening June 7th.

Best Musical

“The Lost Boys”
“Schmigadoon!”
“Titaníque”
“Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”

Best Play

“The Balusters”
“Giant”
“Liberation”
“Little Bear Ridge Road”

Revival of a Musical

“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
“Ragtime”
“Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”

Revival of a Play

“Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
“Becky Shaw”
“Every Brilliant Thing”
“Fallen Angels”
“Oedipus”

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Nicholas Christopher, “Chess” 
Luke Evans, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show” 
Joshua Henry, “Ragtime” 
Sam Tutty, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” 
Brandon Uranowitz, “Ragtime” 

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Will Harrison, “Punch”
Nathan Lane, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
John Lithgow, “Giant”
Daniel Radcliffe, “Every Brilliant Thing”
Mark Strong, “Oedipus”

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sara Chase, “Schmigadoon!”
Stephanie Hsu, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”
Caissie Levy, “Ragtime”
Marla Mindelle, “Titaníque”
Christiani Pitts, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Rose Byrne, “Fallen Angels”
Carrie Coon, “Bug”
Susannah Flood, “Liberation”
Lesley Manville, “Oedipus”
Kelli O’Hara, “Fallen Angels”

Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Ali Louis Bourzgui, “The Lost Boys”
André De Shields, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
Bryce Pinkham, “Chess”
Ben Levi Ross, “Ragtime”
Layton Williams, “Titaníque”

Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Christopher Abbott, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
Danny Burstein, “Marjorie Prime”
Brandon J. Dirden, “Waiting for Godot”
Alden Ehrenreich, “Becky Shaw”
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, “August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Richard Thomas, “The Balusters”

Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Shoshana Bean, “The Lost Boys”
Hannah Cruz, “Chess”
Rachel Dratch, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”
Ana Gasteyer, “Schmigadoon!”
Nichelle Lewis, “Ragtime”

Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Betsy Aidem, “Liberation”
Marylouise Burke, “The Balusters”
Aya Cash, “Giant”
Laurie Metcalf, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
June Squibb, “Marjorie Prime”

Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden, “The Lost Boys”
Lear deBessonet, “Ragtime”
Christopher Gattelli, “Schmigadoon!”
Tim Jackson, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”

Direction of a Play

Nicholas Hytner, “Giant”
Robert Icke, “Oedipus”
Kenny Leon, “The Balusters”
Joe Mantello, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
Whitney White, “Liberation”

Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

“Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman” — Music by Caroline Shaw
“August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” — Music by Steve Bargonetti
“The Lost Boys” — Music & Lyrics by The Rescues
“Schmigadoon!” — Music & Lyrics by Cinco Paul
“Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” — Music & Lyrics by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Book of a Musical

“The Lost Boys” — David Hornsby and Chris Hoch
“Schmigadoon!” — Cinco Paul
“Titaníque” — Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue
“Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” — Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Choreography

Christopher Gattelli, “Schmigadoon!”
Ellenore Scott, “Ragtime”
Ani Taj, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”
Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, “The Lost Boys”

Orchestrations

Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, “Schmigadoon!”
Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne “AG” Gonzalez and Gabriel Mann, “The Lost Boys”
Lux Pyramid, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”
Brian Usifer, “Chess”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder and Doug Schadt, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”

Scenic Design in a Musical

dots, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”
Soutra Gilmour, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”
Rachel Hauck, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
Dane Laffrey, “The Lost Boys”
Scott Pask, “Schmigadoon!”

Scenic Design in a Play

Hildegard Bechtler, “Oedipus”
Takeshi Kata, “Bug”
Chloe Lamford, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
David Korins, “Dog Day Afternoon”
David Rockwell, “Fallen Angels”

Costume Design in a Musical

Linda Cho, “Ragtime”
Linda Cho, “Schmigadoon!”
Qween Jean, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
Ryan Park, “The Lost Boys”
David I. Reynoso, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”

Costume Design in a Play

Brenda Abbandandolo, “Dog Day Afternoon”
Qween Jean, “Liberation”
Jeff Mahshie, “Fallen Angels”
Emilio Sosa, “The Balusters”
Paul Tazewell, “August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

Lighting Design in a Musical

Kevin Adams, “Chess”
Jane Cox, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”
Donald Holder, “Schmigadoon!”
Adam Honoré, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
Adam Honoré and Donald Holder, “Ragtime”
Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, “The Lost Boys”

Lighting Design in a Play

Isabella Byrd, “Dog Day Afternoon”
Natasha Chivers, “Oedipus”
Stacey Derosier, “August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Heather Gilbert, “Bug”
Heather Gilbert, “The Fear of 13”
Jack Knowles, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”

Sound Design of a Musical

Kai Harada, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
Kai Harada, “Ragtime”
Adam Fisher, “The Lost Boys”
Brian Ronan, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”
Walter Trarbach, “Schmigadoon!”

Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington, “August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Tom Gibbons, “Oedipus”
Lee Kinney, “The Fear of 13”
Josh Schmidt, “Bug”
Mikaal Sulaiman, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”

Ron Fassler is the author of The Show Goes On: Broadway Hirings, Firings and Replacements. For news and “Theatre Yesterday and Today”columns when they break, please subscribe.