Posted: 4/23/26 at 10:41am
According to Gold Derby's prediction data, this year's Best Actress in a Musical lineup is expected to include Caissie Levy for Ragtime, Christiani Pitts for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Marla Mindelle for Titaníque, Lea Michele for Chess, and Sara Chase for Schmigadoon. All of them would be first-time Tony nominees.
Posted: 4/23/26 at 10:51am
That’s an incredible stat. I had sworn Caissie was nominated for Ghost.
Posted: 4/23/26 at 11:24am
Call_me_jorge said: "That’s an incredible stat. I had sworn Caissie was nominated for Ghost."
Looking at the other nominees that year, I'd wager that the fifth slot came down to a coin toss between her and Laura Osnes, and she unfortunately lost that. And of course Jan Maxwell already had that Tony in her bag until Audra swiped her bag from her
Posted: 4/23/26 at 11:36am
^ I think I was also confused by the shows Tony Awards performance. I knew someone from Ghost was nominated, but tell me why that person wasn’t featured in the show’s performance? The Da'Vine Joy Randolph erasure!
Posted: 4/23/26 at 11:50am
macbeth said: "According to Gold Derby's prediction data, this year's Best Actress in a Musical lineup is expected to include Caissie Levy for Ragtime, Christiani Pitts for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Marla Mindelle for Titaníque, Lea Michele for Chess, and Sara Chase for Schmigadoon. All of them would be first-time Tony nominees."
I recently dived into this very possibility in my latest piece for Gold Derby.
https://www.goldderby.com/theater/2026/best-actress-in-a-musical-all-first-time-tony-nominees/
Updated On: 4/23/26 at 11:50 AM
Posted: 4/23/26 at 11:59am
If I'm correct, the only previous nominee who COULD repeat is Chenoweth. No other former winners or nominees are even eligible--is that right?
Posted: 4/23/26 at 1:00pm
That is correct, but I don't think we will have to worry about that this year.
