Question about Tony eligibility for score this season

[Chesan]

Posted: 2/18/26 at 7:19pm

It seems that only four musicals this season will be eligible for score (Queen of Versailles, Two Strangers, The Lost Boys, and Beaches).  However, plays can also be nominated for this category.  The 2025 Tony rules & regulations (the latest version I could find online) state that if there are at least nine eligible candidates for nomination in any of the 26 established competitive categories, then there shall be five nominees in that category. 

Currently Gold Derby has 12 shows eligible (eight of them are plays) for score.  I don’t suspect all nine plays will qualify and realize that the Tony Committee has not had all of their eligibility meetings so this answer might not be known yet.  That being said - does anybody have any knowledge about which (if any) plays are submitting for this category?  Recent times when scores from plays were nominated were circumstances where no musicals qualified (covid year) or there were enough eligible musicals but the score from a play was so spectacular (Stereophonic) it made it in.  I am wondering if one might sneak in this season purely because nine shows might be eligible? 

Updated On: 2/18/26 at 07:19 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/18/26 at 7:33pm

I don't think there's any minimum amount of score needed to qualify, right? If a play has an original score, it will be a contender. I would assume 5 nominees unless we hear otherwise.

(once again, woof, what a weird season)

[kdogg36]

Posted: 2/19/26 at 11:28am

Chesan said: "Recent times when scores from plays were nominated were circumstances where no musicals qualified (covid year)"

Just as a small point of information, I think Lightning Thief was eligible that season, but wasn't nominated.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 2/20/26 at 1:55am

Waiting for Godot mentioned they'd be releasing an album so I assume they'd be considered.  fwiw there have been plays nominated alongside musicals for score before--Adam Guettel was nominated for To Kill a Mockingbird the year that Hadestown won, alongside a total of 6 score nominees.