The 78th Annual Tony Award Nominations for 2025 — Page 7

ElephantLoveMedley said: "I might get crucified for asking this, but are we all really so confident that Maybe Happy Ending is the heavy frontrunner for Best Musical? Death Becomes Her and Buena Vista got the same number of nominations as MHE. Death Becomes Her also edged out Shen in Best Actress to get both of their leads nominated. Buena Vista even got a Special Tony. I honestlythink Best Musical is much more competitivethan some on here believe."

For a lot of the musical categories, they basically just copy and pasted. However, only two of the Best Musical nominees got Orchestrations and I’d say MHE has more WOM and industry support than BVSC. Also, I think MHE getting in for costumes was one of the bigger surprise nominations as many experts had them missing there. Despite the precursors, several editors/journalists still had both Hilty and Simard in so that seems like less of a shock to me. It def seems like MHE vs. Dead Outlaw vs. Death Becomes Her with BVSC just behind. MHE has the edge right now though.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 01:29 PM

Had Ms Shen been nominated (and as many have said, she deserves to have been), Maybe Happy Ending could have bragged “The most Tony nominations of 2025”. That would have been a beautiful accomplishment for the show.

Some wonderful surprises. For me, Julia Knitel, whose lovely, complex work I saw only yesterday, and Taylor Trensch, who is remarkable in the most difficult supporting role in Floyd. Oh, and Jessica Hecht, maybe more expected, who defined the nuanced brilliance of Eureka Day. If you read the play, Hecht's character on the page is almost insufferably smug. Hecht's take was simply to strip away the sociopolitical archness and find the human being; in the process, the whole narrative turned - the LOL play deepening profoundly - when she exposed her origin story.

Minor quibble, but after looking at the list for a bit longer, I’m surprised DEAD OUTLAW didn’t manage an Orchestrations nom. That band is killing it. No pun intended.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 01:43 PM

Sutton Ross said: "Sutton Ross said: "And typically I'd feel terrible for Jason Robert Brown always getting screwed. Not this year, he did that sh*t to himself."

Truly baffles me he allowedthisto be that show's Broadway debut.

This is the man who gave us Parade. This is the man who wrote the music and lyrics to Bridges of Madison County, some of the most gorgeous orchestrations I have ever heard in my life. It's insane to me that he brought such below average garbage with horrendous direction intentionally. The Last Five Years has been around for so long, it's done all over the world, theater nerds are so in love with it. It deserved an incredible Broadway debut."

Yes. Along with some of the Kenny Leon directed shows, Whitney White's direction wins a theater Razzie nom. for the worst musical direction of the season. Her direction was almost good on Liberation (the show and the cast saved her lack of specificity and, again, creativity). Last Five Year's direction was lacking creativity, uninspired, disjointed etc. The casting of Nick Jonas didn't help.

djoko84 said: "Helen J Shen is the biggest snub of the day especially since MHE is going to win Best Musical and a lot of other awards."

Eh, her competition was better (including the not nominated Robyn Hurder). For a robot, of any version, she played the role like a human and didn't have much wattage. Not surprised by this at all.

MHE doesn't have Best Musical wrapped up in any way now. Maybe last Fall or mid winter. But spring has changed the game.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 01:52 PM

CoffeeBreak said: "Eh, her competition was better (including the not nominated Robyn Hurder). For a robot, of any version, she played the role like a human and didn't have much wattage. Not surprised by this at all."

Finally someone said it. Her work is not the same caliber as the 5 nominated actresses. Nicole and Audra are on the different level entirely from the rest. Nobody should have hard feelings.

CoffeeBreak said: "djoko84 said: "Helen J Shen is the biggest snub of the day especially since MHE is going to win Best Musical and a lot of other awards."

Eh, her competition was better (including the not nominated Robyn Hurder). For a robot, of any version, she played the role like a human and didn't have much wattage. Not surprised by this at all.

MHE doesn't have Best Musical wrapped up in any way now. Maybe last Fall or mid winter. But spring has changed the game."

Last fall? MHE was hanging on for dear life in the fall. Also, I don’t think Dead Outlaw or BVSC has snuck up on anyone so I don’t think the race has changed much. That being said, I am still nervous as a MHE fan. Very nervous. I always end up broken hearted on TONY Sunday it seems. Fingers crossed and happy for everyone nominated!

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 01:59 PM

djoko84 said: "Does anyone think the producers should've petitioned Shen as featured actress? I think she would've definitely been nominated. Not sure about a win, but definitely a nomination."



There's no way in hell the Administration Committee would have considered her as Featured.

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "I also think the narrativebehind MHE helps its odds.It’s an entirely original musical that debuted on Broadway. It weathered the storm of dismalinitial sales and survived the doldrums of winterto become a hit with both critics and audiences. It truly is the “little show that could.”


It's no longer the "little show that could". That's DEAD OUTLAW with it's trajectory making its way upward monetarily and in word of mouth. Also MHE in NO WAY debuted on Broadway. It debuted in Seoul directed Kim Dong-yeon at Lifeway Hall. It had multiple Japanese performances. These productions were the guiding posts/visual "inspirations" - and visually similar, in many ways, to the Broadway production. A film was also made prior to the Broadway production. The Arden directed production happened after all of these productions AND his first at the Alliance in Atlanta - all before Broadway.

DEAD OUTLAW has had only one production, premiering off-Broadway a year ago, 2024 with original musical, book and cast all transferring to Broadway. The show has had only one single director, David Cromer and no other productions to draw from. It's the most original and now the little show that could.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 02:06 PM

Sad they just can't bend its rules and add more nominations to a categories when it's needed. This has been a season full of great shows. Adding a few more nominations here and there couldn't have hurt.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 02:12 PM