Who is winning Featured Actress in a Play ?

[MaxineElliott]

Posted: 4/25/25 at 11:41pm

One of my favorite categories! Haven't seen much discussion of this category yet. 

Some strong contenders:

• Jessica Hecht - Eureka Day
• Bianca Leigh - Oh, Mary!
• Fina Strazza - John Proctor is the Villain
• Amalia Yoo - John Proctor is the Villain
• Kara Young - Purpose
• Alana Arenas - Purpose
• Helena Wilson - The Hills of California
• Leanne Best - The Hills of California
• Molly Osborne - Othello 
• Kimber Elayne Sprawl - Othello
• Tala Ashe - English
• Marjan Neshat -English 
• Mare Winningham - Cult of Love
• Shailene Woodley - Cult of Love
• Ilana Glazer - Good Night, and Good Luck
• Alison Jaye - Stranger Things: The First Shasow 
• Stori Ayers - Home 

What do you think ? 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/25/25 at 11:45pm

Low key I’m giving it to Young yet again 

[qafgenius122]

Posted: 4/25/25 at 11:48pm

My nominee predictions would be:
Jessica Hecht
Kara Young
Mare WInningham
Marjan Neshat
Helena WIlson

My pick would be Jessica Hecht, but would honestly not be upset with any of these 5 winning!
 

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 4/25/25 at 11:51pm

Give Hecht a Tony already!

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 12:01am

My nominee choices (preference not prediction) would be

• Jessica Hecht - Eureka Day
• Fina Strazza - John Proctor is the Villain
• Kara Young - Purpose
• Alana Arenas - Purpose
• Marjan Neshat -English 

And I would be genuinely happy with any of them winning. Even just getting down to five was super hard. There was a lot of terrific work this year.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 12:22am

My nominees: toss up on winner in bold

• Jessica Hecht - Eureka Day
• Bianca Leigh - Oh, Mary!
• Kara Young - Purpose 
• Marjan Neshat -English
• Mare Winningham - Cult of Love
• Fina Strazza - John Proctor is the Villain ***if 6 nominees or replacing Mare Winningham

Updated On: 4/26/25 at 12:22 AM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 12:38am

I feel like Marjan Neshat is more of a lead and Tala Ashe has a “showier” role in English. Honestly these are two of my favorite performances of the season, but they seem almost too subdued to really gain the attention of awards season voters. 
 

also Sadie Sink should be in this category, not a lead, but I guess we’ll see what they decide for her. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 6:48am

Not to throw a wrench in people’s odds, but LaTanya Richardson Jackson is also eligible in this category since nobody in PURPOSE was petitioned as a lead: 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Tonys-Confirm-Eligibility-Status-of-Eight-Broadway-Shows-for-2024-2025-20250410

That said, I think my picks are:

- Jessica Hecht (Eureka Day)

- LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Purpose)

- Kara Young (Purpose)

- Bianca Leigh (Oh, Mary)

- Mare Winningham (Cult of Love)

- Amalia Yoo (John Proctor is the Villain)

This is a tough call, since I think Jackson and Young may cancel each other, and so I think it may go to either Hecht or Leigh, with my edge going to Hecht. (And I say this as Kara Young’s biggest fan)

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 8:07am

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Harry Lennix, and Jon Michael Hill are above the title in the opening night Playbill, so they will be eligible in the leading categories. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 8:26am

I have a feeling Jessica Hecht is taking it this year. She's a beloved fixture in the theater community who got a juicy role and played it to the hilt. The voters will see it as a chance to reward not only her performance but her career. 

As I said in a previous thread, I'd love to see Alena Arenas get a nomination for Purpose. Kara Young has the showier part, but what Arenas achieves in her two big scenes is remarkable.

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 8:39am

I’d expect to see nominated 

Kara Young 

Jessica Hecht

Bianca Leigh 

Then I’d love to see some combination of

Fina Strazza/Amalia Yoo 

Helena Wilson/Ophelia Lovibond/Leanne Best

Tala Ashe/Marjan Neshat (who I’m still semi-surprised wasn’t petitioned for lead)


While Shelby may be the character the action revolves around, she didn’t feel like a lead to me in Proctor. I know Sink is above the title but if she went featured, she’d probably win.

It’s probably Young again or Hecht. Both would be deserving. 

Updated On: 4/26/25 at 08:39 AM

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 9:40am

Alana Arenas, Purpose

Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day

Marjan Neshat, English

Amalia Yoo, John Proctor is the Villain

Kara Young, Purpose

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 10:31am

HeyMrMusic said: "LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Harry Lennix, and Jon Michael Hill are above the title in the opening night Playbill, so they will be eligible in the leading categories."

Well damn. Looks like they pulled the old “change the billing by opening night” trick, but got away with it. Thanks for the correction.

In which case my vote is going to change Hecht vs. Young, with Hecht winning as an overdue nominee with a standout performance and a recency bias against Young. (Although that hasn’t stopped consecutive winners before - see Judith Light)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 10:34am

AC126748 said: "I have a feeling Jessica Hecht is taking it this year. She's a beloved fixture in the theater community who got a juicy role and played it to the hilt. The voters will see it as a chance to reward not only her performance but her career.

As I said in a previous thread, I'd love to see Alena Arenas get a nomination for Purpose. Kara Young has the showier part, but what Arenas achieves in her two big scenes is remarkable."

Agree with everything you said!