• Three shows—“Buena Vista Social Club,” “Death Becomes Her,” and “Maybe Happy Ending”—lead with ten nominations each for the Tony Awards.
• The nominations reflect a broad range of shows, including long-closed productions like “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.”
• Audra McDonald aims for her seventh Tony Award for her role in a revival of “Gypsy.”
• George Clooney, Sarah Snook, and Bob Odenkirk received nominations in their Broadway debuts.
• The Tony Awards ceremony will take place on June 8 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Cynthia Erivo.

In a highly competitive lead-up to the 2025 Tony Awards, three Broadway shows have each received a leading ten nominations: “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Death Becomes Her,” and “Maybe Happy Ending.” Alongside these top contenders, a total of twenty-nine productions secured at least one nomination across the 26 categories, including previously closed shows like “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical” and “Swept Away,” highlighting the diversity and resilience of Broadway this season according to latimes, huffpost, and sfgate.

The race for Best Musical includes “Buena Vista Social Club,” inspired by Wim Wenders’ Oscar-nominated documentary, and “Death Becomes Her,” which adapts the cult-classic film about frenemies in search of beauty and eternal youth. The category also features “Maybe Happy Ending,” a romantic comedy musical focused on androids navigating human emotions, along with the intriguing “Dead Outlaw,” a musical based on the life of a drifter whose story becomes folklore after his death. Both “Operation Mincemeat,” a British import about a WWII deception plan, and “Dead Outlaw” elevate the narrative storytelling on Broadway, showcasing innovative concepts and dramatic flair according to latimes, huffpost, and sfgate.

In the Best Play category, five notable productions are in the running: “English,” which examines the experiences of Iranian students preparing for an English proficiency exam; “The Hills of California,” focusing on family dynamics during a matriarch's final days; “John Proctor Is the Villain,” which critiques girlhood and feminism in contemporary society; “Purpose,” exploring self-destruction within a Black family; and “Oh, Mary!,” centering on a reimagined narrative of Mary Todd Lincoln. This variety signals a rich tapestry of thematic exploration within the current stage landscape, suggesting an evolution in theater content according to latimes, huffpost, and sfgate.

Notably, Audra McDonald received a nomination for her acclaimed role as Rose in the revival of “Gypsy,” seeking her seventh Tony award. She faces competition from Nicole Scherzinger, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Jasmine Amy Rogers. The buzz also includes nominations for George Clooney for his portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow and Bob Odenkirk for his work in the revival of “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Meanwhile, various other notable talents, including Sarah Snook and Sadie Sink, achieved nominations for their performances in different productions. However, some debuts, such as those from Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, did not receive the nominations some anticipated, indicating the unpredictable nature of acclaim in Broadway theater according to latimes, huffpost, and sfgate.

The anticipation for the Tony Awards, set to take place on June 8 at Radio City Music Hall, is high, with Cynthia Erivo selected as the host for the evening. This annual celebration not only honors the nominated works but also reflects the current artistic directions and trends within the realm of Broadway theater, as evidenced by the diverse range of nominations this year according to latimes, huffpost, and sfgate.