The Tony Awards nomination season is heating up, with 30 shows vying for spots in the top category of best new musical. This year's race is notably wide open, lacking a clear frontrunner among the contenders. Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss are set to announce the nominees on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. EDT on "CBS Mornings," followed by a live stream on the Tony Awards YouTube page at 9 a.m. EDT.
Among the six new musicals seeking nominations are "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)," a rom-com set during a weekend in New York; "The Lost Boys," an adaptation of the 1987 vampire film; and "Schmigadoon!," based on the Apple TV series parodying Broadway. Also in contention are "Titanique," a campy reimagining of the film "Titanic," and "Beaches," which celebrates female friendship. One musical, "The Queen of Versailles," is considered unlikely to gain traction after receiving poor reviews and closing after fewer than 90 performances.
In the best new play category, frontrunners include "Giant," starring John Lithgow and exploring accusations of antisemitism against Roald Dahl; "Liberation," a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about a 1970s women's group; and "The Balusters," a comedy about a neighbourhood association feud over a stop sign. Other candidates are "Little Bear Ridge Road" and "The Fear of 13," the latter featuring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson.
For best lead actor in a play, potential nominees include Lithgow, Mark Strong for "Oedipus," Nathan Lane for "Death of a Salesman," Daniel Radcliffe for "Every Brilliant Thing," and Brody. On the women's side, Lesley Manville, Carrie Coon, Susannah Flood, Kelli O'Hara, Rose Byrne, Laurie Metcalf, and June Squibb are among the likely contenders. Squibb, at 96, has become the oldest actor to open a Broadway show.
In best actor in a musical, Joshua Henry and Brandon Uranowitz from "Ragtime," Sam Tutty from "Two Strangers," Nicholas Christopher from "Chess," and Luke Evans from "The Rocky Horror Show" are strong candidates. Leading actress possibilities include Caissie Levy, Lea Michele, Marla Mindelle, and Christiani Pitts.
The best play revival category is particularly stacked, with well-received productions such as "Oedipus," "Death of a Salesman," "Bug," "Proof," "Marjorie Prime," and "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." Other revivals include "Waiting for Godot" featuring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winters.
