When the 79th Tony Awards revealed its list of contenders on Tuesday morning, there were expected nominations for the likes of John Lithgow (“Giant”), Nathan Lane (“Death of a Salesman”) and Joshua Henry (“Ragtime”), as well as plenty of notable omissions. (How does Lea Michele still not have a single Tony nomination? What’s a girl gotta do?)
In case you didn’t want to wake up early along with the Broadway community, we’re breaking down all the twists and turns, snubs and surprises from this year’s nominees.
SURPRISE: Scott Rudin scores two nominations
This season marked a major comeback for Rudin, the controversial producer who stepped back from Broadway in 2021 following numerous allegations of abusive behavior with employees. Well, the Tony nominating committee appears willing to give him a second chance, rewarding Rudin not just for best play revival for “Death of a Salesman” but also for best play for “Little Bear Ridge Road.” Should he win in either category, he’ll likely take the stage to deliver an acceptance speech and bask in the applause of the community he was exiled from roughly five years ago.
SNUB: Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit don’t get invited to the match
The combined star power of Michele and Tveit have made “Chess” a hot ticket this season. But box office revenues don’t always translate into awards love, as Michele, who was looking to nab her first Tony nomination, and Tveit, a winner for “Moulin Rouge!,” found out on Tuesday. Their names weren’t called even as co-stars Bryce Pinkham, Nicholas Christopher and Hannah Cruz made the grade.
SURPRISE: Alden Ehrenreich breaks through for “Becky Shaw”
Ehrenreich, who had once been tipped for A-list movie stardom, is entering an exciting stage of his career. The actor, best known for “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Weapons,” scored a Tony nomination for his Broadway debut after earning raves across the board for his explosive performance as a rapacious, hard-charging money manager. Even in a stacked category with theater veterans like Danny Burstein and Ruben Santiago-Hudson, voters couldn’t resist Ehrenreich’s vulpine charm.
SNUB: Adrien Brody and Jon Bernthal leave empty-handed for their Broadway debuts
What do a two-time Oscar winner and Marvel’s Punisher have in common? Neither scored a Tony nom for their Broadway debuts. (Keanu Reeves was another first-timer, but he wasn’t on many predictions lists for his turn in “Waiting for Gadot” with Alex Winter.) Tony voters don’t always love Hollywood actors invading on their theatrical turf, but Brody was an Olivier nominee for “The Fear of 13” and Bernthal had a showy role as a desperate bank robber in “Dog Day Afternoon,” almost managing to banish the ghost of Al Pacino. So why did they fall short?
SURPRISE: “Rocky Horror Show” surpasses expectations
For a show with indifferent reviews, “Rocky Horror Show” got a lot of love on Tuesday morning with nine nominations, the third-most of any show this season. The cult musical, which boasts catchy favorites like “Time Warp” and “Sweet Transvestite,” was poised for some recognition. But it was the actors who did even better than expected: Along with Luke Evans for lead actor, Stephanie Hsu made the cut for lead actress (that’s after the nominating committed moved her out of the supporting category in the last eligibility round) while Rachel Dratch claimed a spot for featured actress that might have gone to Hsu.
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SNUB: Laurie Metcalf overlooked for ‘Little Bear Ridge Road’
It was the best of mornings; it was the worst of mornings for Metcalf, who picked up her seventh Tony Award nomination (she’s won two over her career) for her searing turn as Linda Loman in “Death of a Salesman.” But Metcalf’s impressive turn as a prickly aunt in “Little Bear Ridge Road” was overlooked, depriving her of a chance to become only the seventh actor to nab two Tony acting noms in the same year.
SURPRISE: Will Harrison edges out the A-listers
Harrison, a relative newcomer, nabbed the slot that might have gone to Bernthal or Brody in a weaker year, for his devastating performance as a man convicted of manslaughter in “Punch.” The show, which closed in November after a limited run, might have been the victim of recency bias. But Harrison’s work was too powerful to forget.
SNUB: Elliot Levey blanked after scoring an Olivier Award for “Giant”
Some things don’t translate as well when they cross the Atlantic. Levey is a scene-stealer as Roald Dahl’s smooth-talking agent in “Giant,” a performance that won him an Olivier Award in 2025. But Tony voters didn’t share the same enthusiasm for his work, denying him a nod even as co-stars John Lithgow and Aya Cash earned nominations and “Giant” scored in the best play and director categories.
SNUB: A total shutout for “Proof”
In a packed season for plays, the Broadway revival of “Proof” didn’t get any attention from the nominating committee. It’s a shock considering the original production had scored six nominations and took home three awards — for best play, actress for Mary-Louise Parker and direction. Plus, this version boasted a starry cast of Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri, as well as Broadway darling Kara Young, who has been Tony-nominated for the last four years.
From Variety US