Star-Powered ‘Othello’ Leads List of High-Profile Snubs in 2025 Tony Nominations
The 2025 Tony Award nominations delivered a mix of shock and celebration, leaving several celebrity-driven productions empty-handed despite strong box-office clout, while elevating lesser-known titles across multiple categories.
Big Names, No Nods
The highest-profile shut-out is Othello at the Winter Garden Theatre, headlined by Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Although the modern-dress Shakespeare revival boasts robust ticket demand—last week’s average seat price topped $370—it failed to secure a single nomination.
Musicals Redwood (starring Idina Menzel) and The Last Five Years (featuring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren) met the same fate, as did Robert Downey Jr.’s Broadway debut in McNeal.
Partial Recognition for High-Grossers
Good Night, and Good Luck landed George Clooney his first Tony nod for acting, yet missed the coveted Best Play slot even as it continues to lead the weekly gross charts. Glengarry Glen Ross suffered a similar split decision: a nomination for Bob Odenkirk but none for the revival itself or co-stars Kieran Culkin and Bill Burr.
In the solo show arena, Sarah Snook earned an acting nomination for The Picture of Dorian Gray, but the critically lauded production was overlooked in Best Play.
Competitive Categories Reshuffled
The Best Play shortlist favors original works: English, The Hills of California, John Proctor Is the Villain, Oh, Mary, and Purpose. Notably absent are heavily hyped imports such as the Olivier-winning Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Best Revival of a Play includes Romeo + Juliet, yet its leads Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor did not make the acting lineup.
Newcomers and Surprise Standouts
First-time nominee Gracie Lawrence—best known from the pop band Lawrence and TV’s Sex Lives of College Girls—secured a featured-actress slot for her Broadway debut as Connie Francis in Just In Time. Co-star Jonathan Groff also received a nomination for portraying Bobby Darin.
Another lone-wolf recognition went to James Monroe Iglehart for inhabiting jazz legend Louis Armstrong in A Wonderful World. The musical previously announced an early closing date of 23 February after a brief run.
Score Category Shakes Up
Because previously published scores render shows ineligible, fan-favourite titles Smash and The Last Five Years were locked out of Best Original Score, along with cult classic Floyd Collins. The field instead comprises Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending, Operation Mincemeat, and Real Women Have Curves—the latter also snagging an acting nomination for Justina Machado. Smash ultimately picked up only two nods: featured actor Brooks Ashmanskasand choreography.
Looking Ahead
Winners will be revealed on 8 June 2025 at Radio City Music Hall, with Cynthia Erivo hosting. Until then, industry watchers will scrutinise how box-office momentum, critical buzz, and fresh recognition—or the lack of it—shape Broadway’s summer landscape.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
