“Schmigadoon!” and “The Lost Boys,” two Broadway musicals that opened just a few weeks ago, picked up more nods than any other shows as this year’s Tony nominations were announced on Tuesday morning.
The shows — “Schmigadoon!,” adapted from a comedic Apple TV series that began in 2021, and “The Lost Boys,” adapted from the 1987 vampire film — will face “Titaníque,” a loving, Celine Dion-inflected spoof of the “Titanic” movie, and “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” an original romantic comedy, in the financially important race for best new musical. At a time when the economics of new musicals have become increasingly challenging, all four shows could use the boost that nominations, and particularly a win, could bring.
As musicals on Broadway struggle, starry plays are faring better, and the list of nominations reflects a rush of celebrities to the stage: Among the nominees are the film stars John Lithgow, Daniel Radcliffe, Lesley Manville and Rose Byrne.
The nominations suggest a notable comeback for the producer Scott Rudin, who returned to Broadway this season after a four-year hiatus prompted by news reports about his propensity for bullying behavior. He produced two shows this season, a revival of “Death of a Salesman” and a new play called “Little Bear Ridge Road,” and both were nominated as the best in their categories.
A few records were set during the nominations.
Danny Burstein, a beloved Broadway actor, was nominated in the featured actor category for his performance in the play “Marjorie Prime.” This is his ninth Tony nomination (he won for “Moulin Rouge!”), and he is now the most-nominated male performer in history, breaking a tie with Jason Robards Jr. Burstein’s “Marjorie Prime” co-star June Squibb was also nominated for a Tony Award; at 96 years old, she is the oldest nominee ever in her category, featured actress in a play.
“The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” picked up 12 nominations each. Close behind, with 11 nominations, is an acclaimed revival of the musical “Ragtime,” which is a production of the nonprofit Lincoln Center Theater.
A half-dozen shows got zero nominations, including the new musicals “The Queen of Versailles,” which closed after a brief run last fall, and “Beaches,” which is struggling at the box office after opening to poor reviews last month. A starry revival of “Proof” also went home empty-handed.
Among the other nominees for performances in leading roles are two longtime Broadway favorites: Nathan Lane and Kelli O’Hara. This is O’Hara’s ninth Tony nomination (she has won once).
For best new play, the nominees include Bess Wohl’s “Liberation,” which on Monday won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, as well as “The Balusters,” by David Lindsay-Abaire; “Giant,” by Mark Rosenblatt; and “Little Bear Ridge Road,” by Samuel D. Hunter.
Lane (“Death of a Salesman”), Lithgow (“Giant”) and Radcliffe (“Every Brilliant Thing”) were all nominated as best actor in a play, alongside Will Harrison (“Punch”) and Mark Strong (“Oedipus”). Byrne and O’Hara, co-starring in a revival of “Fallen Angels,” will face Carrie Coon (“Bug”), Susannah Flood (“Liberation”) and Manville (“Oedipus”) in the race for best leading actress in a play.
The nominees for best leading actress in a musical are all first-time nominees: Sara Chase (“Schmigadoon!”), Stephanie Hsu (“The Rocky Horror Show”), Caissie Levy (“Ragtime”), Marla Mindelle (“Titaníque”) and Christiani Pitts (“Two Strangers”). The race for best leading actor in a musical, dominated throughout the season by Joshua Henry of “Ragtime,” also features Nicholas Christopher (“Chess”), Luke Evans (“The Rocky Horror Show”), Sam Tutty (“Two Strangers”) and Brandon Uranowitz (“Ragtime”).
The nominations were announced in New York by the actors Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss, beginning a monthlong award period. The 857 Tony voters — mostly people who work in theater or who help finance Broadway shows — must finish seeing the latest productions, while the productions, constrained by newly restrictive rules limiting campaigning and promotion, look for ways to remind voters about the strengths of their nominees.
The awards ceremony will take place on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by the musician Pink and broadcast on CBS.
The season has been a mixed bag for Broadway. Overall attendance and grosses are up over last season, but profitability rates are low because of skyrocketing production costs, and there is rising consumer concern about ticket prices. Only six new musicals opened this season, down from 14 last season.
The Tony Awards, which honor plays and musicals performed in the 41 Manhattan theaters that make up Broadway, are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing. This year, 19 plays and 11 musicals are eligible for awards because they opened on Broadway between April 28, 2025, and April 26, 2026.
The nominees were chosen by a committee of 55 people with theater expertise or experience, but who do not work on, or have a financial interest in, the season’s shows.
Some noncompetitive awards have already been announced.
Lifetime achievement awards will go to André Bishop, who last year stepped down after leading Lincoln Center Theater for 33 years; Jules Fisher, a lighting designer; and James Lapine, the playwright and director. Mary-Mitchell Campbell, a music director, will receive the Isabelle Stevenson Award, which honors volunteerism.
This year’s Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theater will go to the 1/52 Project, which supports early career designers, as well as to Jake Bell, a production manager; Kenn Lubin, a signage designer; and Loren Plotkin, an entertainment lawyer.
Michael Paulson is the theater reporter for The Times.
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