The show must, at long last, go on.
After a bungled comeback attempt last September, the Tony Awards are back in the saddle – and in their customary June timeslot. Since 2021’s barely-watched ceremony, the formerly $15 billion Broadway industry has had a hell of a time reopening. Multiple Covid variants, diminished tourism, and an overloaded spring schedule conspired to hinder new ventures, even as established hits rode out the waves with loads of federal support.
Still, the crop of fresh nominees is wide and deep and brimming with talent. And a few have even emerged as commercial successes to boot, namely international sensation Six and the estate-approved Michael Jackson bio-show MJ.
But arguably more important than individual recognition, the Tonys function as Broadway’s biggest and best national commercial. And as its recovery continues, everyone is crossing their fingers for big viewership – which will hopefully translate to big sales this summer.
Unlike years past, few of the races are predictably locked; I’d only bet on two sure wins at most – which should make for an exciting evening. And the stakes are higher for the shows themselves. With overall sales still depressed and the pandemic far from over, a win could mean the difference between an early closure and months of profit. New, original shows like Pulitzer winner A Strange Loop, which is a major contender for eleven categories, stand to gain the most from big wins.
The ceremony is hosted by Hamilton alum and Oscar winner Ariana deBose, and is divvied up into two parts, streaming live on Paramount+, and at 8:00 EST airing on CBS. Below is the complete list of contenders, with winners highlighted and bolded, updated live.
Best Play
Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage
Hangmen by Martin McDonagh
The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini, Ben Power
The Minutes by Tracy Letts
Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau
Best Musical
Girl From The North Country
MJ
Paradise Square
Mr. Saturday Night
SIX: The Musical
A Strange Loop
Best Revival of a Play
American Buffalo
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
How I Learned to Drive
Take Me Out
Trouble in Mind
Best Revival of a Musical
Caroline, or Change
Company
The Music Man
Best Book of a Musical
Girl From The North Country, Conor McPherson
MJ, Lynn Nottage
Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel
Paradise Square, Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan
A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Flying Over Sunset, Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie
Mr. Saturday Night Music: Jason Robert Brown Lyrics: Amanda Green
Paradise Square Music: Jason Howland Lyrics: Nathan Tysen & Masi Asare
***SIX: The Musical Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss***
A Strange Loop Music & Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy
Adam Godley, The Lehman Trilogy
Adrian Lester, The Lehman Trilogy
David Morse, How I Learned to Drive
Sam Rockwell, American Buffalo
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
David Threlfall, Hangmen
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabby Beans, The Skin of Our Teeth
LaChanze, Trouble in Mind
Ruth Negga, Macbeth
Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H.
Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night
Myles Frost, MJ
Hugh Jackman, The Music Man
Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire
Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sharon D Clarke, Caroline, or Change
Carmen Cusack, Flying Over Sunset
Sutton Foster, The Music Man
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Alfie Allen, Hangmen
Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out
Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s
Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out
Jesse Williams, Take Me Out
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s
Rachel Dratch, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Kenita R. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Kara Young, Clyde’s
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Matt Doyle, Company
Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square
Jared Grimes, Funny Girl
John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop
A.J. Shively, Paradise Square
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Jeannette Bayardelle, Girl From The North Country
Shoshana Bean, Mr. Saturday Night
Jayne Houdyshell, The Music Man
L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop
Patti LuPone, Company
Jennifer Simard, Company
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, Skeleton Crew
***Es Devlin, The Lehman Trilogy***
Anna Fleischle, Hangmen
Scott Pask, American Buffalo
Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset
***Bunny Christie, Company***
Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop
Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ
Allen Moyer, Paradise Square
Best Costume Design of a Play
***Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth***
Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind
Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite
Jennifer Moeller, Clyde’s
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change
Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square
William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical
Santo Loquasto, The Music Man
***Gabriella Slade, SIX: The Musical***
Paul Tazewell, MJ
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Joshua Carr, Hangmen
Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
***Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy***
Jane Cox, Macbeth
Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Neil Austin, Company
Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical
Donald Holder, Paradise Square
***Natasha Katz, MJ***
Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset
Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.
Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth
Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy
Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country
Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company
Drew Levy, A Strange Loop
Gareth Owen, MJ
Best Direction of a Play
Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy
Neil Pepe, American Buffalo
Les Waters, Dana H.
Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop
Marianne Elliott, Company
Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country
Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical
Christopher Wheeldon, MJ
Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Warren Carlyle, The Music Man
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical
Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square
Christopher Wheeldon, MJ
Best Orchestrations
David Cullen, Company
Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical
Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country
Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ
Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop
Total nominations per show…A Strange Loop – 11
MJ – 10
Paradise Square – 10
Company – 9
The Lehman Trilogy – 8
SIX: The Musical – 8
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf – 7
Girl From The North Country – 7
The Music Man – 6
The Skin of Our Teeth – 6
Clyde’s – 5
Hangmen – 5
Mr. Saturday Night – 5
American Buffalo – 4
Flying Over Sunset – 4
Take Me Out – 4
Trouble in Mind – 4
Caroline, or Change – 3
Dana H. – 3
How I Learned to Drive – 3
Macbeth – 3
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive – 3
Skeleton Crew – 3
Diana, The Musical – 1
Funny Girl – 1
Lackawanna Blues – 1
The Minutes – 1
Mrs. Doubtfire – 1
Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite – 1
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2022/06/12/updated-live-the-2022-tony-awards-complete-winners-list/