The 2025 Tony Awards Nominations Are Here—And It’s a Big Year for LGBTQ+ Talent
It’s no secret that the Tony Awards are basically the gay Super Bowl, and the 2025 nominations have once again confirmed what we already knew: Broadway is, and always has been, queer as hell. The 2025 nominations for the 78th Annual Tony Awards were announced today by Broadway icons Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce, and we’ve got a very gay reason to be tuning in come June 8.
This year’s ceremony returns to the iconic Radio City Music Hall with none other than Tony winner, Oscar nominee, and Wicked legend Cynthia Erivo hosting the night. The show will air live at 8 PM ET on CBS and stream on Paramount+, with a pre-show special—The Tony Awards: Act One—streaming for free on Pluto TV.
But let’s talk about the reason we’re really here: who’s representing the LGBTQ+ community on Broadway’s biggest night? We’ve pulled together a guide to this year’s out and proud nominees—queer performers, creators, and productions that deserve every bit of spotlight. Whether you’re a theatre kid, a casual viewer, or just here to cheer on your queer faves, this is the list to keep close as we count down to the big night.
Leading the charge is Death Becomes Her, which picked up 10 nominations, including Best Musical. The show is directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, who earned nominations in both categories. Marco Pennette is nominated for Best Book of a Musical, and fellow gay creative Paul Tazewell got a well-deserved nom for Best Costume Design of a Musical. The show also landed nominations for Best Original Score, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, and two nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.
Also landing 10 nominations is Maybe Happy Ending, a musical that’s become a serious contender this season. Director Michael Arden is nominated for Best Direction of a Musical. Arden has long been one of Broadway’s most vocal LGBTQ+ advocates, and his work this season has clearly resonated. The show’s additional nominations include Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Orchestrations, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Best Sound Design of a Musical, and Best Costume Design of a Musical.
Over in the world of plays, The Picture of Dorian Gray, helmed by queer Australian director Kip Williams, earned six nominations. Williams is up for Best Direction of a Play, and the show also received nods for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design. Given that it’s based on the novel by Oscar Wilde (our eternal queer ancestor), the show feels especially fitting for this list.
Just in Time, starring our beloved Jonathan Groff as Bobby Darin, made a strong Broadway debut and landed six nominations. Groff is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, and the production also earned nods for Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, Best Orchestrations, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. Groff’s charm is irresistible, and we’re thrilled to see him recognized again.
Floyd Collins returned to Broadway with fresh energy and six nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical. The production was written and directed by playwright Tina Landau, whose work continues to make space for queer stories and voices. Taylor Trensch is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, and the show also picked up nominations for Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Best Sound Design of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations. It’s a haunting, heartfelt revival led by some of our community’s most gifted talents.
Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! has been the talk of the town, and with five nominations, the hype is real. Escola is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, and their co-star Conrad Ricamora is up for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play. Director Sam Pinkleton and costume designer Holly Pierson were also recognized, and the production itself is up for Best Play. The show also earned nominations for Best Play, Best Direction of a Play (Sam Pinkleton), and Best Costume Design of a Play (Holly Pierson). This one’s camp, chaos, and comedy—queer theatre at its wonderful best, and we’re absolutely here for it.
In Smash, we saw more LGBTQ+ excellence with nominations for Brooks Ashmanskas (Best Featured Actor in a Musical) and Joshua Bergasse (Best Choreography). Kara Young, who is once again being recognized for her powerful performances, is nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Purpose, and her co-star Jon Michael Hill, received a nomination as well. Jay Woods got a nod for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her role in Gypsy. And songwriters Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez also got a nomination for Best Original Score Written for the Theatre for Real Women Have Curves: The Musical. These aren’t explicitly queer productions, but the people behind them are—so they absolutely belong on this list.
Jak Malone is nominated for his standout work in Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, and we’re shouting out two more productions that feature beloved queer performers: Pirates! The Penzance Musical features none other than Drag Race icon Jinkx Monsoon, while Romeo + Juliet stars Heartstopper’s Kit Connor. Both shows earned attention this season, and the LGBTQ+ star power in each is undeniable.
And finally, we have to bow down to the one and only Harvey Fierstein, who will receive the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. Fierstein’s voice, both literally and metaphorically, has shaped generations of queer theatre-makers, and this honor feels like a full-circle moment.
If we missed anyone from the huge list of the 2025 Tony Awards Nominations, don’t worry, we’ll be updating this piece. But for now, we’re sending all our love and congratulations to every single LGBTQ+ nominee. We see you, we celebrate you, and we’ll be cheering you on when the Tony Awards air on June 8.
Check out the full list of nominees for the 2025 Tony Awards.
The Tony Awards will air live on June 8 PM ET on CBS and stream stateside on Paramount+. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce host the 78th annual Tony Award nominations in New York City on Thursday. Jenny Anderson / Getty Images.
