The 2025 Tony Award nominations were announced this week, and LGBTQ+ talent is taking center stage in one of the most diverse and queer-inclusive lineups in Broadway history.
Among the biggest standouts is Oh, Mary!, the offbeat historical comedy written by and starring Cole Escola. The play, which imagines Mary Todd Lincoln as a chaotic figure on the edge of emotional collapse, earned five Tony nominations. Escola received dual nods as both the playwright and lead actor, while director Sam Pinkleton, featured actor Conrad Ricamora, and costume designer Montana Levi Blanco also picked up nominations.
Escola, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, is nominated in the category of Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. According to a November 2024 decision by the Tony Awards Administration Committee, Escola was deemed eligible in a male-designated category despite portraying a female character. The decision echoes recent developments around gendered award categories and the growing calls to make room for nonbinary and trans performers.
If Escola wins, they would become the third nonbinary performer to take home a Tony in a male-designated category, following Shucked‘s Alex Newell and Some Like It Hot‘s J. Harrison Ghee, who made history in 2023. That same year, nonbinary performer Justin David Sullivan withdrew from Tony consideration over the gendered structure of the categories, calling for meaningful change in how the American Theatre Wing recognizes gender-diverse talent.
Queer Voices Dominate Best Play Category
This year’s Best Play category is a triumph for queer representation. Alongside Escola, playwrights Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Purpose) and Kimberly Belflower (John Proctor Is the Villain) received nominations for their groundbreaking works.
Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose explores themes of legacy, identity, and generational tension within a prominent Black family in Chicago. The play earned a total of six nominations, including Best Play and acting nods for Jon Michael Hill and LaTanya Richardson Jackson in the lead roles. Supporting actors Glenn Davis, Alana Arenas, and Tony Award-winner Kara Young also received nominations.
Belflower’s John Proctor Is the Villain reimagines Arthur Miller’s The Crucible through the lens of a modern-day high school English class, tackling issues of consent, power, and patriarchy. The production tied for the most nominations of any play this year, earning seven in total. Sadie Sink, known for her role in Netflix’s Stranger Things, was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Play for her performance in John Proctor. Gabriel Ebert, who previously starred alongside Harvey Fierstein in Gently Down the Stream, also picked up a nomination for his work in the show.
More Queer and Trans Talent Recognized
The list of LGBTQ+ nominees spans across nearly every category. Jim Parsons, who has publicly identified as gay and is best known for The Big Bang Theory, earned a nomination for his role as the stage manager in a revival of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
Jonathan Groff, a recent Tony winner and longtime Broadway favorite, is nominated again for his portrayal of singer Bobby Darin in the new jukebox musical Just In Time. Out actor Grey Henson also joins the leading actor category for his performance as Buddy in the revival of Elf the Musical.
In the featured acting categories, Michael Urie received a nod for his performance in the revival of Urinetown, while Brooks Ashmanskas was recognized for his comedic work in Smash!, the Broadway adaptation of the NBC series. Francis Jue was nominated for his role in Yellow Face, which revisits the debate around racial representation in casting through a semi-autobiographical lens.
Audra McDonald Breaks Records
While not part of the LGBTQ+ community herself, Broadway icon and queer favorite Audra McDonald made history this year by becoming the most Tony-nominated performer of all time. She picked up her 11th nomination for her portrayal of Mama Rose in a bold new production of Gypsy. McDonald will compete in the Lead Actress in a Musical category against other queer fan favorites, including Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her) and Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Boulevard).
Calls for Inclusivity in Awards
The continued use of gendered acting categories has sparked ongoing debate within the theater industry. Advocates are calling on the American Theatre Wing and Tony Awards producers to reimagine the awards structure in a way that recognizes nonbinary and trans performers without forcing them into binary categories.
While some progress has been made in allowing nonbinary performers to choose which category they wish to compete in, critics argue this solution still reinforces outdated binaries. For Escola and others, their nominations signal both a celebration and a call to action for a more inclusive future.
“I’m honored and also very aware of how much further we still need to go,” Escola said in a recent interview. “I want everyone—no matter how they identify—to feel seen, valued, and represented on stage and in recognition.”
What’s Next
The 2025 Tony Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 8, on CBS. For a complete list of nominees and ticketing information, visit TonyAwards.com.
The stage is set, the curtains are drawn, and one thing is clear: the future of Broadway is queer, bold, and unapologetically creative.
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