With this year’s Tony contenders running neck-and-neck in more than a couple of categories, I give you my predictions for the 2025-2026 season. Would these necessarily be my picks? Not necessarily. Rather they’re based on how I feel the Tony voters cast their ballots. We’ll know for certain next Sunday night when the red carpet leads to the Radio City Music Hall stage. Till then…may all our predictions—and/or favorites—take home the Tonys!
THE LOST BOYS. LJ Benet, Ali Louis Bourzgui, Brian Flores, Dean Maupin, and Sean Grandillo. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
BEST MUSICAL
NOMINEES
The Lost Boys
Schmigadoon!
Titaníque
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Will Win: The Lost Boys!
LIBERATION: Betsy Aidem, Kristolyn Lloyd, Irene Sofia Lucio, Adina Verson, Audrey Corsa and Susannah Flood, photo by Little Fang.
BEST PLAY
NOMINEES
The Balusters, Author: David Lindsay-Abaire
Giant, Author: Mark Rosenblatt
Liberation, Author: Bess Wohl
Little Bear Ridge Road, Author: Samuel D. Hunter
Will Win: Liberation
Nathan Lane by Emilio Madrid.
BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
NOMINEES
Death of a Salesman, Author: Arthur Miller
Becky Shaw, Author: Gina Gionfriddo
Every Brilliant Thing, Author: Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe
Fallen Angels, Author: Noel Coward
Oedipus, Author: Robert Icke
Will Win: Death of a Salesman
CATS THE JELLICLE BALL, Andre De Shields. photo by Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Ragtime
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Will Win: Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Members of the company of RAGTIME. Credit to Marc J. Franklin.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Nicholas Christopher, Chess
Luke Evans, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Joshua Henry, Ragtime
Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime
Will Win: Joshua Henry, Ragtime
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!
Stephanie Hsu, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Marla Mindelle, Titaníque
Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Will Win: Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Aya Cash and John Lithgow in GIANT. Photo by Joan Marcus.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
NOMINEES
Will Harrison, Punch
Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
John Lithgow, Giant
Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing
Mark Strong, Oedipus
Will Win: John Lithgow, Giant
Lesley Manville in Oedipus. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
NOMINEES
Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels
Carrie Coon, Bug
Susannah Flood, Liberation
Lesley Manville, Oedipus
Kelli O’Hara, Fallen Angels
Will Win: Lesley Manville, Oedipus
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys
André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Bryce Pinkham, Chess
Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime
Layton Williams, Titaníque
Will Win: André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys
Hannah Cruz, Chess
Rachel Dratch, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!
Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime
Will Win: Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys
BECKY SHAW, Alden Ehrenreich and Madeline Brewer, photo by Marc J. Franklin.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
NOMINEES
Christopher Abbott, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime
Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot
Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Richard Thomas, The Balusters
Will Win: Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
Laurie Metcalf with Christopher Abbott and Ben Ahlers. Photo by Emilio Madrid.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
NOMINEES
Betsy Aidem, Liberation
Marylouise Burke, The Balusters
Aya Cash, Giant
Laurie Metcalf, Death of a Salesman
June Squibb, Marjorie Prime
Will Win: Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Schmigadoon! cast, photo by Emilio Madrid.
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
The Lost Boys, David Hornsby and Chris Hoch
Schmigadoon!, Cinco Paul
Titaníque, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne & Kit Buchan
Will Win: Schmigadoon!, Cinco Paul
Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts, photo by Matthew Murphy.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Music and/or Lyrics) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE
NOMINEES
Death of a Salesman, Music: Caroline Shaw
Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Music: Steve Bargonetti
The Lost Boys, Music & Lyrics: The Rescues
Schmigadoon!, Music & Lyrics: Cinco Paul
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne & Kit Buchan
Will Win: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne & Kit Buchan
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
NOMINEES
Nicholas Hytner, Giant
Robert Icke, Oedipus
Kenny Leon, The Balusters
Joe Mantello, Death of a Salesman
Whitney White, Liberation
Will Win: Joe Mantello, Death of a Salesman
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Will Win: Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
NOMINEES
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
Ellenore Scott, Ragtime
Ani Taj, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show
Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Lauren Yalango-Grant & Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys
Will Win: Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
NOMINEES
Doug Besterman & Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!
Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez & Gabriel Mann, The Lost Boys
Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Brian Usifer, Chess
Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder & Doug Schadt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Will Win: Doug Besterman & Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
NOMINEES
Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus
Takeshi Kata, Bug
Chloe Lamford, Death of a Salesman
David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon
David Rockwell, Fallen Angels
Will Win: Chloe Lamford, Death of a Salesman
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
dots, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show
Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!
Will Win: Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
FALLEN ANGELS, Rose Byrne and Kelli O'Hara, photo by Joan Marcus.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
NOMINEES
Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon
Qween Jean, Liberation
Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels
Emilio Sosa, The Balusters
Paul Tazewell, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Will Win: Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Linda Cho, Ragtime
Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!
Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Ryan Park, The Lost Boys
David I. Reynoso, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show
Will Win: Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
NOMINEES
Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon
Natasha Chivers, Oedipus
Stacey Derosier, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Heather Gilbert, Bug
Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13
Jack Knowles, Death of a Salesman
Will Win: Jack Knowles, Death of a Salesman
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Kevin Adams, Chess
Jane Cox, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show
Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!
Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Lighting Design) and 59 Studio (Projection Design), Ragtime
Jen Schriever & Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
Will Win: Jen Schriever & Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
NOMINEES
Justin Ellington, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Tom Gibbons, Oedipus
Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13
Josh Schmidt, Bug
Mikaal Sulaiman, Death of a Salesman
Will Win: Tom Gibbons, Oedipus
BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
NOMINEES
Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Kai Harada, Ragtime
Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys
Brian Ronan, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show
Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!
Will Win: Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
