Friday 5: 5 Tony Categories We Wish Existed But Don't (So Far)

5 Tony Categories We Wish Existed

But Don't (So Far)

Tony Awards categories come and go over the years. Remember the Special Event Tony Award? At one time, there was an award for Best Conductor, too. And every year we hear for calls for Best Replacement Awards - a logistical nightmare if there ever was one, if you ask us. Still, there are some folks that work really hard and go unnoticed season after season. Here are 5 categories we'd love The American Theatre Wing to consider:

Best Performance by an Ensemble Cast - Play and Musical - What about shows where the entire production rests on the overall cast for its success? Shows where individuals may shine for a moment, but really every person makes the magic happen. Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Titanique, Marjorie Prime, The Balusters all come to mind this season. How about modern classics like Titanic, Come From Away or Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812? Or true classics like Our Town? That kind of cohesiveness deserves to be rewarded!

  

Best Performance by a Traditional Ensemble - Play and Musical - When Broadway shows have star vehicles, even the stars often talk about their cast mates and how much they are a part of their performance and the overall affect of the whole production. Think about classics like Hello, Dolly! or Fiddler on the Roof, and how lacking "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" or "Tradition" would be without a robust ensemble backing things up! I can't imagine Schmigadoon! without theirs. The same applies to some plays as well - Leopoldstadt, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have leading performances, sure, but they'd fall apart without their amazing ensembles.

  

Best New Song Written for the Theatre - The Oscars do it with awards for score and song, so why not the Tonys? Some of Broadway's most iconic songs could be recognized, whether the whole score is or not. Think about the 1976 awards. A Chorus Line won Best Score, and any number of songs from that score - "One," "The Music and the Mirror," "Nothing" all come immediately to mind. But what about Chicago? So the score didn't win, but what about "All That Jazz" or "Nowadays"?

  

Best Video &/or Projection Design - Play and Musical - For years, the Tony Awards has had their collective heads in the sand about the technological advances in and the impact of projections and video designs incorporated in many plays and musicals. You can tell that they don't know what to do with it. Sometimes, they get paired with the lighting design, other times with scenic design. They need to be recognized as their own design element. Take design group 59 for example. Last year, their projection design won a Tony Award for scenic design of Stranger Things; this year their projections for Ragtime are nominated for lighting design!

Best Musical Direction - One of the least understood jobs on the creative team, the musical director is the key bridge between the composer-lyricist and opening night. Here is an interesting article from Playbill about the job straight from an actual musical director. Can you imagine any musical without them? One way to figure out what they do is listen to the difference between an original production and a revival - like Cats vs Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Or consider the striking overall soundscape of The Lost Boys. Just considering how integral they are from workshop to closing night, it is a shame they don't get their own recognition. 

  

Broadway 3-peats: The Longacre Theatre

Last year, we started a series of Broadway 3-peats, celebrating artists who we think had three great successes in a row. We will be continuing that series, but today we are starting a similar series aimed at all of you Broadway show and theater lovers (just like us). We will highlight 3 shows in a row that we loved - no skipping - that played the same theater. 

Broadway 3-peats:

Longacre Theatre

1. Swept Away (2024): A dark, emotional musical always captures my attention, and this one certainly fit that bill. Not everyone's cup of tea, it didn't last very long, but shows that demand the audience pay close attention rarely do. The cast, led by two of my favorites, John Gallagher Jr and Stark Sands did not disappoint, and discovering a new talent in Adrian Blake Escoe (a delight these days in TVs Best Medicine) made it all the more worthwhile. Ultimately, its subject matter was difficult, but oddly life-affirming. I was swept away. (Review HERE.)

2. Dead Outlaw (2025): We can't help but think that had this opened, say this season, with a less crowded field, it would have had a different fate. Another show with some dark themes and harsh commentary, David Yazbek and Eric Della Penna's score was a raucous delight, and David Cromer's stylized staging brought this all too American tale to exciting life. Maybe it was too strange and too demanding, but I still can't get it out of my head that given some more time to find and cultivate and audience it could have been a much bigger hit. Plus, Andrew Durand's masterful performance was one I won't soon forget. (Review HERE.)

3. Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): Currently up for 8 well-deserved Tony Awards, this little show has more than doubled the runs of the other two combined! This one is a much easier show to take - a delightful musical rom-com. Charming, hilarious and touching, this two-hander had me smiling from ear-to-ear from start to finish. The best part of it all was getting to see West End star Sam Tutty make his Broadway debut, and seeing Christiani Pitts make her own star turn. If you haven't seen this one yet, you really should get tickets. It's the feel good show of the season. (Review HERE.)

The 2026 JKTS Awards: Readers' Choice: The Winners!

We are very pleased to announce this year's JKTS Readers' Choice Awards! It is especially nice to connect with so many of you, and this year - once again - you voted in record numbers! And so we thank you for being a part of our site and for sharing our love for all things theater!

Without further ado, here are your winners!

Broadway Games: Which Tony Nominee Am I?

 Broadway Games:

Which Tony Nominee Am I?

DIRECTIONS: This one's pretty simple. Read the three clues and name the 2026 Tony nominee they describe and which award they are up for.

1. Who am I?

    A. I am up for more than one Tony Award this year.

    B. I've won at least one Tony Award before in one of the categories I'm up for this year.

    C. Even though my Tonys and nominations are for producing, directing and technical categories, I started my Broadway career as an actor.

2. Who am I?

    A. I am a first-time nominee.

    B. My Broadway career spans decades.

    C. On TV, I played the grandmother of one of Titanique's stars.

3. Who am I?

    A. I played the role I am nominated for in the West End.

    B. I play a real-life person in this play.

    C. Though I'm though of as a dramatic actor, I have done Broadway musicals, and even won one of my 2 Tonys for being in a musical!

4. Who am I?

    A. I am up against myself in my category.

    B. Both of my nominations are for work where I had to research early to mid 20th century styles.

    C. The shows I am nominated for have a combined total of 23 Tony nominations.

5. Who am I?

    A. I am up against myself in my category.

    B. Both of my nominations are for plays.

    C. There are 6 nominees in my category, and only one of us is a man.

6. Who am I?

    A. I am a first time nominee, and I am up for two awards!

    B. My first name has to do with the day I was born.

    C. My show played in Washington, DC prior to Broadway.

7. Who am I?

    A. I am a designer.

    B. I am nominated for a play Tony and a musical Tony this year.

    C. My designs for one of those shows is notable for being a big departure from previous productions of that show.

8. Who are we?

    A. We are in a category that has only first time nominees.

    B. We are both nominees known for acting, but here we are doing something much different.

    C. The other writers on our project (in a different category) are also first time nominees.

9. Which show are we?

    A. We have a small cast.

    B. We are the only completely original show in our category.

    C. Only half of the cast on Broadway transferred to Broadway from the original production.

10. What show are we?

    A. We did a pre-Broadway run of this production.

    B. One of our stars was a replacement in the original pre-Broadway run this show.

    C. This is the third time a production of this show has been on Broadway.

Star-To-Be: Benjamin Pajak

⭐⭐Star - To - Be⭐⭐

Benjamin Pajak

At the ripe old age of 15, one might say that Benjamin Pajak is already a star, not a "to be." But we are certain that he is on his way to a decades long, successful career (if he so chooses). This guy has shown that he can grow as an actor as he himself has grow. He did the sweet little boy - without being sickly sweet - in The Music Man. Then he did the slightly older almost tween/waif thing in an acclaimed turn in the title role of Oliver! at Encores!

Along the way, he's held his own against some pretty heavy-hitters on the stage: Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster and Raul Esparza, to name but a few. And he has a prestigious Theatre World Award to start his collection. Not bad. Then there's a growing film career, where he's played against Tom Hiddleston in The Life of Chuck, and has a feature, Tiny Fugitives and a remake of The Exorcist coming up.

For the immediate future, Broadway fans can enjoy his funny and intense performance as the comic book-loving younger brother/vampire slayer in The Lost Boys. His turn includes a sweet realization of his sexuality in the big number, "Superhero." This next step in his stage career has garnered him both Outer Critics Circle Award and Dorian Award nominations.

This star-to-be is definitely one to keep your eye on! Keep up the good work, Benjamin!

  

We said: "Among the new generation [is] the absolutely adorable, but so real and so grounded Benjamin Pajak as Winthrop Paroo. To all of their credit not a single child in this production indulges in even the slightest hint of cloying behavior."

  

  

  

We said: "As Sam, the younger brother, Benjamin Pajak continues his streak of endearing characters and remarkable natural talent. His Sam is the people pleaser of the family, fiercely protective and enthralled by the super heroes of his beloved comic book collection. The evolution of his character includes him slowly realizing that he is queer, manifested as a super hero secret identity, naturally. His big number is "Superpower," complete with a rainbow of caped crusaders fighting an army of Draculas and a pair of Elviras (it doesn't get more 80s than that!). It is very funny and ultimately touching."