Monday, May 4, 2026

The 2026 Tony Awards: If We Were Nominators


 
The 2026 Tony Awards:
If We Were Nominators

For us, theater awards season is what it must be like for football fans around Super Bowl time. We get super excited by every announcement, every eligibility notice. If it's a detail, we are interested! Tomorrow is the day we look forward to after every season: The Tony Awards Nominations announcement. 

I'll bet we aren't the only ones who try to predict which shows will make the cut, which of our favorite performers will get a flurry of texts and calls when their name is called. which of our favorite designers will be honored with a nod. This year, Mike and I only made it to each of the 10 major musical openings (6 new musicals, 4 revivals). We didn't see the return engagements of either Mamma Mia! or Beetlejuice. Given that, we are only sharing our thoughts on the musical categories this season.

We are not predicting who the nominating committee with choose; we are simply naming those shows and artists that we would nominate if we were nominators. Mike and I made our lists separately, so it is interesting to see how much we matched. It was often!

JEFF WOULD NOMINATEMIKE WOULD NOMINATE
Best MusicalBest Musical
Schmigadoon!Schmigadoon!
The Lost BoysThe Lost Boys
TitaniqueTitanique
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Revival of a MusicalBest Revival of a Musical
Cats: The Jellicle BallCats: The Jellicle Ball
ChessChess
RagtimeRagtime
*The Rocky Horror Show* The Rocky Horror Show
Best Original Score (Music &/or Lyrics)Best Original Score (Music &/or Lyrics)
Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!
The Rescues - The Lost BoysThe Rescues - The Lost Boys
Stephen Schwartz - The Queen of VersaillesStephen Schwartz - The Queen of Versailles
Jim Barne & Kit Buchan - Two StrangersJim Barne & Kit Buchan - Two Strangers
Best OrchestrationsBest Orchestrations
Andrew Lloyd Webber, et al - Cats: The Jellicle BallAndrew Lloyd Webber, et al - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Brian Usifer - ChessBrian Usifer - Chess
Doug Besterman & Mike Morris - Schmigadoon!Doug Besterman & Mike Morris - Schmigadoon!
The Rescues & Ethan Popp - The Lost BoysThe Rescues & Ethan Popp - The Lost Boys
Best BookBest Book
Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!
David Hornsby & Chris Hoch - The Lost BoysDavid Hornsby & Chris Hoch - The Lost Boys
Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli - TitaniqueTye Blue, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli - Titanique
Jim Barne & Kit Buchan - Two StrangersJim Barne & Kit Buchan - Two Strangers
Best Direction of a MusicalBest Direction of a Musical
Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch - Cats: The Jellicle BallZhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Lear deBessonet - RagtimeLear deBessonet - Ragtime
Christopher Gattelli - Schmigadoon!Christopher Gattelli - Schmigadoon!
Michael Arden - The Lost BoysMichael Arden - The Lost Boys
Tye Blue - TitaniqueTye Blue - Titanique
Best ChoreographyBest Choreography
Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons - Cats: The Jellicle BallOmari Wiles & Arturo Lyons - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Lorin Latarro - ChessLorin Latarro - Chess
Christopher Gattelli - Schmigadoon!Christopher Gattelli - Schmigadoon!
Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant - The Lost BoysLauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant - The Lost Boys
Ellenore Scott - TitaniqueEllenore Scott - Titanique
Best Performance by an Actor in a
Leading Role in a Musical
Best Performance by an Actor in a
Leading Role in a Musical
LJ Benet - The Lost BoysLJ Benet - The Lost Boys
Nicholas Christopher - ChessNicholas Christopher - Chess
Joshua Henry - RagtimeJoshua Henry - Ragtime
Sam Tutty - Two StrangersSam Tutty - Two Strangers
Brandon Uranowitz - RagtimeBrandon Uranowitz - Ragtime
Best Performance by an Actress in a
Leading Role in a Musical
Best Performance by an Actress in a
Leading Role in a Musical
Sara Chase - Schmigadoon!Sara Chase - Schmigadoon!
Caissie Levy - RagtimeCaissie Levy - Ragtime
Lea Michele - ChessLea Michele - Chess
Marla Mindelle - TitaniqueMarla Mindelle - Titanique
Christiani Pitts - Two StrangersChristiani Pitts - Two Strangers
Best Performance by an Actor in a
Featured Role in a Musical
Best Performance by an Actor in a
Featured Role in a Musical
Ali Louis Bourzgui - The Lost BoysAli Louis Bourzgui - The Lost Boys
Max Clayton - Schmigadoon!Andre deShields - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Sydney James Harcourt - Cats: The Jellicle BallSydney James Harcourt - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Benjamin Pajak - The Lost BoysBenjamin Pajak - The Lost Boys
Layton Williams - TitaniqueJim Parsons - Titanique
Best Performance by an Actress in a
Featured Role in a Musical
Best Performance by an Actress in a
Featured Role in a Musical
Melissa Barrera - TitaniqueShoshana Bean - The Lost Boys
Shoshana Bean - The Lost BoysHannah Cruz - Chess
Ana Gasteyer - Schmigadoon!Nichelle Lewis - Ragtime
McKenzie Kurtz - Schmigadoon!Isabelle McCalla - Schmigadoon!
"Tempress" Chastity Moore - Cats: The Jellicle Ball"Tempress" Chastity Moore - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Best Scenic Design of a MusicalBest Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck - Cats: The Jellicle BallRachel Hauck - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Scott Pask - Schmigadoon!Scott Pask - Schmigadoon!
Dane Laffery - The Lost BoysDane Laffery - The Lost Boys
Gabriel Hanier Evansohn, Grace Laubacher, Iron Bloom - TitaniqueDane Laffery - The Queen of Versailles
Soutra Gilmour - Two StrangersSoutra Gilmour - Two Strangers
Best Costume Design of a MusicalBest Costume Design of a Musical
Qween Jean - Cats: The Jellicle BallQween Jean - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Linda Cho - RagtimeLinda Cho - Ragtime
Linda Cho - Schmigadoon!Linda Cho - Schmigadoon!
Ryan Park - The Lost BoysRyan Park - The Lost Boys
David I. Reynoso - The Rocky Horror ShowAlejo Vietti - Titanique
Best Lighting Design of a MusicalBest Lighting Design of a Musical
Adam Honoré - Cats: The Jellicle BallAdam Honoré - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Kevin Adams - ChessKevin Adams - Chess
Jen Schriever & Michael Arden - The Lost BoysDonald Holder - Schmigadoon!
Jane Cox - The Rocky Horror ShowJen Schriever & Michael Arden - The Lost Boys
Paige Seber - TitaniquePaige Seber - Titanique
Best Sound Design of a MusicalBest Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada - Cats: The Jellicle BallKai Harada - Cats: The Jellicle Ball
John Shivers - ChessKai Harada - Ragtime
Adam Fisher - The Lost BoysWalter Trarbach - Schmigadoon!
Lawrence Schober - TitaniqueAdam Fisher - The Lost Boys
Tony Gayle - Two StrangersTony Gayle - Two Strangers

* - If the Tony committee opts not to nominate a 4th musical revival, The Rocky Horror Show would be our 4th choice, leaving the other three,


Jeff's Nomination Totals:
The Lost Boys - 14
Schmigadoon! - 12
Cats: The Jellicle Ball - 10
Titanique - 10
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) - 7
Chess - 7
Ragtime - 6
The Rocky Horror Show - 2
The Queen of Versailles - 1
Beaches - 0


Mike's Nomination Totals:
The Lost Boys - 14
Schmigadoon! - 12
Cats: The Jellicle Ball - 11
Titanique - 8
Ragtime - 8
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) - 7
Chess - 7
The Queen of Versailles - 2
The Rocky Horror Show - 0
Beaches - 0

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