This year's Broadway season has been nothing short of exhilarating, filled with big stars, blockbuster hits, and a plethora of contenders vying for awards attention. The anticipation surrounding the Tony Awards nominations has reached a fever pitch, and when the full list was unveiled, it certainly did not disappoint. With unexpected twists and turns, here are the most notable snubs and surprises from the 2023 Tony nominations.
The highly publicized Broadway revival of "Othello", featuring renowned actors Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, was expected to make a significant impact this awards season. Despite its record-breaking box office success and premium ticket prices, the production received no nominations from the Tony nominators. This was particularly shocking as it was overlooked for best play revival, and both Washington and Gyllenhaal were excluded from the leading actor category. While critics had mixed reviews about the production, the complete shutout was unexpected and left many in disbelief.
After winning an Academy Award for "A Real Pain" and an Emmy Award for "Succession" earlier in 2024, actor Kieran Culkin made his highly anticipated return to Broadway in the revival of "Glengarry Glen Ross". Speculation swirled about whether Culkin could achieve the rare feat of winning an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award in under 18 months. However, the Tony nominators decided to leave him out of the featured actor category, although his co-star, Bob Odenkirk, did earn a nomination.
In a competitive year for best revival of a play, it was anticipated that "Othello" and "Glengarry Glen Ross" would receive nominations alongside "Eureka Day" and "Yellow Face". Surprisingly, neither of the former made the cut, allowing "Our Town", directed by Kenny Leon, to step in and secure a nomination. Another noteworthy production, "Romeo + Juliet", also earned recognition, showcasing the diverse offerings of this Broadway season.
Broadway icon Idina Menzel returned to the stage with "Redwood", a passion project she co-conceived. Despite her star power, the musical received mixed reviews, which ultimately led to its complete shutout from the nominations. Menzel was overlooked not only in the leading actress category but also in the design categories, where "Redwood" had been expected to make an appearance due to its innovative staging.
One of the standout performances in the bio-musical "A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical" was delivered by James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong. Although the show closed in February, Iglehart's impressive portrayal did not go unnoticed by the Tony nominators. He secured a nomination for best actor in a musical, further solidifying his reputation following his previous Tony win for "Aladdin".
Another highly publicized production, "Good Night, and Good Luck", adapted by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, was anticipated to be a strong contender for best play. The show garnered attention for its star-studded cast and impressive production, directed by David Cromer. However, in a crowded field of new plays, the nominators excluded it from the nominations, although Clooney himself is still in the running for best actor in a play.
Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the new play "Purpose" was always expected to do well with the nominators. However, it surpassed expectations by earning nominations in several competitive acting categories. Along with anticipated nods for Jon Michael Hill, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and Kara Young, who previously won a Tony for "Purlie Victorious", castmate Harry Lennix also joined the race for lead actor, while Glenn Davis secured a spot for featured actor.
One of the most buzzed-about performances of the season came from Helen J. Shen in "Maybe Happy Ending". Despite her standout work alongside Darren Criss, Shen was notably absent from the nominations list, overshadowed by a talented group of nominees that included Audra McDonald and Nicole Scherzinger. With only five nominees in her category this year, the competition proved too fierce for Shen to secure a spot.
Among the strongest contenders for this season’s plays, "John Proctor Is the Villain" features a tightly woven ensemble cast. Although much of the attention was directed toward lead actress Sadie Sink, who received a nomination, co-star Gabriel Ebert and Fina Strazza also garnered recognition for their performances. Strazza's work in the production was particularly impressive, leading the nominators to ensure she was included in the race for featured actress in a play.
