Surprise on Broadway! Vampires and parodies steal the show
Friends, this year’s Tonys come with everything. The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! took 12 nominations each, and no wonder. The first is that adaptation of the eighties vampire thriller that we all secretly love, and the second, an affectionate mockery of classic musicals that began as an Apple TV series. Who said nostalgia doesn’t sell?
But the most epic: June Squibb, at 96 years old, became the oldest actress nominated for a Tony. And Danny Burstein is now the king of male nominations with nine. Speaking of living legends.
The competition is on fire
Ragtime (11 nominations) and Death of a Salesman with Nathan Lane (9 mentions) also sound strong. But be careful, because Cats: The Jellicle Ball reimagined the kittens as a queer ballroom and Chess brings us a Cold War love triangle. Did someone say drama?
In the best new musical category, the battle is between The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Titanique (yes, a camp version of Titanic) and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Ali Louis Bourzgui, nominated for his role as a vampire in The Lost Boys, explained it perfectly: > “I think people love villains they can sympathize with. They are the most interesting characters.”
What you didn’t see coming
The Fear of 13, with Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson, was left without acting nominations. And The Bear trio (Ayo Edebiri, Jon Bernthal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach) also failed to make their Broadway debuts. But Daniel Radcliffe did secure his spot for Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show about dealing with depression. From Hogwarts to the stage, the boy continues to shine.
Who takes the crown?
The awards are presented on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Pink. Last year, with Cynthia Erivo at the helm, they reached 4.85 million viewers. This year promises more drama, more music and, above all, more moments to remember.
The moral: Broadway is alive, diverse and more irreverent than ever. My prediction? That vampires and parodies win more than one award. But as always, art surprises us.
