Leading the Tony Nominations: ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ with 12 Nods Each

NEW YORK⁤ — The Tony Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, with “The Lost Boys” ​and “Schmigadoon!” leading the pack, each garnering 12 nominations. In addition, June Squibb made history as the oldest ‌Tony-nominated actor at⁣ 96,⁢ while Danny Burstein set a new ​record as the most-nominated male actor ‍in Tony history.

“The Lost⁢ Boys,” a stage adaptation of the 1987 teen​ vampire movie,‌ and “Schmigadoon!,” a musical satire based on an Apple TV ⁤series, were closely followed⁤ by a revival of “Ragtime,” ‌a grand musical that ​celebrates ⁢early 20th-century America, with 11 nominations. Arthur Miller’s classic, ⁣”Death of a Salesman,” starring Nathan Lane, also received significant recognition with ⁣nine nominations.

A ​total of twenty-four shows received at least one nomination across ⁣the 26 ⁤Tony categories.⁤ This includes a revival of “Chess,” a love triangle set during the Cold War between two chess grandmasters and ⁢the woman they​ both ⁣love, and “Cats: ⁢The Jellicle Ball,” a reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical that celebrates queer ballroom culture.

Bill Rauch, who earned‍ his first Tony nomination ⁢for co-directing the reimagined “Cats,” expressed ⁣his excitement: “I’ve spent my whole career trying to connect the classics ‌with the place and ⁢time we’re living in. Having ‘Cats’ on Broadway⁣ right now feels‍ like an affirmation of everything I’ve been striving for over ⁣the⁤ years.”

Best new musical⁢ and play nominees

The ⁣competition for the best new musical will be between “The Lost Boys,”‌ “Schmigadoon!,” “Titanique,” a comedic musical that reimagines the 1997 ⁣blockbuster “Titanic,” and “Two Strangers (Carry‌ a⁣ Cake Across New York),”⁤ a romantic comedy about opposites attracting during⁢ a⁣ New York City weekend.

Ali Louis Bourzgui, ​nominated for best ⁢featured role in a musical⁣ for his⁤ portrayal of ‌a seductive ⁤vampire in “The Lost Boys,” shared his thoughts on why the show was so well received: “People, including myself, love a villain ‌that‌ they ⁤can empathize with. Some ⁢of ‌my favorite performances are technically ⁢villains on paper, but the actor brings them to life as a fully-rounded character that you can root for. I believe that’s the most⁤ interesting kind of character.”

The best new play ⁢nominees‍ include “Giant,” which explores accusations of antisemitism against children’s author Roald Dahl; “Liberation,” a drama about⁢ a women’s group in 1970s Ohio ​that won the Pulitzer Prize for drama on⁢ Monday; “The Balusters,” a comedy about a neighborhood association that descends into ⁢chaos ⁣over a stop ‌sign; and “Little Bear Ridge ​Road,” a story about a struggling ⁢writer who returns to‌ his rural hometown to settle ​his deceased​ father’s estate.

Playwright Mark Rosenblatt, who conceived “Giant” in 2018 and ​began writing ‍it in 2020, found it remarkably relevant ‍in ⁣2026, following the war ⁢in Gaza⁤ and the⁤ increased focus on antisemitism in America. “The ideas, ⁢concerns, and pain in the play are perennial,” he said. “But I could never have imagined that it would be playing against the backdrop of what’s happening now.”

“The Fear of 13,” ⁤the true story of a man who spent over ⁢two decades on death row, didn’t receive⁣ any acting nominations, ‌despite starring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson in their⁤ Broadway debuts. Former “Glee”⁣ star Lea Michele is still‍ seeking her first Tony‍ nomination ⁤after missing out for her work on ‌”Chess.”

Squibb, now the oldest Tony-nominated actor in⁣ history,‍ surpasses the record set by Lois Smith, who was ‍89 when ⁢she was nominated ‍in 2020‍ for⁣ “The Inheritance.” Squibb’s Broadway career ⁤dates back to the original production of ⁣”Gypsy” in 1960 with Ethel Merman. This is her first Tony nomination.

In Jordan Harrison’s play “Marjorie Prime,” Squibb plays a widow who is given an artificial companion that looks exactly like her deceased husband. Premiering in 2014, the ⁢work in 2026 capitalizes on the recent excitement​ over technological advancements like ChatGPT. Squibb ⁤said she saw the original, but ⁢only‍ now fully understands the implications of technologies like AI.

Regarding her age, she said she⁣ doesn’t ‌really think about it: “I can’t ignore that my body is different than it⁤ was when I was young. And when⁣ I read a script now, I have to think can I physically do what⁤ they’re asking me to do. And that’s about it,” she said. “As long as it’s not dancing ‍on concrete floors.”

Burstein ​becomes the most-nominated male actor in Tony history‍ with ‌nine nods⁤ after his work in ​”Marjorie Prime,” surpassing ⁣the record ​set⁤ by Jason ⁤Robards. Kelli O’Hara received her ninth career nomination for a revival of the comedy “Fallen Angels,” tying her ⁢with ‌Rosemary⁤ Harris for third on the all-time acting nominations list.

The Tony Awards will be presented on June ⁢7 at Radio City Music⁢ Hall during a telecast hosted ⁢by Pink. ⁤The awards will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

Last year’s show, hosted ⁤by “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo, attracted 4.85​ million viewers ⁣to CBS, marking its largest broadcast audience in⁤ six years,‌ according to​ Nielsen.