Nominations for the 2023 Tony Awards were announced Tuesday by the actress Lea Michele, currently in “Funny Girl” on Broadway, and Myles Frost, who won a 2022 Tony Award for portraying Michael Jackson in the Broadway musical “MJ.” Some categories were read live on CBS at 8:30 a.m. Eastern; others were unveiled through a live stream on the Tony Awards YouTube page.
A total of 38 shows were vying for Tony nominations this year. A Broadway show must have opened between April 29, 2022, and April 27, 2023, to be eligible. This year’s awards ceremony is slated for Sunday, June 11.
“Some Like It Hot,” a Broadway musical version of the Billy Wilder film, picked up the most nominations of any show, with 13 in all. The musicals “& Juliet,” “New York, New York”, and “Shucked” each followed with nine nominations. The “Killing Eve” television star Jodie Comer, who had never previously appeared onstage, landed a nomination for best leading actress in a play for “Prima Facie.” And Justin Cooley, a 19-year-old actor from Kansas, earned a nomination for his Broadway launch in “Kimberly Akimbo.”
Below is a complete list of nominees.
The 2023 Tony Awards are airing tonight, and much to the delight of fans everywhere, the winners are finally here! Scroll down for a complete list—plus details on the event itself.
The awards show is an annual celebration of all things Broadway. This year the show will be hosted at United Palace in Washington Heights, a shift from previous years. Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Hall Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League, says the move will be good.
Hitchens explained, “We are excited to bring the Tony Awards to the historic United Palace for the first time. As we celebrate the fine of this Broadway taste and 76 years of the Tony Awards, we look ahead to ushering in a new blonde age for the show from this majestic, golden age theatre.”
The Tony Awards have come and gone for another year, and Broadway enthusiasts have much to celebrate following the annual celebration of theatrical excellence. From the glitz and glamour to the heartfelt performances, the event showcased the best of Broadway’s vibrant world and showed that the theatre world is back significantly.
Leading the pack in terms of wins was the new musical Kimberly Akimbo, which walked away with five prestigious Tony Awards. The production secured accolades such as Best Musical, Best Show by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, and Best First Score (Music and Lyrics) Written for the Theatre.
Close on the heels of Kimberly Akimbo were Some Like It Hot and Leopoldstadt, as both showed earned four wins each. Some Like It Hot, a musical reimagining of the timeless comedy, entered the night with the highest number of nominations, with 13 chances to take home a coveted Tony.
Life of Pi also made its mark at this year’s Tony Awards, earning three prizes, predominantly in technical categories. The production’s remarkable visual effects and innovative stagecraft were acknowledged.
It was shut out of more competitive fields like acting.
Ariana DeBose, a Tony nominee and Oscar-winning actor and singer, hosted the Tony Awards again, but this year brought a unique challenge for DeBose and the event as a whole. The ongoing strike by the Writer’s Guild of America meant no scripted banter or jokes for the host to rely on. Undeterred, DeBose took to the stage and primarily improvised her dialogue. While there were moments when the impromptu nature was evident, DeBose skillfully navigated the situation, ensuring the whole thing felt fun and light.
Check back with Playbill for the latest news and analysis around Broadway’s top honours, all the way to the big night. Winners will be named at a starry ceremony on June 11 at United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. The evening will kick off with The Tony Awards: Act One, a 90-minute pre-show of live and exclusive content set to stream for free on Pluto TV at 6:30 p.m. ET. Hosts and further details are to be announced. The main awards ceremony, hosted by West Side Story Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, will follow beginning at 8 p.m. ET, broadcasting live on CBS (check local listings) and streaming live (for premium-level subscribers) via Paramount+. All Paramount+ subscribers will have on-demand access to the broadcast beginning June 12.
