Surprises and Snubs: Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Idina Menzel Miss Out in 2025 Tony Nominations

May 1,2025: The 2025 Tony Award nominations delivered a mix of surprises and stinging omissions, with several high-profile productions and stars left out despite strong box office performances.

The Broadway production of Othello, starring heavyweights Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, was completely shut out of the nominations. Despite its star power and impressive ticket sales — boasting the highest average ticket price last week at $374.17 — the show failed to earn a single nod. Critics offered mixed reviews, but its commercial success made the snub especially notable.

Similarly, Redwood, the new musical led by Idina Menzel, and The Last Five Years, starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren, also received no nominations. These omissions were especially surprising given the star power attached to both shows.

George Clooney earned his first Tony nomination for acting in Good Night, and Good Luck, but the play itself — which he also co-wrote — was overlooked in the Best Play category, even as it currently tops Broadway’s grossing charts.

Glengarry Glen Ross also missed a nomination for Best Revival of a Play. Still, Bob Odenkirk managed to score an acting nod, while co-stars Kieran Culkin and Bill Burr were left out. Meanwhile, Sarah Snook received a nomination for her solo performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray, a role that won her the Olivier Award in 2024. However, the play itself was excluded from the Best Play list.

Another notable snub was Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024. The Tony voters instead favored original works like English, The Hills of California, John Proctor is the Villain, Oh, Mary, and Purpose in the Best Play category.

While Romeo + Juliet secured a nomination for Best Revival of a Play, its leads Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor did not receive individual recognition.

On the brighter side, there were some delightful surprises. Gracie Lawrence, known from the band Lawrence and the show Sex Lives of College Girls, earned her first Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in Just In Time, playing singer Connie Francis. Jonathan Groff, portraying Bobby Darin, also received a nomination.

James Monroe Iglehart received the only nomination for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical for his portrayal of Armstrong. The show, which opened in November and closed early in February, had not been expected to make a showing.