Tony Nominations: George Clooney, Audra McDonald, Mia Farrow, Jennifer Simard, Daniel Dae Kim, Tom Francis, Jamie Lloyd & More React
George Clooney, Mia Farrow, Audra McDonald, Tom Francis, Daniel Dae Kim, Jamie Lloyd, Louis McCartney are among those saying thank you following news of their nominations for the 78th annual Tony Awards.
Noms were announced Thursday morning by previous Tony winners Sarah Paulson (Appropriate) and Wendell Pierce (Death of a Salesman) on CBS Mornings. Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Maybe Happy Ending led the field with 10 nominations apiece. (See full list here.)
Clooney and Farrow are both first-time Tony nominees – Clooney for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck and Farrow for her performance in The Roommate.
“It’s a thrill to have 5 nominations for this play. For everyone involved, this has been an incredible experience. I couldn’t be more proud or feel more lucky,” Clooney said in a statement.
Farrow received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, for The Roommate.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect this! I burst into tears. I wish my mom were here – she would have been so proud of me,” said Farrow in a statement. I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude to be among these nominees, as this is just the best community in the world. I’m still in the “oh my god, oh my god, oh my god” mode!”
McDonald received her 11th Tony nomination, making the most-nominated performer in Broadway history, surpassing the record she held along with Julie Harris and Chita Rivera with 10 nominations each. She received the nom for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance as Madame Rose in Gypsy.
“I’m so honored to have been nominated for Gypsy alongside Joy Woods, Danny Burstein and Camille A. Brown. As a Black actor, Rose was never a character I thought I would play until my dear friend Gavin Creel planted the idea in my head. It took a long time for the idea to germinate, and I never would’ve been able to get here without the vision of our director George C. Wolfe, and the immense talent of our creative team and cast. I feel so incredibly grateful to share this Gypsy with the world and to be a part of the legacy of one of the most perfect musicals ever written.”
This year’s Tony Awards will return to Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Hosted by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards will broadcast live to both coasts on Sunday, June 8 on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
The following are additional initial reactions provided to Deadline. Check back for updates.
Tom Francis, Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical, Sunset Blvd.
“This is absolutely wild. I am stunned and a bit lost for words. To be recognized among this incredible group of artists is an unbelievable honor and beyond my wildest dreams. Massive congratulations to my fellow nominees and all the nominated shows this season.”
Danny Burstein, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Gypsy
“I am absolutely thrilled – thrilled for Audra, thrilled for Joy, thrilled for Camille, and the entire company of Gypsy. This whole project has been a labor of love and I’m just so honored to be a part of it.”
Daniel Dae Kim, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, Yellow Face
“I am shocked, surprised and deeply honored by this recognition. To receive my first Tony nomination alongside Francis Jue and David Henry Hwang for a role that explores Asian American identity is incredibly special, and learning that I am the first Asian American to be nominated in this category makes it even more meaningful. I couldn’t be prouder of our show and the people I was lucky enough to collaborate with, especially David, Leigh Silverman, our cast and crew, and the Roundabout Theater. At a time when the arts are imperiled, it’s even more important that we remember the value of theater and the power of the artists making it. Thank you to the American Theater Wing for believing that Yellow Face, and my work, is worthy of a place in this cherished community.”
Henry Lennix, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, Purpose
“I’m so thrilled and grateful to be nominated amongst these giants in this category. At this point of my journey, PURPOSE is more than a title it is my inspiration.”
Jennifer Simard, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Death Becomes Her
“My mother was my softball coach and instilled in me the meaning of teamwork. We at Death Becomes Her are a team and I am so grateful for every single player who makes me better. Thank You to the Tony Award nominating committee for this incredible honor.”
Gracie Lawrence, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Just in Time
“To be totally honest, I’m not usually awake at 9am, given that I usually eat my second dinner at approximately midnight post-show…. So my entire system is shocked in, like, 9 different ways right now! I’m unbelievably grateful to be nominated for a Tony. I’ve been lucky enough to tour with my band Lawrence for the past decade, but the first place I fell in love with performing was on Broadway when I was in a play at 12 years old that closed quickly. I remember thinking back then, “Connecting with an audience is the greatest feeling in the world.” So to be back now, in my first Broadway musical ever 16 years later, and to have it be this one starring Jonathan Groff, with the most brilliant creative team led by Alex Timbers at the helm, with the most talented castmates, and playing one of the most iconic women in music ever, Connie Francis, is truly a dream come true.”
Jamie Lloyd, Best Direction of a Musical, Sunset Blvd.
“I’m overwhelmed about the news of our 7 nominations and am honoured to have been nominated for Best Director. Obviously, my first calls were to Nicole, Tom, Andrew, Jack, and Adam to congratulate them as we celebrated with The Jamie Lloyd Company team. It’s hard to believe we have devoted two years of our lives to this production, and I can’t imagine doing any of this without our remarkable company and everyone at the St. James Theatre. SUNSET BLVD. has quite literally changed my life.
I want to express my gratitude to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, and to the entire Broadway community, who have welcomed us with open arms. New York is my second home, and this community constantly inspires me — it gives us all “new ways to dream”. It’s a remarkable day to be a Broadway theatre artist and I congratulate all of this morning’s nominees. I look forward to celebrating in person very soon.”
Michael Arden, Best Direction of a Musical, Maybe Happy Ending
“I am truly overwhelmed and deeply honored to be nominated for best direction of a musical for my work on Maybe Happy Ending. Collaborating with this incredible team of artists on Will Aronson and Hue Park’s brilliant musical has been a highlight of my career and life as an artist. I am also so proud of the work done by our stars Helen J Shen, Darren Criss, Dez Duron, and Marcus Choi. Special thanks to Justin Scribner, our steadfast PSM and the incredible crew at the Belasco Theater who make the magic happen nightly. Bravo and congrats to all the shows on Broadway this season!”
Louis McCartney, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
“So, so thankful. Thank you to the Tony Nominators and to everyone who worked on Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Thank you to SFP, Netflix, Kate Trefry and our amazing directors, Steven Daldry and Justin Martin. I feel so blessed to be welcomed into the Broadway community. So lucky and super excited. Thank you.”
Brooks Ashmanskas, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, SMASH
“WOW! I’m beyond delighted to be on this list alongside such brilliant gentlemen and to represent SMASH. What an absolute honor!”
Joshua Bergasse, Best Choreograhy, SMASH
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be recognized by the Tony nominators! It wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of the terrific cast of SMASH and wonderful collaboration of the entire creative team.”
David Henry Hwang, Best Revival of a Play, Yellow Face
“This morning’s nomination is a joyful affirmation of the work director Leigh Silverman and I have done over 20 years, to create and refine YELLOW FACE into a play which can bring audiences together, to laugh and think about how to move our country forward. Thank you so much to the Nominators!”
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Best Play, Purpose
“I feel a lot of gratitude – for the nominators, the audiences here and in Chicago whose outpourings of love and support have been beyond what any of us imagined! I share this honor with every single performer on that stage and, of course, Ms. Phylicia Rashad. This play began as an invitation to write for one of the best acting ensembles in the world – Steppenwolf – and, more than anything, I’m overjoyed to see so many members of this production’s company celebrated as well. I’m also so proud to see, for the second year in a row, such a strong showing of plays from a diversity of voices and origins – off-Broadway, downtown, regional theaters, and beyond!”
Kimberly Belflower, Best Play, John Proctor is the Villain (Playwright, first-time Tony nominee)
“I grew up in a small town in rural Appalachian Georgia; as a teenager, and for a long time after, I felt like I needed to shed my Southern-ness to be taken seriously as an artist. For John Proctor is the Villain, a play about Southern teenage girls, to be nominated for 7 Tony awards is so special I can hardly believe it. And what a surreal joy to be in the company of these other playwrights whose work I’ve long admired and adored, and to share John Proctor’s nominations with our incomparable director, Danya Taymor, and our brilliant actors and designers. I am humbled, and thrilled, and I can’t feel my face or hands.”
Danya Taymor, Best Direction of a Play, John Proctor is the Villain
“The brilliant Kimberly Belflower’s play John Proctor is the Villain is raw, primal, hilarious and told from the vantage point of young women. Thank you to the Tony nominating committee for taking these teenage girls seriously and for seeing and honoring that mysterious alchemy that occurs between playwright, actor, designer and director—this was a true collaboration. To be nominated alongside so many incredible talented artists in the theater community of all disciplines is a huge honor and I’m beyond grateful.”
Gabriel Ebert, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, John Proctor is the Villain
“What an incredible honor it is to be nominated in this talent-packed season. I’m so touched that our beautiful play, written by the undeniable Kimberly Belflower, is being recognized for the lightning bolt of truth that it is. The fact that Sadie and Fina are being recognized for their work moves me to no end. It’s no coincidence that the play, the actors and the designers are all doing top-level work when we’re being led by the incredible Danya Taymor. She’s truly singular as an artist and as a leader, and I’m very happy that she’s being recognized for her work. What can I say? I love this play. I love the great group of people that I get to go to work with every day. I love that our play seems to be speaking to our audience, especially our young audience members, on an incredibly deep level. It’s a privilege. I’m so grateful to the nominators. That green light….I want it.”
Rachel Hauck, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Swept Away
“Wow!! I’m completely shocked and totally thrilled to be nominated!! They remembered our boats! I’m in California with my family and my sister and I got up to watch with my partner Lisa on zoom. We screamed, then cried and then ran in and woke up my mom! I loved making the incredibly beautiful Swept Away so much – we were all so close and interwoven – the amazing cast, my partner in crime, the brilliant Kevin Adams, Michael Mayer’s stunning direction, John Logan’s beautiful book, David Neumann my bother in art – such a heartbreakingly beautiful show – I’m completely thrilled!”
Kip Williams, Best Direction of a Play, The Picture of Dorian Gray
“I am so thrilled for the entire Dorian Gray family that our show has been recognized with six Tony Nominations. We are so humbled to receive this honor and to share in it with such a brilliant array of shows from this incredible Broadway season. It’s nearly midnight here in Sydney, but we are celebrating loudly down under, and I can’t wait to be back with Sarah and our incredible Broadway crew next week to share in this special moment together. We are so grateful to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League for this great honor.”
