The nominations really don't mean anything, but the winner of the Distinguished Performance Award has gone on to win a Tony 13 times in the 23 years that it's existed.
If your show doesn't get nominated, that's a pretty bad sign because there are so many nominees per category.
Great list for the Performance Award! Too many amazing performances to fit in the category though. Here are some notable omitions:
Sophia Ann Caruso Will Chase Paul Dano Laura Donnelly - a travesty! Patrick Page
Plus tons of incredible Off-Broadway performances that weren’t recognized, but I’m glad to see that off-Broadway is still well-represented on this list!
(there can only be up to 2 performance noms per show; in the case of Hadestown and Oklahoma, DeShields, Gray, and Stroker were nominated)
NOTE: THE BOYS IN THE BAND was not eligible for the Drama League Awards nominations because it could not accommodate the nominators, due to the limited ticket availability and limited run of the show.
I'm shocked Michael Urie and Laura Donnelly weren't nominated for the Performance Award but I was happy to see that Ali Stroker, Amber Grey and Bonnie Milligan made it in!
I'm not sure how these awards work re: off-Broadway to Broadway transfers across seasons, but Michael Urie was nominated for the Distinguished Performance award for Torch Song last year. So perhaps he simply was ineligible for that performance this year.
BroadwayGuy12 said: "I'm not sure how these awards work re: off-Broadway to Broadway transfers across seasons, but Michael Urie was nominated for the Distinguished Performance award forTorch Songlast year. So perhaps he simply was ineligible for that performance this year."
Unlike with the Drama Desks, performers ARE eligible for repeat nominations. And it does happen sometimes.
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "So excited that two disabled actors got nominated!! Gregg was great in Teenage Dick and I’m planning on seeing Oklahoma next month.
Also happy for Bonnie, Stephanie, Amber, Anika, Santino and Brooke!
And no one from BMC got in. Is that the only musical that didn’t get a actor nom?"
No Salazar for Be More Chill, Stiles for Tootsie, or Styles for Kate. Thrilled for Bonnie. Her chances of being nominated for a tony for featured just went up by a lot
JBroadway said: "Unlike with the Drama Desks, performers ARE eligible for repeat nominations. And it does happen sometimes."
Good to know! In that case, I'm a bit surprised to see Urie left out, given the love that production and his performance seemed to receive from the community.
Oof. How bad did a musical need to be to not get nominated this year? I'm perfectly okay with Pretty Woman and Gettin the Band Back Together (both wretched) to not be nominated. But seeing anyone choose to honor King Kong or Beetlejuice...woof.
Meanwhile, my hunch is that the Distinguished Performance award is Metcalf's to win this year with Schreck missing out as she's playing herself. I wouldn't be shocked to see it go to Cranston or Daniels either, but neither is my top choice or feels AS overdue as Metcalf.
But Metcalf is in a play that is arguably the weakest of her recent forays on Broadway. I think that will be an obstacle for her to win this year. If she’s overdue and can only win once, why not just wait till Virginia Woolf next season.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”