TONY NOMINEES: Surprises, Snubs, and While We’re on the Subject, Do You Think They’d Like Me?

by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.

The 2025 TONY nominees were announced this morning, celebrating the biggest & brightest that this Broadway season has to offer.

The roundup, however, wasn’t without drama fitting of the great white way. While we’re on the subject of nominees, by the way - and really just wondering here - do… you think they’d like me? Like, if they got to know me? What do you think?

Some pleasant surprises included nominations for Our Town, both Death Becomes Her leads, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World.

And in terms of these specific shows - would the people involved like me? They don’t have a reason not to, right?

If we met, for example, at an event with passed hors d'oeuvres, would they walk away from the chat being like “hey I liked being around that person”? Or would they make up a reason to end the conversation early, like “I have to go to the powder room” or “I forgot tonight is also my mother’s christening”. I can handle the truth, I just need to know. Jennifer Simard would like me, yeah?

For better or worse, surprises inherently mean the presence of their nasty step-sibling: snubs.

Missing pieces such as Real Women Have Curves for Best Musical; an acting nod for Kieran Culkin; or zero nominations for shows such as Othello or Redwood, are stinging reminders of the tight competition each season brings.

But just because they weren’t nominated doesn’t mean the folks involved wouldn’t like me, right? I didn’t have anything to do with it. They know that, right?

Like obviously I’m not gonna try to get them to like me TODAY. They might be in a bad mood, so I’m setting myself up for failure.

But maybe in a few weeks, for example, at an event with passed hors d'oeuvres, we might get to talking and they might think about how fun and friendly I am. I’m a good listener, I don’t chew with my mouth open, and when I go out I wear this button down from Kohl’s that looks really good. What’s not to like? I can handle the answer by the way.

I don’t mean “like” like by the way. A lot of these people have romantic partners, as do I. I just mean on a basic human scale: would they like me? I’m not perfect, but I’m trying my very best, and understand that life is about little improvements along the way.

Broadway’s biggest night is ahead of us, and while it won’t be without heartbreak, it’s all at the service of celebrating a beloved art form - both at the show, and the afterparty events, which will likely include passed hors d'oeuvres.

Last thing tho: would everyone attending the TONYs like me? Would the 5,000 individuals who will make up the Radio City Music Hall audience, ya know… like me? They probably would, right? Please assess each one individually on your own time and let me know ASAP.