2025 Tony Nominations: A Personal Take on Best Direction

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

With the Tony nominations dropping this morning, I was especially curious about the Best Direction categories. These are the folks shaping the tone, the energy, the whole vibe of a show — and while some names were buzzy locks, others definitely made me pause mid-scroll.

We’ve already talked about the acting in musical categories, so let’s get into direction.

Let’s start with Best Direction of a Musical:

  • Saheem Ali (Buena Vista Social Club)

  • Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending)

  • David Cromer (Dead Outlaw)

  • Christopher Gattelli (Death Becomes Her)

  • Jamie Lloyd (Sunset Boulevard)

Who’s Missing?

  • Nobody really

Michael Arden showing up for Maybe Happy Ending is no surprise — his name’s been all over the “quiet masterpiece” discourse. It’s the kind of show that people keep telling me to drop everything and see, and apparently, his direction is a big part of why. David Cromer is another name that feels inevitable in the best way — Dead Outlaw has had strong word-of-mouth, and if you believe the buzz, it’s his signature mix of grit and nuance all over again.

Now, Death Becomes Her isn’t what I thought we’d be seeing in this category(apologies to Robert Hastie), but Christopher Gattelli pulling double duty on choreography and direction? That’s impressive. Maybe this is the start of a new era for him.

Jamie Lloyd’s nomination for Sunset Boulevard was always going to happen — that production has people fighting in the comments. Some love it, some loathe it, but no one’s indifferent. And Saheem Ali? So many folks have said Buena Vista Social Club is a vibe-heavy, richly layered staging, and it’s cool to see that recognized.

On the play side, we’ve got:

  • Knud Adams (English)

  • Sam Mendes (The Hills of California)

  • Sam Pinkleton (Oh, Mary!)

  • Danya Taymor (John Proctor Is the Villain)

  • Kip Williams (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Who’s Missing?

  • Leigh Silverman (Yellow Face)

I feel like I’ve read 47 glowing profiles of Knud Adams in the last three months — people clearly love the way he builds tension through stillness and restraint. Sam Mendes, no surprise there. The Hills of California has had steady praise, and the direction’s been a big part of that conversation.

Oh, Mary! has been the downtown-to-Broadway darling, and Sam Pinkleton’s been getting a lot of love for keeping the chaos charming and sharp. Danya Taymor’s John Proctor Is the Villain has had consistent buzz too — a play that actually speaks to now, not just to dusty canon energy, and voters clearly took notice.

And Kip Williams? All I know is Dorian Gray looks like an Instagram filter come to life and somehow made people feel something. The visuals alone have people still talking.

I don’t disagree with any of the nominations here. I just wish there was six so Silverman could be recognized.

Final Thoughts

I love that this year’s directing categories are full of bold choices — some traditional, some very much not.

And don’t worry, OnStage Blog will be breaking down the rest of the major categories all weekend long. This is just the overture.

Broadway, Tony AwardsChristopher PetersonChris Peterson