My 2025 Tony Award Ballot: Best Featured Actress in a Musical
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
It’s that time again: the Tonys are around the corner, and I’m deep in ballot mode. I’m going to be discussing some of the categories with how I would vote if I was a Tony voter.
So here’s a breakdown of one of the most exciting categories this year: Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Five wildly different performances. Five very deserving nominees. But one of them has my vote locked up.
First off, this category threw for a loop. I was convinced I’d see Bernadette Peters(Old Friends), Michelle Williams(Death Becomes Her), and Natasha Hodgson(Operation Mincemeat) — though to be fair, she ended up on the lead actress eligibility. But now that the dust has settled, this is actually one of the most exciting, wide-ranging, talent-packed categories of the year.
Gracie Lawrence – Just in Time
(Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman
Gracie Lawrence earned this nomination the moment she opened her mouth in Just in Time. She’s playing Connie Francis, but this isn’t some hollow impersonation. What she’s doing is deeper and riskier. She gives us a woman chasing her dreams, carrying fear and fire and heartbreak, all wrapped inside one of the most iconic voices in music history. It never feels like a debut. You watch her and immediately know she belongs.
Natalie Venetia Belcon – Buena Vista Social Club
(Photo: Matthew Murphy)
Natalie Venetia Belcon brings the house down every time she steps on stage, radiating warmth, wisdom, and sharp comedic instincts in Buena Vista Social Club. Her vocals soar, her timing is razor-sharp, and she knows exactly how to land a moment without overselling it. She’s been a staple of the Broadway scene for years, and this role finally gives her the kind of spotlight she deserves. I’m personally overjoyed to see her finally get her due with a nomination. It’s about time.
Julia Knitel – Dead Outlaw
(Photo: Sara Kruwich
Julia Knitel is one of those performers you can’t take your eyes off. In Dead Outlaw, she delivers a magnetic, wonderfully strange performance that matches the chaos and brilliance of the show around her. The Tonys love honoring weird when it’s done right, and Julia leans all the way in. It’s wild, it’s smart, and she absolutely sticks the landing.
Justina Machado – Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
(Photo by Julieta Cervantes)
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to see Justina Machado’s name on this list, but I am so glad I was wrong. She steps into Real Women Have Curves with so much heart, it feels like the role was built around her(and it probably actually was). She’s fiery, she’s hilarious. She gives the show its soul and turns every scene into something bigger. This is a powerhouse performance, plain and simple.
Joy Woods – Gypsy
(Photo by Julieta Cervantes)
It takes real guts to make an impression in Gypsy, especially when you’re sharing the stage with Audra McDonald, but Joy Woods pulls it off with stunning ease. As Louise, she starts soft and quiet, then slowly blooms into this fierce, magnetic presence. Her journey is honest, moving, and gorgeously sung. Pairing her with Audra feels like a passing of the torch in the best possible way. This is a performance that lingers long after the final bow.
So, who earned my vote?
Gracie Lawrence
Gracie Lawrence got my vote because this is exactly the kind of star-making moment this category was made to celebrate. Her performance in Just in Time feels electric, like you’re watching someone arrive right in front of you. It’s the same kind of breakthrough we saw when Kristin Chenoweth won. When Ruthie Ann Miles won. She’s in that company now, and honestly, she deserves every bit of it.