May this month get any higher? Pleasure and the Tony Awards? A cacophony of LGBTQ+ theatermakers are nominated, however that solely scratches the floor of queercentric productions opening this month, casting bulletins, and up to date viral moments you gained’t need to miss.
Tony, Tony, Tony!
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Broadway’s largest night time is quick approaching because the Tony Awards put together to take over Radio Metropolis Music Corridor on June 8, hosted by Elphaba du jour Cynthia Erivo, who’s pulling double responsibility with a free WorldPride concert the night time earlier than.
In addition to sitting on the sting of our sofa, anticipating who will obtain prime honors, our largest query is: What nails will she be sporting?
The competitors is fierce and fabulous this season, with a number of classes boasting a number of LGBTQ+ nominees. Sure, it’s theater, not an enormous shock. However given the apocalyptic occasions we’re dwelling in, let’s rejoice the nice type of drama. Listed here are a few of the notable queer theatermakes among the many 5 nominees in every class:
Greatest Play — Cole Escola (Oh, Mary!) and Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins (Goal)
Greatest Efficiency by a Featured Actor in a Musical — Brooks Ashmanskas (Smash), Jak Malone (Operation Mincemeat), Taylor Trench (Floyd Collins)
Greatest Efficiency by an Actor in a Featured Position in a Play — Francis Jue (Yellow Face), Conrad Ricamora (Oh, Mary!)
Greatest Authentic Rating (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theater — Will Aronson, music, Will Aronson and Hue Park, lyrics (Perhaps Pleased Ending); Pleasure Huerta and Benjamin Velez, music and lyrics (Actual Ladies Have Curves
Greatest Costume Design of a Musical — Gregg Barnes (BOOP! The Musical), Clint Ramos (Perhaps Pleased Ending), Paul Tazewell (Loss of life Turns into Her).
Greatest Path of a Play — Sam Pinkleton (Oh, Mary!), Kip Williams (The Image of Dorian Grey)
Greatest Path of a Musical — Michael Arden (Perhaps Pleased Ending), David Cromer (Lifeless Outlaw), Christopher Gattelli (Loss of life Turns into Her)
Greatest Choreography — Christopher Gattelli (Loss of life Turns into Her), Jerry Mitchell (BOOP! The Musical)
One one who gained’t be sitting anxiously of their cramped seat is Harvey Fierstein, who shall be receiving the 2025 Particular Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement within the Theatre.
Fierstein has 14 Broadway credit (is that enough for you, Patti LuPone?), together with 4 earlier wins. We’re anticipating some spicy remarks in true Fierstein fashion.
Tune in to the 78th Tony Awards, Sunday, June 8. The awards will air on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET with a particular Act One dwell pre-show at 6:40 p.m. ET on PlutoTV.
‘June is Bustin’ Out All Over’: 5 can’t-miss LGBTQ+ reveals
Maybe our favourite musical theater blooper of all time was when the cue playing cards vanished for Leslie Uggams’ dwell efficiency of “June is Bustin’ Out All Over” (from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel) at a July Fourth celebration on the Capitol. If you happen to haven’t seen it, it’s iconic.
We’re hoping that this month’s crop of queer reveals go off with out a hitch. Highlights embrace:
You Will Get Sick — Noah Diaz’s play a couple of younger man going through mortality, an unlikely caregiver, and an audition for The Wizard of Oz will get its Chicago premiere. June 5 by way of July 14, Steppenwolf Downstairs Theater, Chicago.
Beau The Musical — Eight actor-musicians inform the story of Ace Baker, a queer musician whose life is upended when he discovers his grandfather, who he believed
Queerly Festival — Now in its eleventh season, FRIGID New York returns with three weeks of recent queer works that commemorate LGBTQ+ “resilience, energy, willpower, persistence, and resistance.” Highlights embrace the comedy present “Calvin S. Cato: Disney Single and Poster Boys,” which explores the challenges of acquiring authorized documentation as a transgender particular person by way of the lens of a actuality present. June 12 by way of July 3, UNDER St. Marks, New York Metropolis.
My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) — Rob Madge skips the pond to carry their hit one-person present, which has performed the Edinburgh Fringe, West Finish, and toured the UK, to New York Metropolis Heart for a restricted run. Impressed by their elaborate childhood self-staged productions, Madge celebrates the facility of creativeness and self-acceptance. June 12-15, New York Metropolis Heart.
The Pansy Craze — Mason Alexander Park brings their acclaimed queer historical past selection present to New York Metropolis. Park, who’s starred reverse Sigourney Weaver in The Tempest and not too long ago performed The Emcee within the West Finish revival of Cabaret on the Equipment Kat Membership, will welcome particular visitors and a glittery bag stuffed with surprises for the primary three installments of their six-part cycle, that includes songs, sketches, and storytelling. June 26-28, Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre, New York Metropolis.
Casting sofa
Even earlier than the seats are chilly on the 2024-25 Broadway season, a brand new roster of productions has introduced run dates, and wouldn’t it? The queers are popping out to play.
Julio Torres, ‘Coloration Theories’
Julio Torres, who’s trippy MAX collection Fantasmas and have movie Problemista have set a brand new customary for queer storytelling, makes his Off-Broadway debut in Coloration Theories. Described as a “theatrical spectacle,” we’re unsure what to anticipate, however assured it’ll be kaleidoscopic, with Torres saying, “I’ve some untested theories about colours that I’d like to clarify by way of this multimedia, doubtlessly synesthetic expertise.”
Neil Patrick Harris, ‘ART’
@1mincritic Buckle in. Bobby Cannavale, Neil Patrick Harris, and James Corden will star within the #Broadway revival of Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play, “ART.” @nph @jamescordenshow ♬ Ready – Official Sound Studio
The final time Neil Patrick Harris was on Broadway was for a short stint in The Play That Goes Unsuitable, however his huge “wow” second was over a decade in the past along with his Tony-winning efficiency in a revival of Hedwig and the Indignant Inch. Harris shall be joined by Bobby Cannavale and James Corden in ART, a couple of trio of mates who argue over the cultural worth of a controversial piece of latest artwork. September 16 by way of December 21, Music Field Theatre, New York Metropolis.
Cynthia Erivo, ‘Dracula’
Erivo heads again to the stage after her two-part star flip within the Depraved movies. However why play one position when you possibly can play 23? Director Kip Williams, who crafted Sarah Snook’s ingenious multi-character efficiency in The Image of Dorian Grey, will adapt Bram Stoker’s Dracula in what Williams describes as “cine-theatre,” combining pre-recorded and dwell video, stage efficiency, and theatrical results. February 4 by way of Might 31, 2026, Noël Coward Theatre, London.
“One thing’s Coming”
Ah, Tony. Perhaps issues would have labored out in a different way should you and Riff had gotten collectively. Nonetheless, West Facet Story gave us that terrific music, “One thing’s Coming,” even when it turned out to be a tragedy. Form of just like the anticipation of a brand new present opening—we by no means know what we’re going to get, if something in any respect.
Kowalski — Earlier this yr, Queerty was the primary to share pictures from the Off-Broadway manufacturing of Kowalski, a brand new play concerning the first assembly between Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando concerning the actor’s casting in A Streetcar Named Want. Press representatives have introduced a Broadway transfer with unique director Colin Hanlon on board, however no casting or theater for the steamy two-hander.
“God I hope I get it!” — A Refrain Line turns 50 this yr, and hours after a radical non-union revival to be carried out in a Chinatown dance studio was introduced, rights holder Harmony Theatricals pulled the plug. “Sadly, the New York manufacturing introduced this morning mischaracterized itself in the course of the licensing course of and can now not be going forward,” mentioned a Concord Theatricals spokesperson. “There are some thrilling fiftieth anniversary plans within the pipeline which have been totally approved by all rightsholders, which shall be shared with you shortly.” If you wish to go down a manufacturing rabbit gap, this grainy, unique footage of Donna McKechnie proves the prowess of the unique manufacturing.
Broadwaytok
Hannah Solow has been the understudy for Mary all through Oh, Mary!‘s run, occurring (generally with little or no discover). She’s at all times good for fun, on or offstage, together with her TikTok originals.
@babymcgoo My internal monologue lately by way of the facility of SONG
This Broadway season is full of visible treats, however none is kind of as gravity-defying as former Olympic gymnast Warren Yang’s acrobatic stunt double tumble as Madeline Ashton in
@deathbecomesbway THIS. COME ON. #deathbecomesher #stairs #staircase #derekmclane #justintownsend #peterhylenski #warrenyang #acro #broadway ♬ original sound – Death Becomes Her
We’re additionally greater than a bit sizzling and bothered with Yang out of costume.
Theater content material creator Kate Reinking (@theatreislife) provides considerate takes on the information of the day, and nothing has been newsier the previous a number of weeks than the New Yorker interview with Patti LuPone, which precipitated outrage amongst fellow artists and followers alike for her feedback about fellow Broadway performers Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. LuPone finally issued an apology, however Reinking unpacks what went down.
@theatreislife It’s giving racist grandparent and it’s not cute #pattilupone #broadway #theatre ♬ original sound – Kate Reinking
Our favourite theater otter, Brandon Powers, is at all times good for a considerate take. He not too long ago mentioned the unique and West Finish revival productions of Subsequent to Regular.
@brandon_powers Replying to @Drained an awesome instance of how a director’s imaginative and prescient displays the period the manufacturing is offered #nexttonormal #broadway ♬ original sound – Brandon Powers
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