As Tony Award season approaches, many Broadway fans wonder how their favorite productions will fare. Ever wonder why some shows compete for Best Musical while others are in the running for Best Revival? To help you navigate the intricacies of the Tony categories, we’ve put together a guide explaining the differences between new and revived productions of musicals and plays. Get ready for your Tony Awards prep!
To understand the difference between Musicals, Musical Revivals, Plays, and Play Revivals for the Tonys, here’s a breakdown.
Best Musical vs. Best Revival of a Musical
In order for a show to be nominated in the Best Musical category at the Tonys, a production must be a new theatrical work where storytelling is intricately woven through spoken dialogue and song. To be eligible for the 2025 awards, these brand-new musicals must have had their official Broadway premiere during the 2024-2025 eligibility season, which runs from April 26, 2024, to April 27, 2025.
In order for a show to be nominated in the Best Revival of a Musical category at the Tonys, a production also must tell its story through a blend of dialogue and song, however, the defining characteristic of a revival is its history on Broadway. While the fundamental components of the show, such as its book, music, and lyrics, generally remain consistent, a revival often presents a fresh perspective through a new director, cast, and potentially reimagined staging, choreography, and design. The crucial factor is that the musical itself has already been on Broadway. There is an exception to this rule if the Tony Awards Administration Committee determines the musical to be a “classic” or in the historic or popular repertoire.
For example: Maybe Happy Ending premiered on Broadway within the eligibility window this year, and has an entirely new score and book, which means that it has all the requirements to be nominated in the Best Musical category. Conversely, Jamie Lloyd’s current production of Sunset Boulevard is eligible for Best Revival of a Musical. The original Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard debuted in 1994, followed by a revival in 2017. The current engagement marks its third production on Broadway, making it a candidate in the revival category. In the world of “classics,” The Last Five Years premiered on Broadway for the first time decades after it premiered Off-Broadway and became a beloved modern classic. Because of this, it was ruled eligible as Best Revival of a Musical.
Best Play vs. Best Revival of a Play
In order for a show to be nominated in the Best Play category at the Tonys, a production must be a new theatrical production where the narrative unfolds through spoken dialogue. While music or sound might be added to enhance the production, songs are not integral to the storytelling of the show. To be eligible for the upcoming Tonys, these new plays must have had their official Broadway premiere within the eligibility window of April 26, 2024, to April 27, 2025.
In order for a show to be nominated in the Best Revival of a Play category at the Tonys, these productions must have had their Broadway premiere within the eligibility window and they revisit already established works with new artistic visions, such as different directors and casts, offering audiences a renewed perspective on familiar material. The key factor for eligibility in this category is that the play itself has already been on Broadway. There is an exception to this rule if the Tony Awards Administration Committee determines the play to be a “classic” or in the historic or popular repertoire.
For example: Oh, Mary!, because it premiered during the eligibility period as a brand-new play, it can be nominated for Best Play. However, the new production of Shakespeare’s Othello is eligible to be nominated for Best Revival of a Play, because other productions of Othello have been on Broadway before. In the world of “classics,” Yellow Face opened on Broadway for the first time this season after it premiered years ago Off-Broadway in 2007. Because of this, it was ruled eligible as Best Revival of a Play.
Check out the full list here of all shows currently eligible to be nominated for the 2025 Tonys for Best Musical/ Play and Best Revival of the Musical/ Play.
Other Key Differences to Note for the Tony Awards
The performance categories (e.g., Leading Actor in a Musical, Leading Actress in a Play, Featured Actor in a Play, Featured Actress in a Musical, etc.) do not differentiate between new productions and revivals. For instance, a leading actor in a brand-new musical will be nominated alongside leading actors from musical revivals. The focus in these categories is on the individual performance itself, regardless of whether the production is new or a revival.
Sometimes, a story that has been around for a while might be considered a “new” work for Tony purposes. For example, The Picture of Dorian Gray is eligible to be nominated for Best Play, not Best Revival of a Play, because even though The Picture of Dorian Gray has been a play before, this is a brand new adaptation of the Oscar Wilde novel.
It’s important to note that only in the categories of Best Musical/ Play and Best Revival of a Musical/ Play will these productions be separated. In all other nomination categories, they will be together.
Ultimately, the Tonys Awards have separate “Best” categories for New Musicals, New Plays, Musical Revivals, and Play Revivals. This ensures that new works are judged against other new works, and revivals are judged against other revivals in the necessary categories.
Check out our What We Know About the 2025 Tony Awards piece to learn more about the Tonys!