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5 minutes with a Tony nominee: ‘Schmigadoon!’’s Mike Morris

The orchestrator is now a first-time Tony Award nominee.

Mike Morris attends the 79th Annual Tony Awards Meet the Nominees Press Event at Sofitel New York on May 14, 2026, in New York City. (Credit: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Orchestrator Mike Morris made his Broadway debut just a few weeks ago with the Main Stem premiere of “Schmigadoon!” And now, Morris is a 2026 Tony Award nominee for Best Orchestrations alongside co-orchestrator Doug Besterman.

Here, Morris explains on behalf of himself and his creative partner the unique and often hidden challenges — from choosing the instruments in the orchestra to designating the specific way those instruments would be played — of orchestrating this big heaping of a Broadway musical.

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5 minutes with a Tony nominee: Mike Morris
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“Schmigadoon!” is nominated for 12 Tony Awards.

Isabelle McCalla (center) and members of the cast of “Schmigadoon!” on Broadway, 2026 (Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

The 2026 Tony Awards will take place on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall. P!NK will host the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on CBS and livestreamed on Paramount+ Premium (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). CBS and Pluto TV will present the Tony Awards: Act One, with additional details to follow.

See the full list of nominations here.