Winners of the 25th annual Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards were revealed on May 15. Following the release of nominations on May 5, the honorees were selected by theater fans and audience members around the globe, who cast votes online between May 5 and 9. The awards will be celebrated at a private reception on May 29 at the Skylark, a rooftop bar in midtown Manhattan.
The new musical “Death Becomes Her,” adapted from the 1992 Universal Pictures film of the same name, won six awards, the most of any show — play or musical. In addition to being named Favorite New Musical, the production’s four stars were all honored: Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, who play sparring nemeses in the show, were jointly named Favorite Onstage Pair, while Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams won in the Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical and Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical categories, respectively. The musical’s act-one tuner “For the Gaze,” written by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, was selected as the Favorite New Song. Hilty was additionally named the Favorite Performance of the Year in a musical.
Play-wise, Kit Connor won the corresponding Favorite Performance of the Year award for his Broadway debut in “Romeo + Juliet,” a production which, with five awards, was the second most decorated show of the slate. The new mounting of Shakespeare classic, as seen through a Gen-Z lens, won the award for Favorite Play Revival. Connor was thrice honored for his performance as Romeo; in addition to the aforementioned accolade, he was also named Favorite Leading Actor in a Play and Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male). Connor’s co-star, Rachel Zegler, was named Favorite Leading Actress in a play for her turn as Juliet.
Additional acting honors went to Darren Criss (Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical for “Maybe Happy Ending”), Nicole Scherziger (Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical for “Sunset Boulevard”) Kieran Culkin (Favorite Featured Actor in a Play for “Glengarry Glen Ross”) and Zoey Deutch (Favorite Featured Actress in a Play for “Our Town”).
“Oh, Mary!” won the award for Favorite New Play, while “Sunset Boulevard” was cited as Favorite Musical Revival. The Audience Choice Awards also honor shows that opened prior to the current season; the Broadway mounting of “Wicked” won Favorite Long-Running Show, and the musical’s national company won the award for Favorite Tour.
The Audience Choice Awards were conceived during the debut year of the Broadway.com website. “For 25 years, Broadway.com has served as a vital bridge between the magic of theater and audiences around the world,” said John Gore, CEO of the John Gore Organization (the parent organization of both Broadway.com and Broadway News). “Beyond selling tickets with a white-glove level of service, the team has produced industry-leading editorial content and brought Broadway into homes across the country through its Emmy-winning syndicated TV show, ‘The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal.’ I’m incredibly proud of the impact Broadway.com has made and remain excited for the milestones still ahead.”
A complete list of winners can be found below.
Favorite New Musical
“Death Becomes Her”
Favorite New Play
“Oh, Mary!”
Favorite Musical Revival
“Sunset Boulevard”
Favorite Play Revival
“Romeo + Juliet”
Favorite Long-Running Show
“Wicked”
Favorite Tour
“Wicked”
Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical
Darren Criss, “Maybe Happy Ending”
Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, “Sunset Boulevard”
Favorite Leading Actor in a Play
Kit Connor, “Romeo + Juliet”
Favorite Leading Actress in a Play
Rachel Zegler, “Romeo + Juliet”
Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical
Christopher Sieber, “Death Becomes Her”
Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical
Michelle Williams, “Death Becomes Her”
Favorite Featured Actor in a Play
Kieran Culkin, “Glengarry Glen Ross”
Favorite Featured Actress in a Play
Zoey Deutch, “Our Town”
Favorite Diva Performance
Nicole Scherzinger, “Sunset Boulevard”
Favorite Funny Performance
Jonathan Groff, “Just in Time”
Favorite Onstage Pair
Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, “Death Becomes Her”
Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male)
Kit Connor, “Romeo + Juliet”
Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female)
Jasmine Amy Rogers, “Boop! The Musical”
Favorite Replacement (Male)
Adam Lambert, “Cabaret”
Favorite Replacement (Female)
Eva Noblezada, “Cabaret”
Favorite New Song
“For the Gaze,” “Death Becomes Her”
Favorite Performance of the Year (Musical)
Megan Hilty, “Death Becomes Her”
Favorite Performance of the Year (Play)
Kit Connor, “Romeo + Juliet”
Productions with multiple wins:
“Death Becomes Her — 6
“Romeo + Juliet” — 5
“Sunset Boulevard” — 3
“Cabaret” — 2
“Wicked” — 2
“Boop! The Musical” —1
“Glengarry Glen Ross” — 1
“Just In Time” — 1
“Maybe Happy Ending” — 1
“Oh, Mary!” — 1
“Our Town” — 1
Individuals with multiple wins:
Kit Connor, “Romeo + Juliet” — 3
Megan Hilty, “Death Becomes Her” — 2
Nicole Scherzinger, “Sunset Boulevard” — 2
