Broadway & Live Theater — May 8, 2026
The 2026 Tony Award nominations dominated Broadway headlines this week, with *The Lost Boys* and *Schmigadoon!* leading all categories. Box office results for the week ending May 3 showed a slight dip overall, though *Oh, Mary!* — now starring Maya Rudolph — broke records. Meanwhile, *Schmigadoon!* announced an extended run into 2027, and the Tony ceremony date is set for June 7 at Radio City Music Hall.
Broadway & Live Theater — May 8, 2026
Key Highlights
Tony Nominations Announced — The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead the Pack
The 79th Tony Award nominations were announced on May 5, with The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! topping all categories. According to Playbill, the award ceremony is set for June 7 at Radio City Music Hall, celebrating the best of Broadway's 2025–2026 season.
The New York Times reported that celebrity co-producers and an uptick in screen actors making Broadway debuts have defined the season, generating significant buzz. June Squibb also made history as the oldest Tony Awards acting nominee ever.
Notable snubs made news as well — Playbill reported that 10 shows and some stars were shut out of nominations entirely, including high-profile performers such as Lea Michele, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jessica Vosk.
Box Office: Overall Dip, But Oh, Mary! Sets Records
Broadway's weekly gross for the week ending May 3 came in at $39,259,008 — a 2.7% decrease from the prior week. Capacity dropped 3.8% and attendance fell 3.9%. Despite the overall dip, Oh, Mary! starring Maya Rudolph broke box office records and extended its run into July.
The Book of Mormon made headlines for different reasons — the production canceled performances after a theatre fire, according to Playbill.
Theater Fans' Choice Awards Open Voting
BroadwayWorld announced that voting is now open for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards, allowing audiences to weigh in on the best of New York theater this season.
Off-Broadway Buzz
Off-Broadway continued to offer diverse fare in May. Hugh Jackman stars in New Born at the Minetta Lane Theater, while Little Shop of Horrors features new stars, and the Public Theater's Delacorte is bringing Romeo and Juliet to the park.
Burnout Paradise — in which five performers cook a meal, sing songs, and accomplish errands while running on treadmills — opened Off-Broadway on May 7.
broadwayworld.com
Schedule of Upcoming and Announced Broadway Shows | Playbill
Schedule of Upcoming Off-Broadway Shows | Playbill
broadwayworld.com
d at a June 7 ceremony celebrating the best of Broadway at Radio City Music Hall.
playbill.com
playbill.com
Review Spotlight
Spotlight on Plays: May 2026
BroadwayWorld's May 2026 spotlight highlights a range of new plays both on and off Broadway, catering to fans of drama and comedy alike. The season's mix of intense dramas and zany comedies reflects the breadth of the current theatrical moment.
USA Today spotlighted five must-see Broadway shows for summer 2026, noting that more than a dozen new plays and musicals opened in the weeks before Tony nominations, including the revival Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which has drawn significant attention.
Tony Nominee Reactions
Nicholas Christopher, Sara Chase, and André De Shields were among the nominees who reacted publicly to their 2026 Tony nominations, with Playbill capturing live reactions from the musical nominees. Multiple artists — including Marla Mindelle and Michael Arden — earned nominations in more than one category.
Coming Up
The Tony Awards — June 7, Radio City Music Hall
The 79th Annual Tony Awards ceremony takes place on June 7, 2026 at Radio City Music Hall. With The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! leading the nominations, the race for Best Musical is expected to be hotly contested. Ragtime, Chess, Titanique, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) are among other nominated productions generating buzz.
Upcoming Openings
- Celebrity Autobiography opens May 18 at the Shubert Theatre, described as a comedy sensation in which stars perform readings from celebrity memoirs.
- School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Whitney White, is set to open at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in September 2026.
Extensions
- Schmigadoon! has extended its Broadway run into 2027 following its Best Musical nomination.
- Every Brilliant Thing, starring Tony winner Daniel Radcliffe, has recouped its Broadway investment and runs through June 28, 2026.
- Oh, Mary! with Maya Rudolph extends into July.
On the Radar
Adrienne Warren is set to join Proof on Broadway, and Olivia Holt will appear in Just in Time on Broadway. James Brown the Musical is also reportedly aiming for Broadway.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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