On May 1, the American Theatre Wing announced the 2025 Tony Award nominees. Two Denver-bound shows, two actors, and four designers were among those singled out for recognition.

ENGLISH
by Sanaz Toosi
Nominated for Best Play

Additional Nominations:

• Tala Ashe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role/Play
• Marjan Neshat for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role/Play

Already awarded the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the disarmingly funny and tender play has been called “undeniably one of the best plays of the decade” by Variety. English will make its Colorado debut in a production by the Denver Center Theatre Company April 17-May 31, 2026 in the Singleton Theatre.

DEATH BECOMES HER
Nominated for Best Musical

Additional Nominations:

• Best Book of a Musical
• Best Original Score Written for the Theatre
• Best Scenic Design of a Musical
• Best Costume Design of a Musical
• Best Lighting Design of a Musical
• Best Choreography
• Best Direction of a Musical
• Megan Hilty for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
• Jennifer Simard for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical 

Also headed for Denver is the recently announced tour of Death Becomes Her. Called a “cheek-aching laughter rollercoaster” by The Daily Beast, Death Becomes Her will come to Denver in Fall 2026 as part of the 2026/27 season. Subscribe now to guarantee your chance to secure tickets in the future.

But the shows destined for Colorado are only part of the connection to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, six individuals who have been associated with past DCPA Theatre Company productions received the prestigious nod:

DEDE AYITE
Nominated for Best Costume Design of a Musical for Buena Vista Social Club

Dede Ayite designed costumes for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2017/18 productions of Macbeth and the world premiere of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding. 

PALMER HEFFERNAM
Nominated for Best Sound Design of a Play for John Proctor is the Villan

Palmer Heffernan designed the sound and music for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s productions of The Lehman Trilogy (2023/24), Emma (2023/24), and the world premiere of You Lost Me (2019/20).

FRANCIS JUE
Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role/Play for Yellow Face

Francis Jue read the role of Wen Chang in the 2017 Colorado New Play Summit reading of The Great Leap.

JULIA KNITEL
Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role/Musical for Dead Outlaw

Julia Knitel appeared as Martha Culver in the 2018/19 Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of The Constant Wife.

DANE LAFFREY
Co-Nominated for Best Scenic Design of a Musical with George Reeve for Maybe Happy Ending

Dane Laffrey designed the sets for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere productions of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding (2017/18) and Grace, or the Art of Climbing (212/13) as well as the costumes for the world premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride (2013/14).

ITAMAR MOSES
Nominated for Best Book of a Musical for Dead Outlaw

Itamar Moses wrote the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere production of The Whistleblower (2018/19).

CLINT RAMOS
Nominated for Best Costume Design/Musical for Maybe Happy Ending

Clint Ramos designed costumes for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2010/11 world premiere of Map of Heaven.

In another Denver connection, the Tony Awards were named after Denver native Antoinette Perry. Making her acting debut at Elitch Theater at age 11, she went on to be an actress, director, producer and philanthropist. She helped found, and was chairwoman and secretary of, the American Theatre Wing (ATW). Following her death, fellow producer Brock Pemberton suggested that ATW create a series of awards to be given in her honor leading to the establishment of the Antoinette “Tony” Perry Awards for Excellence in Broadway Theatre.

The Tony Awards will be aired Sunday, June 8 on CBS Colorado. Check local listings for the time.