Audra McDonald Makes Broadway History Yet Again — The Most Tony-Nominated Performer of All Time

She’s rewriting the history books — literally and figuratively!

Broadway icon Audra McDonald has once again etched her name into theater history, becoming the most Tony-nominated performer ever, People reports. With her latest nod for the 2025 revival of Gypsy, McDonald has earned her 11th Tony Award nomination, surpassing theater titans Julie Harris and Chita Rivera, both of whom previously held the record with ten nominations each (source: People).

The announcement, made on May 1st, instantly set the Broadway world abuzz. The six-time Tony winner already holds the unique distinction of being the only performer to have won in all four acting categories — a feat unmatched in the 77-year history of the Tonys (source: The New York Times).

McDonald’s nomination comes for her electrifying performance as Mama Rose in the revival of Gypsy, now captivating audiences at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre. The role, often described as one of the “Mount Everests” of musical theater, has been previously immortalized by stage legends including Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, and Bernadette Peters. Yet, McDonald’s portrayal marks the first time a Black actor has ever taken on the role on Broadway, an achievement many are calling both historic and overdue (source: Playbill).

“As a Black actor, Rose was never a character I thought I would play until my dear friend Gavin Creel planted the idea in my head,” McDonald said in a heartfelt statement following the nominations announcement. “I feel incredibly grateful to share this Gypsy with the world and to be a part of the legacy of one of the most perfect musicals ever written.”

Creel — a beloved Tony Award winner himself — passed away in September 2024 at age 48. McDonald has publicly credited him, along with director George C. Wolfe, for pushing her to reimagine the possibilities of race and representation in classic American theater (source: Variety).

Under Wolfe’s visionary direction, the revival of Gypsy has been praised for its bold reinterpretation of gender, race, and ambition. Critics have hailed McDonald’s performance as “career-defining” and “shatteringly human,” with The Washington Post calling her “a once-in-a-generation talent continuing to expand what Broadway excellence looks like.”

Reflecting on the magnitude of her achievement, McDonald told People:

“The one thing I always wanted growing up — the thing that gave me joy and made me feel most like myself — was performing theater. To be at this point, with this kind of recognition, it’s overwhelming. I’m deeply grateful, and honestly, it still feels surreal.”

The 2025 Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, will take place on June 8th at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Among the most nominated productions this year are Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending, while acclaimed new plays like John Proctor Is the Villain and The Hills of California round out the competition (source: Deadline).

Whether or not McDonald takes home her seventh Tony, her legacy is already solidified. With a career that spans over three decades — from her breakout in Carousel to Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and now Gypsy — McDonald remains a trailblazer for inclusivity and artistic excellence.

“Audra McDonald has long redefined what Broadway stardom means,” wrote The New York Times. “Her latest nomination isn’t just another accolade — it’s a moment of cultural reckoning, proving that brilliance knows no boundaries of race or tradition.”

As she continues to defy expectations and inspire generations of performers, Audra McDonald stands not just as a Broadway legend — but as living proof that history can be rewritten, one standing ovation at a time.