She’s rewriting the history books!
Actress Audra McDonald has done it again, this time as the most Tony-nominated performer in Broadway history, People reports.
With her latest nomination for the revival of Gypsy, McDonald has earned her 11th nod, officially surpassing theater legends Julie Harris and Chita Rivera, with whom she previously shared the record. The news came on Thursday, May 1st, as this year’s Tony Award nominations were announced, and it cements McDonald’s place as the most decorated actor in the history of the awards.
The six-time Tony winner is already the only performer to have won in all four acting categories. Her latest recognition comes for her portrayal of Mama Rose in Gypsy, now running at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre — a role long considered one of the most coveted in musical theater.
“I’m so honored to have been nominated for Gypsy alongside Joy Woods, Danny Burstein and Camille A. Brown,” McDonald said in a statement. “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.”
Creel, a Tony-winning Broadway star, passed away in September 2024 at the age of 48.
“It took a long time for the idea to germinate, and I never would’ve been able to get here without the vision of our director George C. Wolfe, and the immense talent of our creative team and cast,” McDonald added. “I feel so 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.”
This production marks the first time a Black actor has played the role of Mama Rose on Broadway — a groundbreaking moment in a musical long associated with stars like Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, and Bernadette Peters. Screen versions have featured Bette Midler, Rosalind Russell, and Imelda Staunton, but none before McDonald have brought the role to life with this level of cultural significance.
Reflecting on her historic run, McDonald told reporters, “I’m so lucky. The one thing I always wanted to do growing up, one thing that gave me joy and kind of gave me purpose and made me feel most like myself was to perform theater. And so to be at this point and to have that kind of recognition is just overwhelming. I’m grateful, and it doesn’t seem real, because I don’t know how to process that.”
Ahead of the show’s opening, McDonald spoke to PEOPLE about the project, saying, “I am so honored to be a part of this production. Gypsy is a perfect musical. We have an absolutely stellar cast, all led by the brilliant George C. Wolfe who is a true theater visionary.”
This year’s Tony nominations were announced by Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce, with Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending leading among musicals, and new plays like John Proctor is the Villain and The Hills of California rounding out the list.
The 2025 Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 8th, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, hosted by Broadway veteran and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo. Whether or not McDonald takes home her seventh win, her legacy as a history-maker and barrier-breaker is already secured.
Cover photo: Audra McDonald Makes History as Most Tony-Nominated Performer Ever/Photo credit: Kennedy Center