It takes a lot of invisible labor to make Broadway’s theatrical magic look effortless, and many of the hardest-working folks in the industry are still left out of the Tony Awards. Here are ten of the many blind spots that the Tony Awards could address with new categories.
1. Best Ensemble
Why it should be added: If the leads are the face of a musical, the ensemble is its beating heart. A competitive award would honor the collective heavy lifting, immense stamina, and seamless collaboration – from complex, synchronized choreography to lush harmonies – required to make a Broadway show truly soar.
2. Best Hair and Wig Design
Why it should be added: Hair and wigs are crucial to establishing a character’s age, era, and social status long before they speak. While the Tonys recently honored visionary wig designer Nikiya Mathis with a Special Tony Award in 2024 for her incredible work on Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, this shouldn’t be relegated to a one-off special recognition. From gravity-defying historical updos to rapid quick-changes, these designers are true architects of character identity and deserve a permanent competitive category alongside costume design.
3. Best Makeup Design
Why it should be added: Makeup is a highly technical, transformative art form that faces unique live-theatre challenges, like executing flawless, sweat-proof glamour eight times a week. With the Oscars and Emmys already recognizing this artistry, it’s time the Tonys formally honored these meticulous designers.
4. Best Replacement Performer
Why it should be added: Stepping into a starring role in a massive hit without a full, original rehearsal process is a unique and daunting challenge. Honoring the fresh energy and sheer resilience of replacement performers would celebrate masterclass performances while giving long-running shows a well-deserved moment back in the Tony spotlight.
5. Best Projection Design
Why it should be added: Projections have evolved from simple background enhancements into foundational elements of scenic storytelling. These incredibly detailed digital designs can shift locations instantly, doing groundbreaking, immersive work that warrants its own spotlight distinct from traditional scenic or lighting design.
6. Best Casting Director
Why it should be added: Casting is the invisible alchemy that makes or breaks a show. With the Academy Awards finally introducing a competitive Oscar for casting directors starting in 2026, it’s highly overdue for the Tonys to celebrate the theatrical visionaries discovering stars and curating the talent on stage.
7. Best Understudy, Standby, or Swing
Why it should be added: Covers are Broadway’s ultimate lifesavers. Honoring the superhuman agility and dedication required to learn up to a dozen complex tracks and step into them at a moment’s notice would be a massive, well-deserved victory for these essential theatrical athletes.
8. Best Fight Direction and Intimacy Coordination
Why it should be added: Keeping actors safe during intense combat or physically vulnerable romantic scenes is a deeply technical skill. These artists ensure physical storytelling is dynamic, repeatable, and secure. As the industry rightfully prioritizes actor boundaries, their vital choreography deserves recognition.
9. Best Stage Management Team
Why it should be added: Stage managers are the air traffic controllers of Broadway. Giving an award to the team that calls every cue, oversees massive transitions, and ensures chaotic, multi-million-dollar productions run safely would be the ultimate nod to the people holding the entire show together.
10. Best Artwork (Key Art & Creative Direction)
Why it should be added: A show’s key art is its first impression and lasting legacy—think of the iconic Les Misérables Cosette illustration or the Wicked silhouettes. Creative directors and designers do the vital commercial work of distilling a production’s entire emotional soul into a single, captivating image.
