Carnegie Mellon Alumni Nominated for 13 Tony Awards

Carnegie Mellon University Tartans are getting red carpet-ready for The 78th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8th.  

Nominations for The 78th Annual Tony Awards were announced today on the Tony Awards official YouTube page(opens in new window). A selection of categories were revealed live on “CBS Mornings,” and a complete list of nominees is available at TonyAwards.com(opens in new window).  

The 2025 Tony Award nominations include five Carnegie Mellon University alumni who are nominated for 13 awards. This year marks 16 consecutive years in which Carnegie Mellon alumni have earned Tony nominations. 

2025 Carnegie Mellon University Tony Awards Nominees

• Megan Hilty
  • 2004 School of Drama alumna, “Death Becomes Her” (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical).
• Natalie Venetia Belcon
  • 1991 School of Drama alumna, “Buena Vista Social Club” (Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical).
• Peter Hylenski
  • 1997 School of Drama alumnus, “Just in Time” and “Maybe Happy Ending” (Best Sound Design of a Musical).
• Jamie DeRoy
  • Producer, 1967 College of Fine Arts alumna, “John Proctor is the Villain” (Best Play), “The Hills of California” (Best Play), “Buena Vista Social Club” (Best Musical), “Dead Outlaw” (Best Musical), “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical” (Best Musical), “Gypsy” (Best Revival of a Musical), “Sunset Blvd.” (Best Revival of a Musical).
• Ankit Agrawal
  • Producer, 2014 Heinz College of Information and Public Policy alumnus, “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical” (Best Musical) and “Buena Vista Social Club” (Best Musical).

"The Carnegie Mellon community is excited to celebrate our talented alumni who continue to shape the future of theatre in front of and behind the spotlight," said CMU President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window). "Their passion and artistry exemplify the excellence fostered at CMU’s School of Drama, and we look forward to celebrating them at this year’s Tony Awards."

Carnegie Mellon alumni have won 64 Tony Awards to date. CMU’s School of Drama is the first degree-granting drama program in the United States and celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2024.  

Teachers in the Spotlight

During the June 8 ceremony, CMU and The Tony Awards will present the 2025 Excellence in Theatre Education Award(opens in new window). One of theatre’s unsung heroes — a performing arts teacher from somewhere in the U.S. — will be celebrated with all of the evening’s industry stars. 

In partnership with the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, CMU and the Tonys annually recognize an exemplary K-12 theatre teacher selected from a nationwide search. The Excellence in Theatre Education Award winner’s work has demonstrated a monumental impact on the lives of students while embodying the highest standards of the profession. 

Carnegie Mellon is the exclusive higher education partner of The Tony Awards. The annual Excellence in Theatre Education Award was co-created by the Tonys and CMU and has been presented since 2015.

The winner of the 2025 Excellence in Theatre Education Award will be announced later this spring, ahead of the 78th Annual Tony Awards.

Cynthia Erivo Hosts The 78th Annual Tony Awards 

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, singer and producer, as well as a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and a three-time Academy Award nominee. Erivo burst onto West End and Broadway stages in "The Color Purple" and has since taken the world by storm.

Erivo most recently starred as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in Universal’s record-breaking film adaptation of the hit musical "Wicked" from director Jon M. Chu, with an original score composed by Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Stephen Schwartz. Part one of "Wicked" was released on Nov. 22nd, 2024. With Part two releasing on Nov. 21st, 2025. "Wicked" opened at No. 1 and has since become the highest grossing movie ever at the domestic box office based on a Broadway musical. Erivo has received widespread critical acclaim and rave reviews for her performance as Elphaba including Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, NAACP, BAFTA and Academy Award nominations.

The 78th Tonys celebration will recognize all the award categories and honor the incredible artistry of the 2024-25 season. The Tony Awards, which honor theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, is presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League and has been broadcast on CBS since 1978.