As the old adage says, “The show must go on,” and that includes the Tony Awards. Here are five of the best Broadway shows eligible for the upcoming 2020 ceremony.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Based on the hit Baz Luhrmann film of the same name, this jukebox musical featured an abundance of Broadway heavyweights including Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo as the star-crossed lovers Christian and Satine, Tony-favorite Danny Burstein as the rambunctious host Harold Zidler, Sahr Ngaujah as the lovable Toulouse-Lautrec, and many more. With exciting pop arrangements, engaging direction from Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), and pulse-pounding choreography from So You Think You Can Dance’s Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! Quickly became one of the biggest hits of this last Broadway season. 

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical 

This critically acclaimed West End transfer, led by a tour-de-force performance from Tony-nominee Adrienne Warren (Shuffle Along), tracks the life of Tina Turner from her childhood in Nutbush, Tennessee to her ascension as an undisputed rock’n roll star. Featuring all of Turner’s greatest hits and some slick choreography, this roof-raising jukebox musical had audiences on their feet.

Sea Wall/A Life

Jake Gyllenhaal has amassed quite the Broadway resume over the past decade, with critically acclaimed performances in Nick Payne’s Constellations and the 2017 revival of Sunday in the Park with George. He reunited with Payne for Sea Wall/A Life, which also featured Tom Sturridge (1984) in a segment written by Simon Stephens. This minimalist production captivated audiences an evening of back-to-back monologues that address fatherhood, grief, and other weighty themes, demonstrating why Sturridge and Gyllenhaal are some of the finest actors working today.

The Inheritance

Another hit from across the pond, this seven-hour, two-part epic takes E.M. Forster’s classic “Howard’s End” and transplants it to 21st Century New York City. Beautifully written and directed by Matthew Lopez and Stephen Daldry. The Inheritance proudly picks up the mantle of Angels in America and runs with it, examining what today’s generation of gay men owe to their forebearers and how their cultural heritage will affect their future.

Slave Play

One of the most talked-about and intellectually engaging Broadway plays in recent memory, Jeremy O. Harris’ play isn’t afraid to tackle relevant themes such as interracial relationships and microaggressions and systemic racism, among others. In a time where the pervasiveness of systemic racism and the presence of white supremacy in all aspects of life is being thoroughly examined, Slave Play’s unapologetic handling of such weighty messaging feels more vital and relevant than ever.

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