Tonys dark horse ‘Illinoise’ could be the first show in 25 years to win Best Musical without nominations in Score or Book

“Illinoise” is something of an anomaly for a Broadway show. It is competing in the Best Musical race at the 2024 Tony Awards, but the story is told entirely through modern dance as a trio of singers lead the audience through the music of Sufjan Stevens. It doesn’t fit any typical mold for Broadway. The production’s hopes of winning the coveted Best Musical prize at the Tonys hinge on “Illinoise” becoming yet another anomaly: it’s hoping to be the first tuner in 25 years to win Best Musical without nominations for Original Score and Book.

In addition to a nomination in the top category, “Illinoise” picked up bids for Choreography (Justin Peck), Orchestrations and Lighting Design of a Musical. Industry insiders who once believed the show’s unique storytelling would make it a slam dunk to take home the crown immediately changed their predictions because of the many places the dance piece fell short. There was no acting nomination for central player Ricky Ubeda, Peck failed to earn a nomination for directing, and he was also snubbed for Book of a Musical, which he wrote with Pulitzer Prize winner Jackie Sibblies Drury.

WATCH our exclusive video interview with Justin Peck, “Illinoise” director and choreographer

Since “Illinoise” uses all pre-existing music, it was never eligible for Original Score. But missing Book of a Musical was considered a problem. A scarce few shows have won the top prize without a score nomination because they used existing music, including “Moulin Rouge!,” “Once,” “Jersey Boys” and fellow dance-ical “Contact.” But they all had nominated books. You would have to go all the way back to “Fosse” in 1999 to find a Best Musical champion that wasn’t nominated for either Score or Book.

“Fosse” is perhaps the biggest oddity in the history of Best Musical winners. The show scored eight nominations, including Director (Richard Maltby Jr. and Ann Reinking, jointly), Featured Actor in a Musical (for both Desmond Richardson and Scott Wise), Featured Actress in a Musical (Valarie Pettiford), Costume Design, Lighting Design and Orchestrations. Tony watchers would have thought that “Parade” would have taken home Best Musical since that tuner claimed Original Score and Book of a Musical. But “Fosse” shocked viewers by winning the top award, with Orchestrations and Lighting Design as its only other victories.

WATCH Final Tony Awards predictions: Best Musical race remains a toss up

“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” a musical revue using the songs of Fats Waller, is the only other musical to have pulled off this rare accomplishment in 1978. The show picked up five nominations: Best Musical, Director of a Musical (Richard Maltby Jr.), Choreography and Featured Actress in a Musical (for both Nell Carter and Charlayne Woodard). But during that year’s Tony Awards ceremony all eyes were on “On the Twentieth Century.” It won acting prizes for John Cullum and Kevin Kline, plus the all important trophies for Original Score and Book. But “Ain’t Misbehavin’” swooped in to win Best Musical with additional wins for Director and Carter in Featured Actress.

This year “Illinoise” will face off against “Hell’s Kitchen,” “The Outsiders,” “Suffs” and “Water for Elephants” in the Best Musical race. All four of those productions are nominated in Book of a Musical, and all but “Hell’s Kitchen” (another jukebox musical) are up for Original Score. This would appear to put “Illinoise” at a statistical disadvantage for Best Musical. Especially considering the recent trend of Tony voters favoring musicals with original songs over those that use pre-existing ones. But “Illinoise” bears strong similarities to “Fosse.” Both shows feature dance at their center. “Fosse” won Orchestrations and Lighting Design, two categories that “Illinoise” is also well positioned to win, and both shows have generated excitement within the industry in Best Musical races that lacked a powerful frontrunner. The odds may not be in its favor, but don’t count out “Illinoise” pulling off a surprise upset at the Tony Awards.

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