Grohns

2024 GROHN Awards

The 2024 GROHN Awards delivered a truly unforgettable evening, overflowing with applause, head-turning performances, and—let’s be honest—some eyebrow-raising outcomes. With 405 total points across nine categories, the ceremony offered a mirror to the unpredictable and sometimes mysterious world of live theater. The season had a whopping 49 productions ranging from drag and cabaret to big Broadway blockbusters, 36 receiving at least one GROHN. Big Broadway budgets, musicals, and star power continue to show their ability to bring home the GROHN statuettes, but thrilling underdogs, and some surprising show-flops all claimed their moment in the spotlight.

Leading the pack was Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which pounced to victory with a total of 58.2 points, securing the top spot in 4 of 9 categories. It won the coveted Best in Show, with much of the show’s success attributed to its eye-popping costume design by Qween Jean and captivating choreography by Arturo Lyons & Omari Wiles. Its Best Ensemble winning cast of Ballroom and Broadway dancers led an exuberant performance that no one in the audience will soon forget, including the Special GROHN winner for Least Enthused Audience Member who sat the entire production with folded arms and a scowl from the front corner of the catwalk.

If Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals are indeed “tired” by that audience member and some critics’ standards, it sure didn’t show this year. With Cats and Sunset Blvd both claiming big prizes, one wonders what Stephen Sondheim would make of this triumph. But perhaps he’d find solace in the fact that, despite all the bells and whistles, it took brilliant creative teams to breathe new life into these works.

Speaking of Sunset Blvd., the tech-heavy stripped down production earned a respectable 49.7 points, with Nicole Scherzinger’s powerhouse performance as Norma Desmond leading the charge. Scherzinger, who nabbed the top spot and 9.0 points for Best Lead Performer, shared the award with Oh, Mary!‘s Cole Escola, who won over voters with their comic brilliance in the title role. The decision to split the Best Lead Performer award was a fitting acknowledgment of the razor-thin line between Scherzinger’s gravity and Escola’s whip-smart, zany wit. But Escola’s achievement might have been more impressive—after all, they also took home the top prize in Achievement in Production for their role as author of Oh, Mary!, which secured 41.3 total points. In an era where original material seems harder to come by, Oh, Mary! stood out, unearthing big laughs in a surprisingly stupid package.

Meanwhile, Suffs, a stirring musical about the fight for women’s suffrage, earned 43.1 points, thanks to standout performances from a record six different performers receiving GROHN awards in addition to the ensemble being recognized. This included Jenn Collela, who also received the Special GROHN for Best Returning Diva. The robust cast and dynamic score ensured Suffs would be remembered long after the curtain came down. If there’s one thing clear from this year’s awards, it’s that the strong female ensemble is alive and well—thanks in no small part to the creativity of women like Shaina Taub, whose lyrics and music for Suffs earned her 7 points in Achievement in Production.

However, not all the year’s productions hit the mark. Among the most notable disappointments was the highly anticipated Gypsy, which—despite the star power of Audra McDonald—left the committee cold. Audra’s rendition of the iconic score failed to light up the stage as expected, with the production ultimately failing to bring home any full point GROHNs. It was a rare miss for the critically adored revival, though the committee felt the show’s sluggish pace and a lackluster supporting cast couldn’t match its lofty pedigree. The same sense of unmet expectation dogged Water for Elephants and Hell’s Kitchen, which, despite solid reviews elsewhere, underwhelmed the GROHN committee and failed to secure any major wins.

Perhaps most striking was the stunning lack of recognition for the 5th Avenue Theater’s Spring Awakening revival. A strong nomination committee pick heading into the season, the show failed to secure a single GROHN, overshadowed by the previous Deaf West production. While the revival was good, it simply didn’t capture the magic of its predecessor, perhaps highlighting how the shadows of past productions can loom large—especially when a reimagining doesn’t quite meet the moment.

In a year where many productions soared, there were also some noteworthy surprises, including the shockingly low marks for Galileo, a Broadway-bound show at the Berkeley Rep that proved to be a resounding disappointment in its out-of-town run. But that’s the gamble with pre-Broadway shows—sometimes, you get a gem, and sometimes, well, you get Galileo. It wasn’t all bad news for pre-Broadway shows as the Chicago run of Death Becomes Her racked up an impressive number of GROHNs including memorable performances from the two leading ladies and a showstopping homage to ‘the gaze’ opening the show.

Miscast 24, the offbeat concert-style production that allowed stars to perform outside their usual roles, proved to be a cult favorite, taking home 35.6 points. The surprise moment of the night came from Jinkx Monsoon’s unexpected showstopper, performing every role in One Day More from Les Misérables. The number’s sheer audacity, coupled with Monsoon’s deadpan humor as they took to the microphone, was the evening’s most talked-about theatrical moment, earning 9.0 points for Best Theatrical Moment. Miscast also proved to be a goldmine for Featured Performers, securing a whopping 18.1 points in that category alone, thanks to luminaries like Lauren Patten giving a barn burning rendition of One Song Glory and Mykal Kilgore’s high-flying rendition of Stars & The Moon.

As the night wore on, Lempicka—a production with an earworm of a score—won the coveted Special GROHN “Best New Favorite Flop” award. Despite its short-lived run and lack of positive reviews, the musical left an indelible mark with its bold visuals and powerhouse vocal performances including Best Supporting Performance winner Amber Iman. And while it might not have been the biggest winner, it certainly earned a special place in the hearts of the GROHN committee.

In a year full of electrifying moments, the Special GROHN Awards shined a light on some of the more eccentric elements of theater. Greg McKnight earned the Best On-Stage Hit of Poppers for his role as a blindfolded, hypno-himbo in Baloney, and Teeth took home the Best Prosthetic Penis Design for its terrifyingly realistic stage props. For a show that both thrilled and unsettled, Teeth left a lasting impression in more ways than one.

In 2024, theatergoing reached a new echelon of social exuberance, with a staggering 68 theater companions attending 180 performances in the service of the nomination committee. It was a year dominated by the competitive camaraderie of this social circuit, where Darren set a record with 30 companions at Death Becomes Her—a record that was, rather fittingly, shattered almost immediately by Kelly, who brought 38 to Can Can Dolly!. Amid the frenzy, Camden emerged as the committee’s most devoted attendee, while Darren, ever the strategist, claimed the “excluding husbands” top companion distinction. What emerges from this delightful tangle of numbers and names is a sense of community so thoroughly woven into the fabric of theatergoing that it now exists not just on spreadsheets but in the reviewers’ hearts.

The night wrapped up with a Special GROHN tribute to the late Gavin Creel, whose unforgettable Abba medley in Miscast 24 will remain one of the season’s most cherished memories. In a year packed with diverse performances, remarkable designs, and boundary-pushing theatrical moments, the GROHN Awards once again proved that live theater is as unpredictable and thrilling as ever. Whether it’s the return of old favorites or the rise of new, audacious voices, 2024 was a year that reminded us of the power of the stage to entertain, challenge, and provoke.

The Final Tally:

  1. Cats: The Jellicle Ball – NYC – Off-Broadway – 58.2 points
  2. Sunset Blvd. – NYC – Broadway – 49.7 points
  3. Suffs – NYC – Broadway – 43.1 points
  4. Oh, Mary! – NYC – Broadway – 41.3 points
  5. MCC Miscast 24 Gala – NYC – Cabaret Performance – 35.6 points
  6. Death Becomes Her – Chicago – Pre-Broadway – 28.1 points
  7. Lempicka – NYC – Broadway – 26.8 points
  8. Teeth – NYC – Off-Broadway – 23.9 points
  9. Something’s Afoot – Seattle – Regional (5th Ave) –  22.6 points

Here’s to the 12th annual GROHN Awards—where surprises are always in store, and every performance has the potential to be a winner. The top winners of each category are shown below.

Best Lead Performer

  1. Nicole Scherzinger – Norma Desmond, Sunset Blvd (9.0 points)
    Cole Escola – Mary, Oh, Mary! (9.0 points)
  2. Megan Hilty – Madeline Ashton, Death Becomes Her (6.0 points)
    Jennifer Simard – Helen Sharp, Death Becomes Her (6.0 points)
  3. Michelle Wolf – Michelle Wolf (5.0 points)
  4. Hawley Gould – Alice Paul (standby for Shaina Taub), Suffs (4.0 points)
  5. Billie Wildrick – Norma Desmond, Showtunes’ Sunset Boulevard (3.0 points)
  6. Scott Shoemaker – Ms. Pak Man, Ms. Pak Man: Rebooted (2.0 points)

Best Supporting Performer

  1. Amber Iman – Rafaela, Lempicka (9.0 points)
  2. Jenn Collela – Carrie Chapman Catt, Suffs (8.0 points)
  3. Sarah Rudinoff – Miss Tweed, Something’s Afoot (7.0 points)
  4. André De Shields – Old Deuteronomy, Cats: The Jellicle Ball (6.0 points)
  5. David Thaxton – Max Von Mayerling, Sunset Blvd (5.0 points)
  6. Steven Pasquale – Pastor/GYNO, Teeth (4.0 points)
  7. Kecia Lewis – Piano teacher, Hell’s Kitchen (3.0 points)
  8. Chip Sherman – Tio (the Cousin), Fat Ham (2.0 points)

Best Featured Performer

  1. Robert “Silk” Mason – Mr. Mistoffelees, Cats: The Jellicle Ball (9.0 points)
  2. Lauren Patten – One Song Glory, Miscast 24 (8.0 points)
  3. Mykal Kilgore – Stars and the Moon, Miscast 24 (7.0 points)
  4. Nikki M James – Ida B Wells, Suffs (6.0 points)
  5. Grace McLean – President Woodrow Wilson, Suffs (5.0 points)
  6. David Bedbella – Lance, & Juliet (4.0 points)
  7. Jinkx Monsoon – One Day More, Miscast 24 (3.0 points)
  8. Emily Skinner – Alva Belmont/Phoebe Burn, Suffs (2.0 points)

Best Ensemble

  1. Cats: The Jellicle Ball (9.0 points)
  2. Something’s Afoot (8.0 points)
  3. POTUS… (7.0 points)
  4. Stew (6.0 points)
  5. Baloney (5.0 points)
  6. Fat Ham (4.0 points)
  7. Teeth (3.0 points)
  8. Second City Revue (2.0 points)

Best Design

  1. Qween Jean – Costume Design, Cats: The Jellicle Ball (9.0 points)
  2. Nathan Amzi & Joe Ransom – Video Design & Cinematography, Sunset Blvd (8.0 points)
  3. Jack Knowels – Lighting Design, Sunset Blvd (7.0 points)
  4. Bradley King – Lighting Design, Lempicka (6.0 points)
  5. David Korins & Peter Nigrini – Set and Projection Design, Tommy (5.0 points)
  6. Parmida Ziaei – Scenic Design, Stew (4.0 points)
  7. Bunny Christie – Scenic Design, Guys & Dolls (3.0 points)
  8. Shadou Mintrone – Costumes, Can Can: Dolly! (2.0 points)

Achievement in Production

  1. Cole Escola – Book, Oh, Mary! (9.0 points)
  2. Arturo Lyons & Omari Wiles – Choreography, Cats: The Jellicle Ball (8.0 points)
  3. Shaina Taub – Music & Lyrics, Suffs (7.0 points)
  4. Jamie Lloyd – Direction, Sunset Blvd (6.0 points)
  5. Bill Berry – Direction, Something’s Afoot (5.0 points)
  6. Sam Pinkleton – Direction, Oh, Mary! (4.0 points)
  7. Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch – Direction, Cats: The Jellicle Ball (3.0 points)
  8. Christopher Gattelli – Direction, Death Becomes Her (2.0 points)

Best Theatrical Moment

  1. Jinkx Monsoon’s 11 O’Clock Showstopper: One Day More, Miscast 24 (9.0 points)
  2. The Opening Number: “I Do It for the Gaze”, Death Becomes Her (8.0 points)
  3. The repeated line “Scoot down” during “Girls like You”, Teeth (7.0 points)
  4. The key lighting moment to begin “As if I Never Said Goodbye”, Sunset Blvd (5.0 points)
  5. The cabaret chair dragging moment, Oh, Mary! (5.0 points)
  6. The line: “Honestly….that didn’t go well”, Oh, Mary! (3.0 points)
  7. Amber’s entrance number: “Don’t Bet Your Heart”, Lempicka (2.0 points)
  8. The final skit: “Let’s Sell Houses”, Second City Revue (0.4 points)

Best in Show

  1. Cats: The Jellicle Ball (9.0 points)
  2. Oh, Mary! (8.0 points)
  3. Sunset Blvd (7.0 points)
  4. Suffs (6.0 points)
  5. Death Becomes Her (5.0 points)
  6. Teeth (4.0 points)
  7. Miscast 24 (3.0 points)
  8. Something’s Afoot (2.0 points)

The 9 Special GROHN Awards

  • Best On-Stage Hit of Poppers: Greg McKnight for his performance as a blindfolded hypno-himbo in Baloney
  • Best Prosthetic Penis Design: Teeth for their realistic and terrifying blood-soaked props
  • Best New Favorite Flop: Lempicka for its stellar staying power of an earworm-full cast recording
  • Best Returning Diva: Jenn Collela for Suffs
    • Honorable Mention: Grace McLean for Suffs
    • Honorable Mention: Jinkx Monsoon for Miscast 24
  • Least Enthused Audience Member: The folded armed grumpy man at the front corner of the catwalk who couldn’t be bothered to enjoy Cats: The Jellicle Ball
    • Honorable Mention: Christian, the audience member who didn’t want to be called on stage at Sutton Lee Seymour
  • Best Spoiled NYC Trip: Sunset Blvd, Gypsy, Oh, Mary! for three shows from center row E seats
  • Best Audience: Lempicka for a full, engaged local crowd that did not applaud extra for the child performer at curtain call
    • Honorable Mention: Minus 16 for a well-behaved, well-dressed, and mobile audience in Berlin
  • Best Venue: AIDS Memorial Pathway for its activated TOD for the Whim W’him Pop Up
    • Honorable Mention: PAC for Cats: The Jellicle Ball
    • Honorable Mention: KarlsKirche for hosting Vivaldi and Mozart performances in their historic settings
  • In Memoriam: Gavin Creel for his joyous ABBA medley at the Miscast 24 production