Death Becomes Her, the Broadway musical based on the 1992 film comedy about a pair of death-defying duelling divas, topped the list for the Outer Critic Circle Awards with 12 nominations. The nominees were announced by Cole Escola and Conrad Ricamora of Oh, Mary! on April 25 at the Museum of Broadway. Both performers received nominations for Oh, Mary! last season during its Off-Broadway run and Escola won two. Maybe Happy Ending came in second with 9 nominations and Stranger Things: The First Shadow received the most nominations for a play with 7. 
Cole Escola and Conrad Ricamora
at the Museum of Broadway
announcing the OCC nominations.
The bag is by Louis Vitton.
There were also some surprising snubs. The star-heavy revival of Othello with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, Smash, The Last Five Years, and Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends were skunked with no nominations. The winners, voted on by the OCC, a group of critics, reporters, and editors writing for national media, will be announced on May 12 and the awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Lincoln Center NY Public Library for the Performing Arts on May 22.
The Outer Critics Awards honor both on and Off-Broadway productions, some in separate categories and some together. Two seasons ago, the OCC eliminated gender considerations in its performing categories.
This year's ceremony marks the 75th anniversary of the organization's founding, when the first-ever awards were presented to T.S. Elliot's The Cocktail Party (Play), Gian Carlo Menotti's The Consul, and performers Sheila Guyse (Lost in the Stars) and Daniel Reed (Come Back, Little Sheba). The Outer Critics Circle will commemorate the milestone this spring, with a special 75th Anniversary Cocktail Reception to honor this year’s nominees, past winners, and its members. The reception will be held this Monday, April 28, at West Bank Café.
Led by its current President David Gordon, the OCC Board of Directors and Nominating Committee also includes Vice President Richard Ridge, Recording Secretary Joseph Cervelli, Corresponding Secretary Patrick Hoffman, Treasurer David Roberts, Cynthia Allen, Harry Haun, Dan Rubins, Janice Simpson and Doug Strassler. Simon Saltzman is President Emeritus & Board Member (Non-nominating) and Stanley L. Cohen serves as Financial Consultant & Board Member (Non-nominating). Lauren Yarger serves as the Outer Critics Circle Awards ceremony executive producer.
Jennifer Simard and Christoper Seiber
received OCC noms for Death Becomes Her,
the OCC's most nominated show.
Credit: Evan Zimmerman and Matthew Murphy
2025 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD NOMINATIONS
Outstanding New Broadway Play
Cult of Love
The Hills of California
John Proctor Is the Villain
Purpose
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Boop! The Musical
Death Becomes Her
Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat
Real Women Have Curves
