The Lost Boys’ Tony chances lower after the Drama Desk Awards nominations

The vampire musical’s hopes are dealt a blow in the run up to the Tony Awards

The prestigious Drama Desk Awards could not have made their feelings clearer about The Lost Boys if they had worn a string of garlic around their 2026 nominations.

The collective of New York City-based theatre critics, journalists, editors, and reporters who cover Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions showed little affection for the high-flying vampire musical – recently praised by The Recs HERE – with only five nominations for the show that had been tipped as a potential front-runner at the upcoming Tony Awards. 

Image by Matthew Murphy

The production, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Michael Arden, received deserved nods for choreography, scenic design, lighting design, wig and hair and fight choreography, but it came up short in Outstanding Musical. 

The five nominations in that category are Beau the Musical, Mexodus, Schmigadoon!, The Seat of Our Pants, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). With three of those not eligible for the Tony Awards as they are off-Broadway shows, could Schmigadoon! and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) be entering a two-horse race?

While it doesn’t drive a stake through the heart of The Lost Boys’ chances, it is notable omission from an important awards collective.

The Drama Desk Award winners will be named in a ceremony hosted by Titaníque star Marla Mindelle – who presumably won’t take offence that her show has only received one nomination (Layton Williams for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical) – set for May 17 at Town Hall. 

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The Recs SCD - Steve Coats-Dennis