Alden Ehrenreich has won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Max in Becky Shaw. This is his first Tony win, and first nomination, and for his Broadway debut performance.
“This art of acting has given me so much,” shared Ehrenreich with Tony statuette in hand. “It has given me a life. It has given me opportunity to be around artists like the people in this room. Most of all, it has shown me that when I am very afraid and things are very hard, there is, in this present moment, right here, right now, a sustaining mystery that is there to catch you, and I am grateful for that, and the magic that it is allowed to happen in my life.”
The other nominees in the category were Christopher Abbott (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman), Danny Burstein (Marjorie Prime), Brandon J. Dirden (Waiting for Godot), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone), and Richard Thomas (The Balusters).
Directed by Trip Cullman, the Gina Gionfriddo play comes to the Main Stem via Second Stage. The play centers on a blind date as it spirals spectacularly off the rails in this dark comedy. Initially premiering Off-Broadway with Second Stage in 2009, the play was a Pulitzer finalist, alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights and Lynn Nottage’s Ruined, which took the top prize.
The Broadway company stars Emmy nominee Madeline Brewer (You, The Handmaid’s Tale) in the title role of Becky Shaw, with Tony winner Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill, Days of Rage) a Suzanna, Patrick Ball (The Pitt) as Andrew, Ehrenreich (Weapons) as Max, and three-time Tony nominee Linda Emond (Cabaret) as Susan.
The production serves as the Broadway debuts for much of the company. Along with playwright Gionfriddo, the play is the Broadway debut for Brewer, Ball, and Ehrenreich.
Cullman’s creative team includes scenic designer David Zinn, costume designer Kaye Voyce, and lighting designer Stacey Derosier.
For more information, visit 2st.com.
Check Playbill throughout the evening for the latest in Tony Awards coverage, including photos from the red carpet, a continually updated list of winners, analysis from Playbill’s theatre experts, and more.
The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. At the American Theatre Wing, Ted Chapin is interim chair, and Heather Hitchens is president and CEO. At the Broadway League, Kristin Caskey is chair, and Jason Laks is president. Raj Kapoor, Sarah Levine Hall, and Jack Sussman are producing this year’s ceremony.
For more about the Tony Awards, visit Playbill.com/Tonys.
