Lea Michele has called out of Broadway’s Chess, sparking rumours that she was left devastated after being overlooked for a Tony Award nomination — though insiders are pushing back on the diva narrative, insisting the former Glee star is genuinely unwell.
Michele missed Friday’s performance of the Broadway revival, in which she plays Florence Vassy, and has since been absent again, fuelling speculation that the snub had taken a heavier toll than the production is letting on. “She gave another excuse,” one source told Page Six. “Everyone knows she was upset. She was hysterical.” But a Broadway insider offered a more sympathetic picture, saying Michele had actually been under the weather before the nominations were even announced. “She was sick last weekend and probably should have taken off Saturday and Sunday,” they said. “She really is not well.” A third source told the outlet she has laryngitis that has since developed into bronchitis. A doctor has cleared her to return to the stage on Friday.
The timing of her absence has nonetheless set tongues wagging across Broadway. Michele has never received a Tony nomination despite a career that has spanned several major productions including Funny Girl, Les Misérables, Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof and Spring Awakening. Her performance in Chess had drawn rave reviews, and many industry observers had quietly hoped this might finally be her year. The combined star power of Michele and co-star Aaron Tveit had made Chess one of the hottest tickets of the season, yet when the nominations were announced on Tuesday, neither of their names appeared.
Michele was not eligible for a Tony for her acclaimed turn in Funny Girl because she had taken over the role from original star Beanie Feldstein — making Chess her most clear-cut opportunity for recognition in years. Instead, three of her co-stars received nods: Nicholas Christopher for Best Actor in a Musical, Bryce Pinkham for Best Featured Actor and Hannah Cruz for Best Featured Actress. Chess was also notably left out of the Best Revival of a Musical category entirely.
Variety noted the widespread bewilderment in the industry, writing: “How does Lea Michele still not have a single Tony nomination? What’s a girl gotta do?”
She is far from alone in her frustration this awards season. Oscar winner Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson were both passed over for their work in The Fear of 13, while Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle saw the revival of Proof shut out entirely despite its high-profile cast and the involvement of Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company. Jon Bernthal and Keanu Reeves were also among the notable names left without nominations.
Leading the field this year are The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon, which picked up 12 nominations apiece including Best Musical, according to Page Six.
