The Outer Critics Circle (OCC) has announced that Cole Escola and Conrad Ricamora will co-host its 2025 nominations ceremony. The “Oh, Mary!” duo will reveal the nominations on April 25 at 11 a.m. at the Museum of Broadway. This marks a change from the previously reported nominations date of April 28.
Also newly announced is a cocktail reception, to be held on April 28 at West Bank Café, honoring the 75th anniversary of the founding of the OCC. The evening will honor the 2025 nominees, past winners and OCC members which comprises writers who cover the New York theater scene for outlets outside New York City.
Escola won the 2024 OCC award for Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play (in a tie with William Jackson Harper for “Primary Trust”) for originating the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the Off-Broadway mounting of “Oh, Mary!,” while Ricamora received a featured performer nod for originating the role of Mary’s Husband. As “Oh, Mary!”’s playwright, Escola also won the John Gassner Award for New American Play. Escola and Ricamora reprised their performances for the comedy’s Broadway transfer; the duo took a brief hiatus and will return to the production on April 8.
On May 12, OCC will announce the winners in 27 competitive categories (acknowledging productions that played both on and Off-Broadway in the 2024-2025 season). This will be followed by an OCC awards ceremony set to take place on May 22 at a location to be announced.
OCC is currently led by president David Gordon. The OCC board of directors includes Richard Ridge, Joseph Cervelli, Patrick Hoffman, David Roberts, Cynthia Allen, Harry Haun, Dan Rubins, Janice Simpson, Doug Strassler, Simon Saltzman and Stanley L. Cohen. The OCC awards ceremony is executive produced by Lauren Yarger.
