By Shannon Musgrave
The 77th Emmy Award Nominations were announced this week and CMU alumni have once again made an impressive showing, earning a total of 20 nominations.
John Wells’ new drama “The Pitt,” set in a fictional Pittsburgh emergency room, earned a total of 13 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series. Wells, a 1979 graduate from the School of Drama, was nominated for Outstanding Directing of a Drama Series for his direction of the first episode, “7:00 A.M.” The series will return for a second season in 2026. Filming has begun in Los Angeles, and it’s likely that the production will film on location in Pittsburgh in the fall.
Alumna Cherry Jones received her sixth Emmy nomination this year for her guest appearance as Holly in “The Handmaid’s Tale” –– a role for which she took home the award in 2019.
Casting director Brett Benner, a 1990 graduate of the School of Drama, picked up his fourth Emmy nomination for casting the new Apple TV+ comedy “Shrinking.” His previous nominations were in 2002, 2003 and 2005 for his work on casting the hit show, “Scrubs.”
School of Drama design and production alums make up the other 16 nominations in categories including Outstanding Production Design, Outstanding Costumes, Outstanding Lighting Design/Direction, and Outstanding Sound Editing. See the full list of CMU nominees below.
The 77th Emmy Awards will air live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in L.A. on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The show will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
CMU School of Drama Emmy Nominees 2025
Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour)
The Studio • The Note • Apple TV+ • Lionsgate Television in association with Apple
Brian Grego, Art Director (BFA 2010 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series
Saturday Night Live • Host: Lady Gaga • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Patrick Lynch, Art Director (MFA 2007 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special
Beyoncé Bowl • Netflix • Jesse Collins Entertainment and Parkwood Entertainment for Netflix
Brian Stonestreet, Production Designer – (1988 – School of Drama)
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • A Fulwell Entertainment production in association with The Recording Academy
Kristen Merlino, Art Director (BFA 2005 – School of Drama)
The Oscars • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Alana Billingsley, Production Designer (BFA 2004 – School of Drama)
John Zuiker, Art Director (MFA 2011 – School of Drama)
SNL50: The Anniversary Special • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Patrick Lynch, Art Director (MFA 2007 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
Shrinking • Apple TV+ • Warner Bros. Television in association with Apple
Brett Benner, CSA, Casting (BFA 1990 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes
Agatha All Along • Follow Me My Friend / To Glory At The End • Disney+ • Marvel Television
Christine Casaus, Assistant Costume Designer (2014 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Series
The White Lotus • Same Spirits, New Forms • HBO | Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord and MC Pictures
Eileen Sieff Stroup, Costume Supervisor (BFA 1981 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
The Pitt • 7:00 A.M. • HBO | Max • Max in association with John Wells Productions, R. Scott Gemmill Productions, and Warner Bros. Television
John Wells, Director (BFA 1979 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Series
Dancing With The Stars • Semi-Finals • ABC • BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions
Noah Mitz, Lighting Designer (BFA 2005 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Special
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • A Fulwell Entertainment production in association with The Recording Academy
Noah Mitz, Lighting Designer (BFA 2005 – School of Drama)
Ryan Tanker, Lighting Director (BFA 2010 – School of Drama)
William Gossett, Lighting Director (BFA 2015 – School of Drama)
Hannah Kerman, Lighting Director (BFA 2021 – School of Drama)
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert • Peacock • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Ryan Tanker, Moving Light Programmer (BFA 2010 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
The Handmaid’s Tale • Exile • Hulu • MGM Television, Daniel Wilson Productions, The Littlefield Company, White Oak Pictures
Cherry Jones as Holly (BFA 1978 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Drama Series
The Pitt • HBO | Max • Max in association with John Wells Productions, R. Scott Gemmill Productions, and Warner Bros. Television
John Wells, Executive Producer (BFA 1979 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour)
The Righteous Gemstones • Prelude • HBO | Max • HBO in association with Rough House Pictures
Alexa Zimmerman, Dialogue Editor (BFA 2000, School of Drama)
*Apologies for any omissions. If you are a School of Drama alum who received an Emmy nomination this year, please email smusgrav@andrew.cmu.edu and we will update this story. Thank you!*
PHOTO CREDIT: Noah Wyle in “The Pitt” Warner Bros. Photos – Photographs by Warrick Page/Max