The 2025–26 Broadway season has officially begun, and it kicks off with a powerful performance from Emmy-winner Jean Smart in Call Me Izzy, a one-woman play written by Jamie Wax. Marking her first Broadway appearance in 25 years, Smart takes center stage in a solo role that’s already generating early Tony Awards buzz. Her last appearance on Broadway was in the 2000 revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner, which earned her a Tony nomination.
In Call Me Izzy, Smart portrays a struggling poet trapped in an abusive marriage, using her bathroom as a secret sanctuary to write poetry on toilet paper. The role allows Smart to showcase a remarkable range — embodying not only Izzy, but also several supporting characters like her abusive husband, a kind neighbor, and a wealthy New York arts patron — all without digital aids or special effects.
Critics have praised Smart’s ability to transition effortlessly between moments of comedy and gut-wrenching drama. The emotional core of the show, especially the destruction of Izzy’s poetry by her husband, is delivered with raw vulnerability. These deeply human and emotionally charged moments are what make Call Me Izzy a strong awards-season contender.
While Tony voters have shown recent support for solo performances — with Sarah Snook (The Picture of Dorian Gray), Jodie Comer (Prima Facie), and Deirdre O’Connell (Dana H.) all winning in the past few years — the early timing of Izzy‘s opening could be a challenge. Recent examples like Job and The Kite Runner show that summer and fall productions often struggle to stay in voters’ minds by spring.
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Still, Smart’s status as a beloved television and stage actress, paired with the poetic writing of Wax and the stunning lighting design by Broadway veteran Donald Holder, could keep Call Me Izzy in the conversation. Holder’s design, especially during Izzy’s poetry recitations, adds emotional depth and visual richness to the experience.
If the Tony nominators can hold onto the memory of Smart’s riveting solo performance into the spring, Call Me Izzy could join the ranks of previous one-actor triumphs — not only as a showcase for Smart, but as a reminder of the raw power of live, unfiltered storytelling.
