From The Voice to Broadway, this Louisiana native landed in the Tony Awards 2025 most-nominated musical

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS ) — One of Louisiana’s very own is shining bright on one of the world’s most sought-after stages and making a name in a Tony-nominated hit.

First rising to popularity in his debut on NBC’s The Voice, this star is keeping his hometown on the entertainment map.

March 1, 2025, the Tony Awards released their list of nominations, and among them is a show featuring Louisiana’s top talent.

Dez Duron, from Shreveport, appears in the musical Maybe Happy Ending a touching and heartfelt play that received 10 nominations at the 2025 Tony Awards. Tying Buena Vista Social Club and Death Becomes Her for most nominations in this year’s program.

Duron first rose to musical popularity when he swept through the competition on NBC’s hit show The Voice, charming the audience with his voice and charisma, reaching the top 8 before being eliminated.

Growing up in Shreveport, Dez attended Evangel Christian Academy, where he graduated as valedictorian. As quarterback of his high school team, he led the team to two state championships and one runner-up finish, and was named Louisiana’s 2008-2009 Gatorade Player of the Year.

But even with all of his athletic accomplishments, he always had a heart for music.

His father is the pastor at Shreveport Community Church, where Duron found his love for music and singing early in his childhood.

This is what set the path leading him to Broadway.

In Maybe Happy Ending, Dez plays Gil Brentley, the fictional jazz character from the past that brings comfort and emotion to the main characters, who, in a charming twist…happen to be robots. Brentley represents all of the emotions that the robots just can’t quite put into words.

Duron even performed as Brentley on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, introducing audiences across the country to the soulful character.

While Dez did not receive any individual nominations, being part of a highly nominated show is a significant achievement.

The show went to Broadway on November 12, 2024, and you have an opportunity to catch the show in New York until it leaves the stage January 18, 2026.

The Tony Awards will air on CBS on June 8, 2025, where everyone in Louisiana can root for Dez and the rest of the cast.