The 78th Annual Tony Awards unfolded on June 8, 2025, at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York City, marking a night of celebration, triumph, and Broadway’s finest talents gathered under one roof. Hosted by the acclaimed Cynthia Erivo, known for her Tony-winning performance in The Color Purple, the ceremony paid tribute to the 2024-2025 Broadway season, which shattered records by grossing an astounding $1.83 billion in ticket sales.
This season was remarkable not just for its financial success but also for the remarkable diversity and depth of productions, featuring 14 new musicals, 14 new plays, and 14 revivals. The competition was fierce, with several productions and performers making their mark and earning first-time Tony wins, alongside seasoned veterans continuing their reign.
Leading the pack was the musical Maybe Happy Ending, which took home six Tony Awards, the most of the night, including Best New Musical. The show’s success was further highlighted by Darren Criss’s win for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, a testament to his captivating performance. Michael Arden’s direction also earned Best Direction of a Musical, while Will Aronson and Hue Park secured both Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for their work on the production.
Nicole Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Dolls star turned Broadway luminary, won Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Norma Desmond in the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. Scherzinger reflected on her journey in an interview with People, saying, “I have worked many, many years to build up to this moment, and it's changed my life. I’ve never been more happy, I think, because I always had so much inside of me that I felt like people didn't see or understand. It just feels good now to be able to share that with the world.” The revival itself, under Jamie Lloyd’s direction, was awarded Best Musical Revival, breathing fresh life into a classic story from the 1950s and the 1990s stage adaptation.
On the play side, Purpose, penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, took home the Tony for Best Play. The production also earned Kara Young the Best Featured Actress in a Play award, making her the first Black actress to win two consecutive Tonys, having won the previous year for Purlie Victorious. Young’s win marked a significant milestone in Broadway’s ongoing journey toward greater inclusivity and recognition of diverse talent.
Another standout was Cole Escola’s one-act play Oh Mary!, an 80-minute show that garnered five nominations and resulted in Escola’s first Tony win for Best Leading Actor in a Play. Escola shared with NPR last month, “I can't believe that my big break came from doing what I wanted to do, like not compromising.” The play’s humor and unique storytelling captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike, with Sam Pinkleton earning Best Direction of a Play for this production.
Sarah Snook also celebrated her first Tony win for Best Leading Actress in a Play for her compelling role in The Picture of Dorian Gray, a production that further showcased the season’s range and artistic excellence. Meanwhile, Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day won Best Play Revival, adding to the night’s impressive roster of winners.
The evening also recognized remarkable supporting performances: Francis Jue won Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in Yellow Face, while Natalie Venetia Belcon was awarded Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Buena Vista Social Club, a vibrant musical that also earned Marco Paguia Best Orchestrations and Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck Best Choreography. Jak Malone took home Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Operation Mincemeat.
Scenic and technical achievements were celebrated as well. Miriam Buether and 59 Productions won Best Scenic Design of a Play for Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which also earned Jon Clark Best Lighting Design and Paul Arditti Best Sound Design of a Play. Dane Laffrey and George Reeve took Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Maybe Happy Ending. Costume design honors went to Paul Tazewell for Death Becomes Her in the musical category, and Marg Horwell for The Picture of Dorian Gray in the play category. Jack Knowles won Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Sunset Boulevard, and Jonathan Deans secured Best Sound Design of a Musical for Buena Vista Social Club.
The ceremony also paid tribute to lifetime achievements. Actress Celia Keenan-Bolger received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, recognizing her humanitarian contributions, while Harvey Fierstein was honored with the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement, celebrating his decades-long impact on theater.
The 78th Tony Awards encapsulated a season of artistic triumphs and groundbreaking moments, spotlighting emerging talents and honoring established icons. Broadway’s highest-grossing season proved that the stage remains a vibrant, evolving space where stories resonate deeply, and dreams come alive. As the curtain falls on this landmark year, the winners and nominees alike have set a high bar for the future of theater.
