Tony Awards 2025: Celebrating Broadway’s Triumphs
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, held on June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, showcased a remarkable season of Broadway theater. Hosted by Cynthia Erivo, the evening celebrated groundbreaking performances, innovative productions, and historic milestones. Here's an in-depth look at the standout winners and moments from this unforgettable night.
Major Winners of the Night
Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending
A futuristic love story about two obsolete helper robots, Maybe Happy Ending captivated audiences and critics alike, securing six Tony Awards. The production won Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Scenic Design, and Best Direction of a Musical for Michael Arden. Darren Criss also earned Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of one of the robots.
Best Play: Purpose
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Purpose took home the Tony for Best Play. The production also earned Kara Young her second consecutive Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, making her the first Black actress to achieve this feat. Additionally, Francis Jue won Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in Yellow Face.
Best Revival of a Musical: Sunset Boulevard
Nicole Scherzinger's powerful performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard earned her the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. The production also won Best Revival of a Musical.
Best Revival of a Play: Eureka Day
Eureka Day, a timely comedy about a progressive school grappling with a public health crisis, won Best Revival of a Play.
Notable Acting Honors
The 2025 Tony Awards recognized exceptional talent across various categories:
Leading Performers
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Best Actor in a Play: Cole Escola for Oh, Mary!
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Best Actress in a Play: Sarah Snook for The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Best Actor in a Musical: Darren Criss for Maybe Happy Ending
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Best Actress in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard
Featured Performers
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Best Featured Actor in a Play: Francis Jue for Yellow Face
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Best Featured Actress in a Play: Kara Young for Purpose
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Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat
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Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon for Buena Vista Social Club
Full List of 2025 Tony Award Winners
| Category | Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| Best Musical | Maybe Happy Ending |
| Best Play | Purpose |
| Best Revival of a Musical | Sunset Boulevard |
| Best Revival of a Play | Eureka Day |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Actress in a Musical | Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Boulevard) |
| Best Actor in a Play | Cole Escola (Oh, Mary!) |
| Best Actress in a Play | Sarah Snook (The Picture of Dorian Gray) |
| Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Jak Malone (Operation Mincemeat) |
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Natalie Venetia Belcon (Buena Vista Social Club) |
| Best Featured Actor in a Play | Francis Jue (Yellow Face) |
| Best Featured Actress in a Play | Kara Young (Purpose) |
| Best Direction of a Musical | Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Direction of a Play | Sam Pinkleton (Oh, Mary!) |
| Best Choreography | Justin Peck (Buena Vista Social Club) |
| Best Original Score | Will Aronson and Hue Park (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Book of a Musical | Will Aronson and Hue Park (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Scenic Design of a Musical | David Zinn (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Natasha Katz (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Sound Design of a Musical | Peter Hylenski (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Best Orchestrations | Tom Kitt (Maybe Happy Ending) |
Historic Moments
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Kara Young made history by becoming the first Black actress to win two consecutive Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
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Francis Jue received his first Tony Award for his role in Yellow Face, marking a significant milestone in his distinguished career.
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Darren Criss became the first known Asian American to win Best Actor in a Musical, showcasing the growing diversity in Broadway's leading roles.
Conclusion
The 2025 Tony Awards celebrated a season rich in creativity, diversity, and excellence. From innovative musicals like Maybe Happy Ending to thought-provoking plays like Purpose, Broadway continues to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide. As the curtain falls on this year's ceremony, the spotlight shines brightly on the talented individuals and productions that define the magic of theater.
