Broadway celebrated a memorable season at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, held at the iconic Radio City Music Hall on June 8, hosted by Broadway powerhouse Cynthia Erivo. The evening featured a diverse array of musicals and plays, but two productions stole the spotlight: the romantic and poignant Maybe Happy Ending, and the dramatic revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic, Sunset Boulevard.
Clinching the coveted Best Musical award, Maybe Happy Ending emerged victorious from a tightly contested field including Buena Vista Social Club, Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, and Operation Mincemeat. This heartfelt musical captivated critics and audiences alike, ultimately taking home seven Tony Awards including Best Actor in a Musical for Darren Criss, Best Direction of a Musical for Michael Arden, and Best Original Score for creators Will Aronson and Hue Park.
In one of the most eagerly anticipated moments of the evening, former pop star turned Broadway sensation Nicole Scherzinger won the award for Best Actress in a Musical for her stunning portrayal of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Scherzinger’s victory was especially notable, edging out Broadway icon Audra McDonald, who was widely considered a frontrunner for her groundbreaking performance in the revival of Gypsy.
Scherzinger brought the house down earlier in the evening with an electrifying performance of “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” further cementing her triumphant Broadway debut. Her show, Sunset Boulevard, was also recognized as the season’s Best Revival of a Musical, marking a significant return to form for composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who had not won a major Tony Award in 30 years.
The evening also made history, notably with Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s powerful drama Purposetaking the title of Best Play. Kara Young earned the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in the same production, becoming the first Black actress ever to win two consecutive Tony Awards, having won previously for Purlie Victorious.
Another standout victory came from the acclaimed solo performance of Sarah Snook, who won Best Actress in a Playfor her captivating turn in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Meanwhile, comedian and actor Cole Escola won Best Actor in a Play for Oh, Mary!.
Among the revivals, Eureka Day took home Best Revival of a Play, standing out in a category featuring classics like Romeo + Juliet and Our Town. The evening’s design awards showcased Broadway’s creative brilliance, with Stranger Things: The First Shadow picking up several accolades including Best Scenic Design and Best Sound Design in a Play.
The 2025 Tony Awards provided an electrifying night full of surprises, emotion, and outstanding artistry, underscoring Broadway’s continuing innovation and creativity. This year’s ceremony reaffirmed the importance of storytelling, performance, and the magic that can only be found in live theatre.
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