Broadway’s biggest celebration returned in full force as the Tony Awards 2025 lit up Radio City Music Hall on June 8. Hosted by the always-commanding Cynthia Erivo, this year’s 78th annual ceremony was equal parts heart, humour, and history. This night reminded us just how much live theatre can move, inspire, and surprise us.
‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Takes Centre Stage at Tony Awards 2025
The breakout star of the night? A pair of quirky robots with a story to tell.
Maybe Happy Ending, a bittersweet musical about two abandoned robots who discover friendship, and perhaps something more, on an unexpected road trip, was the big winner at the Tony Awards 2025. The show walked away with six Tony Awards, including:
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Best Musical
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Best Original Score – Will Aronson & Hue Park
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Best Book of a Musical
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Best Actor in a Musical – Darren Criss (Oliver)
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Best Direction of a Musical – Michael Arden
For Darren Criss, the win felt like a full-circle moment. Known to many from Glee and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Criss brought emotional depth and boyish charm to Oliver, earning his first Tony Award in the process.
Tony Awards: A Night of Bold Voices and Fresh Narratives
The Tonys weren’t just about feel-good musicals, though; they were about powerful storytelling and long-overdue recognition.
Purpose, a riveting family drama by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, snagged Best Play, further cementing his place as one of the most important playwrights working today. The story unpacks generational trauma and moral ambiguity with sharp dialogue and deep emotional stakes.
In the revival realm, Sunset Boulevard made a dazzling return. Nicole Scherzinger’s haunting take on Norma Desmond earned her Best Leading Actress in a Musical, a career-defining moment that saw her beat out heavyweights like Audra McDonald. Yes, that Audra.
And let’s talk about Sarah Snook. In her one-woman show The Picture of Dorian Gray, she shape-shifted through over 25 characters, delivering a performance that had critics scrambling for adjectives. Her win for Best Actress in a Play was practically inevitable.
History Was Made—More Than Once
The 2025 ceremony didn’t just honour great performances; it made space for groundbreaking ones.
Cole Escola became the first non-binary performer to win Best Actor in a Play, thanks to their off-the-wall, hilarious take on Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary! Their acceptance speech was equal parts funny and touching, a rare combo that somehow just worked.
Kara Young made history of her own at the Tony Awards 2025, becoming the first Black actor to win back-to-back Tony Awards in any category, this time for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Purpose. Talk about momentum.
Other notable wins included:
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Jak Malone, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Operation Mincemeat)
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Paul Tazewell, Best Costume Design in a Musical (Death Becomes Her), fresh off an Oscar win for Wicked
Moments We’ll Remember
Trophies are nice, but the soul of the Tonys lies in the moments that hit you right in the chest.
The 10th anniversary tribute to Hamilton had everyone buzzing, with original cast members like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr. reuniting onstage. Their medley reminded us why Hamilton redefined the genre, and why it still matters.
Nicole Scherzinger’s tearful speech, where she opened up about the road from Pussycat Dolls to Broadway’s brightest stage, felt like a true underdog story. And Sarah Snook’s transformative performance had the whole room in awe; her win was the cherry on top of a stunning theatrical feat.
Let’s not forget Cynthia Erivo, who brought her signature mix of powerhouse vocals, dry wit, and graceful hosting that kept the show on pace and full of personality.
On a more practical note: Broadway is back in a big way. The 2024–25 season pulled in nearly $2 billion, showing that live theatre is not just recovering, it’s thriving.
Looking Ahead
As the confetti settled, the 2025 Tony Awards left us with more than just a list of winners. They reminded us that Broadway is still a place where stories evolve, new voices rise, and old narratives find new meaning.
Whether you’re a seasoned theatregoer or someone who only occasionally glances at Playbill, one thing’s clear: Broadway isn’t just surviving, it’s leading the charge in creativity, inclusion, and bold storytelling.
Here’s to the next act.
