Content
Recent Posts
What You Missed at the 2025 Tony Awards
Published On: June 11, 2025.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards brought Broadway’s best back into the spotlight with a night full of heartfelt speeches, major milestones, and unforgettable performances. Held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the ceremony was hosted by Cynthia Erivo, whose powerhouse voice and warm charisma made her one of the night’s standout stars.
From emotional tributes and groundbreaking wins to surprise reunions and crowd-pleasing numbers, this year’s Tonys were more than just an awards show. They felt like a love letter to live theater and the people who keep it alive.
Let’s take a look at the highlights, the historic moments, and everything that made the 2025 Tony Awards such a special night.
Content
Cynthia Erivo Brings Star Power With Hosting Debut
Cynthia Erivo opened the show with a rousing musical number titled “Sometimes All You Need Is a Song,” backed by the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir. It was an electrifying kickoff, and Erivo carried that energy through the night, combining humor, sincerity, and just the right amount of showbiz sparkle.
Her hosting style struck a perfect balance between heartfelt and hilarious. She poked gentle fun at celebs like George Clooney and Jonathan Groff, but also brought the house to silence with a moving duet of “Tomorrow” alongside Sara Bareilles during the In Memoriam tribute.
From costume changes to crowd work, Erivo’s presence gave the night a real sense of intimacy and fun.
Major Wins of the Night
Maybe Happy Ending steals the spotlight
The big winner of the night was Maybe Happy Ending, a touching sci-fi musical about two helper robots who fall in love as their batteries begin to fail. The show won six awards, including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Darren Criss, and Best Direction for Michael Arden.
Criss made history as the first Asian American actor to win in the category. In his emotional acceptance speech, he said, “This story of two robots learning how to love as their time runs out? That’s a story for everyone.”
Helen J. Shen, who starred alongside Criss, called the production “a quietly revolutionary piece” and thanked audiences “for embracing something so unique.”
Purpose brings power and urgency
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins took home Best Play for Purpose, a gripping civil rights drama that explores race, family, and political legacy. Kara Young also won Best Featured Actress in a Play, making history as the first Black actor to win a Tony for a play in back-to-back years.
Jacobs-Jenkins said, “This is for anyone who’s ever been told their story was too complicated for the stage.”
Acting wins that made history
Cole Escola became the first openly nonbinary actor to win Best Actor in a Play for their wildly imaginative portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!. Their speech was both hilarious and heartfelt, paying tribute to Bernadette Peters’ iconic 1999 look, which their costume was inspired by.
Sarah Snook won Best Actress in a Play for her haunting solo performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray. She called it “the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the most rewarding.”
Nicole Scherzinger took home Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, which also won Best Revival of a Musical. Her rendition of “As If We Never Said Goodbye” was one of the night’s most powerful moments.
Other notable wins included Francis Jue for Yellow Face, Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat, and Natalie Venetia Belcon for Buena Vista Social Club.
Standout Performances Lit Up the Stage
- Audra McDonald brought the house down with “Rose’s Turn” from Gypsy
- Jonathan Groff mixed music with mischief in a cheeky performance that ended with a surprise lap dance for Keanu Reeves in the audience
- The original cast of Hamilton reunited for a 10th anniversary medley, with Lin-Manuel Miranda leading an emotional rendition of several fan favorites
- Highlights from nominated musicals included numbers from Death Becomes Her, Dead Outlaw, Maybe Happy Ending, and Buena Vista Social Club, offering audiences a taste of each show’s energy and heart
A Big Night for Broadway's Future
This year’s Tony Awards drew in over 5 million viewers across CBS and Paramount+, making it the most-watched broadcast since 2019. But more than the numbers, what stood out was how inclusive and creative this year’s Broadway season has been.
From robots to historical figures to civil rights battles, this year’s winners proved that Broadway isn’t afraid to evolve. With new voices, new stories, and new formats, the future of theater looks more vibrant than ever.