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Observer
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
'Maybe Happy Ending' triumphs at Tony Awards with top musical wins
In case you missed it, this year's Tony Awards has been full of surprises. "Maybe Happy Ending," a sweet and futuristic story that follows two obsolete helper robots as they navigate isolation, affection and what it means to be human, was the big musical winner at the Tony Awards on Sunday, capping a record-grossing post-pandemic Broadway theater season. The show won three big awards including best musical. Darren Criss won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical for his role as the innocent Oliver, and its director Michael Arden won the award for best director of a musical. The modern reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic "Sunset Blvd.' also won big, taking awards for best revival of a musical and for Nicole Scherzinger, who stars as the faded movie star Norma Desmond, won best actress in a musical. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Purpose' won the best play award. Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Host Cynthia Erivo, the "Wicked" film star, opened the show at Radio City Music Hall with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in "Sunset Blvd.' Buoyed by a post-pandemic rebound, the 2024-25 season grossed a record $1.89 billion in revenue and drew 14.7 million attendees, the Broadway League said. Cole Escola won the Tony for best lead actor in a play for "Oh, Mary!" The show, Escola's reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's life and relationship with husband Abraham Lincoln, blends historical satire with absurd camp. The show also earned Sam Pinkleton the Tony for best director of a play. TV's "Succession" star Sarah Snook, who made her Broadway debut this season, won the award for best leading actress in a play for her tour-de-force performance of more than two dozen roles in "The Picture of Dorian Gray.' 'HAMILTON' REUNITED The original cast of "Hamilton,' including the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, reunited to perform an electric medley in honor of the musical's 10th anniversary. The number also served as a reintroduction to Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, a role he will resume in the production later this year for a limited time. Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for "Yellow Face.' He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: "This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big.' Kara Young, who was nominated for a Tony in the role of featured actress in a play four years in a row, won for the second year in a row for her role in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Purpose.' Natalie Venetia Belcon won the award for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in "Buena Vista Social Club." Jak Malone won the award for best featured actor in a musical for "Operation Mincemeat," a fast-paced World War Two spy farce based on a bizarre true British plot to trick the Nazis with a dead body. Best revival of a play went to Jonathan Spector's "Eureka Day,' a sharp comedy about well-meaning parents at a progressive school whose unity cracks open over a vaccine debate. RISING PRODUCTION COSTS A FACTOR Alongside the creative highs this year were economic realities plaguing producers and audiences alike. Premium seats for some productions run upwards from $400, prompting concern that Broadway is increasingly out of reach for casual and younger theater lovers. Even with lotteries and rush ticket programs, demand-driven pricing has become the norm. Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, said in a statement that rising costs have affected every facet of production, making it harder and harder to bring live theater to the stage. The Broadway League presents the awards along with the American Theatre Wing. This season showcased a wide range of voices and perspectives, with many shows being led by Asian American, Black, Middle Eastern and Hispanic actors and resulting in some historic nominations. Four-time Tony-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theater. "I dedicate this award to the people in the dark," he said, "and I offer my most profound thanks to the people in my community.' "Stranger Things: The First Shadow,' based on the 12-time Emmy-winning Netflix science fiction series "Stranger Things,' took home awards for best scenic design, lighting design and sound design of a play along with a special award for its illusions and technical effects. —Reuters
Express Tribune
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Maybe Happy Ending' wins big at Tony Awards
Darren Criss wins first Tony for best leading actor in Maybe Happy Ending. Photo: File Maybe Happy Ending, a sweet and futuristic story that follows two obsolete helper robots as they navigate isolation, affection, and what it means to be human, was the big musical winner at the Tony Awards on Sunday, capping a record-grossing post-pandemic Broadway theatre season. The show won three big awards, including best musical. Darren Criss won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical for his role as the innocent Oliver, and its director Michael Arden won the award for best director of a musical. The modern reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic Sunset Blvd. also won big, taking awards for best revival of a musical and for Nicole Scherzinger, who stars as the faded movie star Norma Desmond, won best actress in a musical. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose won the best play award. Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Host Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked film star, opened the show at Radio City Music Hall with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in Sunset Blvd. Buoyed by a post-pandemic rebound, the 2024-25 season grossed a record $1.89 billion in revenue and drew 14.7 million attendees, the Broadway League said. Cole Escola won the Tony for best lead actor in a play for his creation Oh, Mary! The show, Escola's reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's life and relationship with husband Abraham Lincoln, blends historical satire with absurd camp. The show also earned Sam Pinkleton the Tony for best director of a play. TV's Succession star Sarah Snook, who made her Broadway debut this season, won the award for best leading actress in a play for her tour-de-force performance of more than two dozen roles in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The original cast of Hamilton, including the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, reunited to perform an electric medley in honour of the musical's 10th anniversary. The number also served as a reintroduction to Leslie Odom Jr as Aaron Burr, a role he will resume in the production later this year for a limited time. Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for Yellow Face. He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: "This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big." Reuters
Business Recorder
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
Pulitzer drama ‘Purpose' takes top play at Broadway's 2025 Tonys
NEW YORK: The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Purpose' won the 2025 best play award at the annual Tony Awards during a gala ceremony on Sunday night, capping a record-grossing post-pandemic Broadway theater season. Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Buoyed by a post-pandemic rebound, the 2024-25 season grossed a record $1.89 billion in revenue and drew 14.7 million attendees, the Broadway League said. Host Cynthia Erivo, the 'Wicked' film star, opened the show at Radio City Music Hall with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in 'Sunset Blvd.' TV's 'Succession' star Sarah Snook, who made her Broadway debut this season, won best leading actress in a play for her tour-de-force performance of more than two dozen roles in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for 'Yellow Face.' He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: 'This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big.' The original cast of 'Hamilton,' including the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, reunited to perform an electric medley in honor of the musical's 10th anniversary. 'Stranger Things' play wins Tony Awards, setting stage for TV series finale The number also served as a re-introduction to Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, a role he will resume in the production later this year for a limited time. Kara Young, who was nominated for a Tony in the role of featured actress in a play four years in a row, won for the second year in a row for her role in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Purpose.' Natalie Venetia Belcon won the award for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in 'Buena Vista Social Club.' Other awards remained to be announced. Alongside the creative highs this year were economic realities plaguing producers and audiences alike. Premium seats for some productions run upwards from $400, prompting concern that Broadway is increasingly out of reach for casual and younger theater lovers. Even with lotteries and rush ticket programs, demand-driven pricing has become the norm. Rising production costs a factor Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, said in a statement that rising costs have affected every facet of production, making it harder and harder to bring live theater to the stage. The Broadway League presents the awards along with the American Theatre Wing. This season showcased a wide range of voices and perspectives, with many shows being led by Asian American, Black, Middle Eastern and Hispanic actors and resulting in some historic nominations. Four-time Tony-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the Theater. 'I dedicate this award to the people in the dark,' he said, 'and I offer my most profound thanks to the people in my community.' Tony winner Celia Keenan-Bolger received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her dedication to advocacy work through the arts, including helping to found the Gavin Creel Fellowship, which Keenan-Bolger said will benefit young actors who don't come from money when they arrive in New York City, as Creel requested. Creel died at age 48 from a rare form of cancer in September. Darren Criss, a Tony nominee this year for 'Maybe Happy Ending,' and Renée Elise Goldsberry, who won a 2016 Tony for her performance in 'Hamilton,' announced technical awards in a pre-show ceremony which included best original score for 'Maybe Happy Ending'; best costume design for 'Death Becomes Her'; best scenic design for a musical for 'Maybe Happy Ending' and best lighting for 'Sunset Blvd.'
TimesLIVE
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
‘Maybe Happy Ending' triumphs at Tony Awards with top musical wins
Maybe Happy Ending, a sweet and futuristic story that follows two obsolete helper robots as they navigate isolation, affection and what it means to be human, was the big musical winner at the Tony Awards on Sunday, capping a record-grossing post-pandemic Broadway theatre season. The show won three big awards including best musical. Darren Criss won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical for his role as the innocent Oliver, and its director Michael Arden won the award for best director of a musical. The modern reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic Sunset Blvd also won big, taking awards for best revival of a musical and for Nicole Scherzinger, who stars as the faded movie star Norma Desmond, won best actress in a musical. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose won the best play award. Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Host Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked film star, opened the show at Radio City Music Hall with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in Sunset Blvd. Buoyed by a post-pandemic rebound, the 2024-25 season grossed a record $1.8bn (R17.7bn) in revenue and drew 14.7-million attendees, the Broadway League said.
CBS News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
The 2025 Tony Awards are tonight. Here's how to watch and what to know.
Broadway and Beyond: At The Tonys 2025 Broadway and Beyond: At The Tonys 2025 Broadway and Beyond: At The Tonys 2025 The 78th Annual Tony Awards, honoring the best in plays and musicals on Broadway, is taking place on Sunday. And the 2025 awards ceremony comes after a record-breaking season. Broadway's biggest night is capping the highest-grossing Broadway season in recorded history, the Broadway League said, with high ticket prices for plays including Denzel Washington's "Othello" and George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck" helping drive nearly $2 billion in gross ticket sales. The 2024-25 season was also the second best attended season in recorded history. Overall, about 14.7 million audience members bought tickets, the agency said. Forty-three productions, including 21 musicals, 21 plays and one special engagement, raised their curtains, according to the Broadway League. When are the 2025 Tony Awards? The Tony Awards, at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, begin on Sunday, June 8, at 8 p.m. ET. The stage of the 77th Annual Tony Awards on June 16, 2024 in New York Tony Awards Productions Where to watch the 2025 Tony Awards with cable The Tony Awards ceremony airs on CBS television stations beginning at 8 p.m. ET. How to stream the Tony Awards live The Tony Awards are streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. The ceremony is available live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers on Monday, June 9, the day after the special airs. Before the main show, Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry are hosting "The Tony Awards: Act One." The live pre-show is featuring exclusive content and will be available to viewers for free on the free streaming television service Pluto TV. The pre-show begins at 6:40 p.m. ET and runs until the start of the Tonys. Who is nominated at the 2025 Tony Awards? Fifteen musicals and 14 plays are nominated across 26 competitive categories at the Tony Awards. Several nominees are making history. "Yellow Face" star Daniel Dae Kim is the first Asian actor to be nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. Kara Young, a Tony nominee this year for "Purpose," is the first Black actor to be nominated four years in a row in any category. Last year, Young received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. From left: Harry Lennix, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Jon Michael Hill, Kara Young, Glenn Davis and Alana Arenas during the opening night curtain call for "Purpose" on Broadway. Getty Images "I love the fact that we are being recognized as Asian Americans on Broadway, and I think it's really important for where we are in our society, especially today, and yet I yearn for the day when it's so commonplace and understood that anyone of any race or religion or gender identification can be nominated for these things," Kim told CBS News New York. "I've always wanted to play Henry V, and you know we can always dream. And those dreams are becoming reality now." "Oh, Mary!" star and creator Cole Escola is the first non-binary nominee for Best Leading Actor in a Play. And "English" performers Tala Ashe and Marjan Neshat have become the first Middle Eastern actors to be nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Ashe recently told CBS News New York. Meanwhile, Broadway legend Audra McDonald has set a new bar: This year, she received her 11th Tony Award nomination for her performance in "Gypsy" — the most-ever for a performer. She has been awarded in every acting category at least once. If she wins on Sunday, she will become the performer with the most Tony Award wins, a title she currently shares with Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury. Audra McDonald during the opening night curtain call for the new revival of the musical "Gypsy" on Broadway. Bruce Glikas/WireImage The full list of nominees can be found here. Who is hosting the 2025 Tony Awards? "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo is hosting the ceremony. She teased her plans for the show during a Wednesday appearance on "CBS Mornings." Viewers can expect to see costume changes, she said, and Erivo attended numerous Broadway shows this season to prepare for the hosting gig. Erivo said hosting the Tony Awards is "a beautiful full circle moment" in her career. She received a Tony Award for her performance in "The Color Purple" in 2016, which led to more career opportunities, including her starring role in "Wicked." "Because of Broadway and because of the work that we did in 'The Color Purple,' I get to sit with you now where I am and have done all the things that I've done since then," Erivo said. Who is performing at the 2025 Tony Awards? Typically, the host takes part in an opening number to begin the show. The five shows nominated for Best Musical — "The Buena Vista Social Club," "Dead Outlaw," "Death Becomes Her," "Maybe Happy Ending" and "Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical" — all have performances. The four shows nominated for Best Revival of a Musical — "Floyd Collins," "Gypsy," "Sunst Blvd." and "Pirates! The Penzance Musical" — are also performing. The cast of "Maybe Happy Ending" (from left: Dez Duron, Helen J. Shen, Darren Criss and Marcus Choi) bow on stage at the Belasco musicals "Just in Time" and "Real Women Have Curves," which were not nominated for the top awards but have been nominated in other categories, are also expected to perform. Members of the original cast of the smash hit "Hamilton" are set to reunite for a performance celebrating the musical's 10th anniversary on Broadway. The Tony Awards did not announce what the cast would perform. The choir Broadway Inspirational Voices, which received an honor for "Excellence in Theater" at the 2019 Tony Awards, is also performing. Who is presenting at the 2025 Tony Awards? The Tony Awards will see some of Broadway's biggest names give awards and introduce performances. Pop star Adam Lambert, TikTok influencer Charli D'Amelio, and media mogul Oprah Winfrey are among the biggest names presenting at the awards. Actors Samuel Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Bryan Cranston, Jean Smart, Katie Holmes and Keanu Reeves — all of whom have recently appeared, or are set to appear, in Broadway shows — will also be among the presenters. Former Tony hosts Sara Bareilles and Ariana DeBose were also set to present.
