Broadway embraced both innovation and legacy at Sunday’s Tony Awards, where Maybe Happy Ending, a heartfelt android rom-com, and Purpose, a searing family drama, emerged as the night’s biggest winners.
Maybe Happy Ending, starring Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen, swept six Tonys, including Best New Musical. The futuristic tale of two decommissioned robots exploring love and memory resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. Criss won his first Tony and shared the moment with Shen, who was not nominated but was praised in his speech. The show also won Best Score (Will Aronson and Hue Park), Best Book, and Best Direction for Michael Arden, who celebrated the win with a spirited “Happy Pride!”
Meanwhile, Purpose, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, claimed Best New Play. The drama, centered on a successful Black family confronting hidden truths during a snowstorm, made history as Kara Young became the first Black performer to win back-to-back Tonys. Jacobs-Jenkins is also the first Black playwright to win Best Play since August Wilson in 1987. He used his acceptance speech to champion regional theater, crediting Chicago for nurturing the play.
Kara Young accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Nicole Scherzinger stunned with dual victories for Sunset Blvd., which took Best Musical Revival and Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Her performance marked a significant artistic shift from pop icon to Broadway leading lady. “I’ve finally come home,” she said in an emotional speech encouraging dreamers everywhere.
An emotional Scherzinger said she felt like she had “come home, at last”, 20 years after shooting to fame. PHOTO/COURTESY
The ceremony, hosted for the first time by Cynthia Erivo, opened with a backstage musical journey that ended in a red-sequined solo performance. Erivo kept the night lively and heartfelt, offering tributes, jokes, and a show-stopping duet with Sara Bareilles during the in memoriam segment.
Host Cynthia Erivo performs the opening number (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Sarah Bareilles and Cynthia Erivo perform “Tomorrow” during the in memoriam segment (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Other standout winners included Cole Escola, who won Best Actor in a Play for their irreverent turn as Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh Mary!—which also earned Best Direction for Sam Pinkleton—and Sarah Snook, who triumphed in The Picture of Dorian Gray, playing all 26 roles in the demanding solo show. Eureka Day won Best Revival of a Play, while Francis Jue and Jak Malone took home featured acting honors for Yellow Face and Operation Mincemeat, respectively.
A special moment came with the 10th anniversary tribute to Hamilton, as the original cast reunited for a medley of fan favorites. And Harvey Fierstein, honored with a lifetime achievement award, reminded the world why theater matters: “I dedicate this award to the people in the dark.”
With a record-breaking $1.9 billion Broadway season, this year’s Tonys confirmed what Cynthia Erivo declared onstage: “Broadway is officially back.”
The company from ‘Buena Vista Social Club” performs during the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Written By Rodney Mbua
