Photo credit: Tony Awards

The 2025 Tony Awards were a celebration of daring new works, long-awaited revivals, and standout performances that lit up the Broadway stage over the past season. Leading the night was Maybe Happy Ending, a fresh and poignant musical that swept multiple major categories including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Direction of a Musical. The show’s star, Darren Criss, also earned the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical, underscoring its creative and emotional impact.

Nicole Scherzinger, long known for her pop music career, solidified her Broadway credentials with a powerful turn in Sunset Blvd., earning the award for Best Actress in a Musical. That same production was also recognized as Best Revival of a Musical, with Jack Knowles winning for his evocative lighting design.

The Best Play award went to Purpose, a stirring piece by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins that also earned Kara Young the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Oh, Mary!, a comedic and imaginative take on Mary Todd Lincoln’s inner world, won Cole Escola Best Actor in a Play, while Sam Pinkleton took home Best Direction of a Play for the same production.

Sarah Snook’s portrayal in The Picture of Dorian Gray won her the Tony for Best Actress in a Play, with the show also honored for its costume design by Marg Horwell. In the revival category, Eureka Day stood out as Best Revival of a Play.

The ceremony also shined a spotlight on more experimental and multimedia storytelling. Stranger Things: The First Shadow received recognition for its scenic design, lighting, and sound, capturing the audience’s imagination with immersive theatricality. Meanwhile, the musicians of Buena Vista Social Club were celebrated both through a special Tony Award and wins for featured actress Natalie Venetia Belcon, choreography, sound design, and orchestrations.

Jak Malone’s performance in Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical was awarded Best Featured Actor in a Musical, while design accolades in the musical categories went to Maybe Happy Ending, Death Becomes Her, and Sunset Blvd.

This year’s Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre was presented to Harvey Fierstein, honoring his decades of influence on the American stage. Additional special honors recognized the behind-the-scenes magic of Stranger Things, the band of Buena Vista Social Club, and contributions from institutions such as Great Performances and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Celia Keenan-Bolger received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her community and philanthropic efforts, while The Muny was named the recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award.

The 2025 Tony Awards reflected a season marked by innovation, global influences, and performances that challenge, inspire, and entertain. As Broadway continues to evolve, this year’s winners reaffirm its power to move audiences and push the boundaries of what live theater can be.