Empire State Review Contributor 
NEW YORK CITY — The 78th Annual Tony Awards lit up Radio City Music Hall on June 8, 2025, celebrating a vibrant year in Broadway theater. Hosted by Cynthia Erivo, the ceremony honored outstanding achievements in the 2024–2025 season, with notable wins for Maybe Happy Ending, Purpose, and Sunset Boulevard.
A Night of Memorable Performances and Historic Wins
Cynthia Erivo, a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award winner, opened the evening with a dynamic original musical number that earned a standing ovation. Dressed in a sparkling red dress, she was joined by a choir and Broadway stars, setting an uplifting tone for the night.
The ceremony featured performances from nominated musicals, including Death Becomes Her, Gypsy, Sunset Boulevard, and Just in Time. A highlight of the evening was the reunion of the original Hamilton cast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Daveed Diggs, and Renée Elise Goldsberry, celebrating the show’s 10th anniversary with a special performance.
Major Award Winners
Maybe Happy Ending emerged as the night’s big winner, securing six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Darren Criss, Best Direction of a Musical for Michael Arden, and Best Original Score.
In the play categories, Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won Best Play. Sarah Snook received Best Actress in a Play for her solo performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Cole Escola made history as the first openly non-binary actor to win Best Actor in a Play for Oh, Mary!.
Nicole Scherzinger earned Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, which also won Best Revival of a Musical.
Celebrating Broadway’s Diversity and Talent
The ceremony highlighted the diversity and talent within the Broadway community. Kara Young made history with back-to-back wins, taking home Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Purpose. Other notable winners included Francis Jue for Yellow Face, Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat, and Natalie Venetia Belcon for Buena Vista Social Club.
The event also paid tribute to theater legends and featured a heartfelt in memoriam segment, with Sara Bareilles and Cynthia Erivo performing “Tomorrow” to honor those lost in the past year.
The 78th Tony Awards showcased the resilience and creativity of Broadway, celebrating both established and emerging talents in the theater world.
