The 78th Annual Tony Awards: A Night to Remember
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, honouring the best in plays and musicals on Broadway, took place on Sunday, June 8, at 8 p.m. ET, at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. According to CBS News, the awards ceremony came after a record-breaking season, with the Broadway League reporting that the 2024-25 season was the highest-grossing Broadway season in recorded history, with nearly $2 billion in gross ticket sales.
The season also saw a significant number of attendees, with approximately 14.7 million audience members buying tickets, making it the second-best attended season in recorded history. The Broadway League reported that 43 productions, including 21 musicals, 21 plays, and one special engagement, raised their curtains during the season. As reported by CBS News, the success of the season can be attributed to high ticket prices for plays, including Denzel Washington’s “Othello” and George Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck”.
For those who missed the ceremony, the Tony Awards can be streamed on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers starting on Monday, June 9, the day after the ceremony. The Tony Awards were broadcast live on CBS television stations and streamed live for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers. Before the main show, Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry hosted “The Tony Awards: Act One” on the free streaming television service Pluto TV, as per CBS News.
The 2025 Tony Awards saw a number of historic nominations, with several nominees making history. “Yellow Face” star Daniel Dae Kim was the first Asian actor to be nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. Kara Young, a Tony nominee and winner this year for “Purpose”, was the first Black actor to be nominated four years in a row in any category. As quoted in CBS News, Kim expressed his excitement about the nomination, saying, “I love the fact that we are being recognised 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.”
The ceremony also saw a number of notable performances, with 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 having performances, along with the four shows nominated for Best Revival of a Musical – “Floyd Collins”, “Gypsy”, “Sunst Blvd”, and “Pirates! The Penzance Musical”. Members of the original cast of the smash hit “Hamilton” reunited with a medley to celebrate the musical’s 10th anniversary on Broadway.
Cynthia Erivo, star of “Wicked”, hosted this year’s ceremony, which she described as “a beautiful full circle moment” in her career. Erivo 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”. As reported by CBS News, Erivo promised multiple costume changes throughout the show during an appearance on “CBS Mornings” last week.
The Tony Awards saw some of Broadway’s biggest names give awards and introduce performances, including pop star Adam Lambert, TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio, and media mogul Oprah Winfrey. 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 – were also among the presenters. Former Tony hosts Sara Bareilles and Ariana DeBose presented awards as well.
Broadway legend Audra McDonald set a new bar at the ceremony, receiving 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 and currently shares the record for a performer with the most Tony Award wins with Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury. As noted by CBS News, McDonald’s achievement is a testament to her talent and dedication to her craft.
The 2025 Tony Awards were a celebration of the best of Broadway, with a number of historic nominations and performances. The ceremony was a testament to the enduring power of theatre and the talented individuals who bring it to life. As reported by CBS News, the success of the ceremony is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the theatre community.
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