Winners and Losers at the 78th Annual Tony Awards on a Sunday Night
Host LEILA FADEL chats with Jeff Lunden, NPR's theater guru, discussing the Tony Awards spectacle that took place last night. Cynthia Erivo, a charismatic host, kept the audience entertained throughout the evening, which marked Broadway's highest-grossing season ever, raking in $1.8 billion[1].
Jeff shares his thoughts, "I thought it was a fantastic end to one of the best seasons in recent years. Cynthia Erivo proved to be an engaging host, juggling comedy and demonstrating her vocal prowess."
One of the biggest victors of the night was the modest musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which took home six awards, including Best Musical. The show, born in South Korea, showcases the love story between two retired robots, and it surpassed expectations with rave reviews and sold-out shows[2]. It's clear that the tiny production stole the show, making its Broadway debut a massive success.
Audra McDonald, a 12-time Tony Award nominee, and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger challenged each other for the Best Actress in a Musical crown. In the end, it was Scherzinger who triumphed with her performance in "Sunset Boulevard." The revitalized production of the classic musical, enhanced by live video, also earned the recognition for Best Revival of a Musical.
Newcomers to Broadway also enjoyed their share of victories, such as Sarah Snook from "Succession" and Cole Escola. Snook received her award for her portrayal of 26 characters in "The Picture Of Dorian Gray," while Escola took home the Best Actor trophy for their self-described foolish comedy "Oh, Mary!." As a result, they joined a distinguished group of actors who have graced the Broadway stage in iconic roles.
The Tony for Best Play went to Branden Jacobs-Jenkins for "Purpose." The thought-provoking play takes viewers on a heartrending journey through a troubled family at the heart of the civil rights movement. With its timely themes, it bagged this year's Pulitzer Prize, and one of its actors, Kara Young, also won a Tony[3].
Tune in next time to get more updates on the world of theater!
[1] "Tony Awards 2025: Complete Winners List" - The Hollywood Reporter, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tony-awards-2025-complete-winners-list-1235071735/
[2] "The Tiny Musical That Stole the Tony Awards" - New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/theater/maybe-happy-ending-tony-awards.html
[3] "Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' 'Purpose' Wins 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama" - The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/30/branden-jacobs-jennings-purpose-wins-2025-pulitzer-prize-for-drama
[4] "Cole Escola Wins Tony Award for Play 'Oh, Mary!'" - LA Times, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/theater/story/2025-06-08/cole-escola-wins-tony-award-for-play-oh-mary
[5] "Tony Awards 2025: 'Maybe Happy Ending' Wins Best Musical" - Deadline, https://deadline.com/2025/06/tony-awards-2025-maybe-happy-ending-wins-best-musical-1235081625/
Jeff's thoughts reflect that he found the Tony Awards a fantastic end to one of the best season's in recent years, with Cynthia Erivo proving to be an engaging host who kept the audience entertained throughout the evening.
The success of the modest musical "Maybe Happy Ending" was evident, as it took home six awards, including Best Musical, and received rave reviews and sold-out shows.
