Tony-winning actor Cynthia Erivo hosted the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday night.
The ceremony celebrated another major year for US theatre. Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger took home two of the biggest prizes.
Maybe Happy Ending, starring Golden Globe-winning actor Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen, led the night with six awards.
The musical won Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical, among other prizes.
South Korean musical writer Hue Park created the show. It follows two humanoid robots, Oliver and Claire, who fall in love in a future Seoul.
Their relationship explores love, mortality and human connection.
“I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse, exquisite Broadway season this year,” Criss said on stage.
‘Don’t give up’
Nicole Scherzinger wins Best Actress in a Musical
British singer Nicole Scherzinger won Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.
The production also won Best Revival of a Musical.
Scherzinger became famous as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. She delivered an emotional speech after receiving the award.
“Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong and I have come home, at last.”
“If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up,” she told the audience.
“Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.
“This is a testament that love always wins.”
A first for everything
Cole Escola makes Tony Awards history
The 2025 Tonys also delivered several historic moments.
Comedian Cole Escola became the first non-binary actor to win Best Actor in a Play.
Escola earned the award for Oh, Mary!, which they also wrote.
The play follows Mary Todd Lincoln in the days before Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.
Escola presents Mary as an alcoholic who dreams of becoming a cabaret performer.
The actor arrived at the ceremony in a striking gown and red-curled wig. The look paid tribute to Broadway legend Bernadette Peters.
“The first idea is the best idea. […] Trust that voice. Trust that voice that says, ‘I think I’m right, actually. I actually think I do have something. I think I can do this’,” Escola told Broadway.com after the win.
“Even if it might take 12 years to put the pen to paper, that voice is right.”
The ‘Succession’ legacy
Australian actress Sarah Snook won the Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Play for her effort in The Picture of Dorian Gray, in which she plays all 26 roles.
In her acceptance speech, Snook said: “This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway.”
“[The Picture of Dorian Gray] is billed as a one-person show, but I don’t feel alone any night that I do this show.
“There are so many people on stage making it work and behind the stage making it work.”
She is the second actor from the family drama Succession to win a Tony.
Last year, co-star Jeremy Strong was honoured with the Best Actor in a Play award for his performance in An Enemy of the People, and Kieran Culkin was among the biggest snubs for this year’s edition.
“Broadway is officially back,” Erivo declared during the show.
“Provided we don’t run out of cast members from Succession!”
Amongst the more memorable moments of the night, Erivo and Sara Bareilles performed a moving version of “The Sun Will Come Out”, from the musical Annie, during the in memoriam segment of the night, while Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of Hamilton performed some of the musical’s biggest hits to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
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