Who won at the 78th Tony Awards in 2025?
On Sunday, 8 June 2025, the 78th Tony Awards took place. This prestigious ceremony, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, honoured the most outstanding Broadway productions of the 2024/25 season. The event, hosted by the talented Cynthia Erivo, was an evening full of spectacular moments and emotional highlights. With a total of six awards, the innovative musical ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ was the big winner of the evening. However, other productions and artists also left a lasting impression.
The Tony Awards are regarded as the most prestigious awards in American theatre and recognise not only musicals but also plays, technical masterpieces and artistic innovations. This year’s ceremony had it all – from exciting new musicals and award-winning plays to emotional moments and magnificent performances on the stage. The evening was a true celebration for the Broadway community and theatre fans worldwide.
🏆 Who won the 2025 Tony Awards?
Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending
‘Maybe Happy Ending’, a groundbreaking musical telling the story of South Korean domestic robots deemed obsolete, was honoured with six Tony Awards in 2025. These prestigious awards included:
- Best Musical
- Best Direction of a Musical (Michael Arden)
- Best Book and Original Score (Will Aronson and Hue Park)
- Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Darren Criss)
- Best Set Design of a Musical (Dane Laffrey and George Reeve)
Darren Criss, best known for his role in ‘Glee’, won his first Tony Award in 2025 for his portrayal of the robot Oliver. The production was acclaimed for its innovative staging and its profound, emotional storytelling. The themes of humanity and machines in an increasingly technologised world struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.
‘Maybe Happy Ending’ was not only a musical revelation, but also an artistic revolution. The work by Will Aronson and Hue Park took a futuristic perspective and explored how people deal with technologies that are replacing them. These profound themes captured the spirit of the times and made the production a highlight of the Broadway season.
Best Play: *Purpose*
“Purpose” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was awarded the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play. The play explores the complex relationships and identities within modern society. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins thus became the first Black playwright since August Wilson to win this award. It was praised for its profound dialogue and the compelling way in which the play raised questions about social responsibility and moral integrity.
“Purpose” had previously been performed in smaller theatres and received acclaim for its sophisticated way of combining social issues with unforgettable dramatic storytelling. The Broadway premiere in 2025 marks a milestone for the African-American theatre community and establishes Branden Jacobs-Jenkins as one of the leading contemporary playwrights. The play was also at the centre of social debates and encouraged audiences to reflect on personal and collective responsibility.
Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger was awarded the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her brilliant portrayal of Norma Desmond in the new production of ‘Sunset Blvd.’. She prevailed over six-time winner Audra McDonald and managed to imbue the demanding role of Norma Desmond – a former film diva grappling with her fall from grace – with an intensity and emotional depth that left Broadway in awe.
“I’ve often felt like I didn’t belong, but you’ve made me feel like I’m finally at home. If you don’t feel like you belong, or if your moment hasn’t come yet, don’t give up. Keep going, because the world needs your light right now.”
(Nicole Scherzinger at the 2025 Tony Awards)
Best Actress in a Play: Sarah Snook
Sarah Snook won the Tony Award for her solo performance in *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, in which she played all 26 characters in the play. Kip Williams’ production was praised for its innovative use of live cameras and pre-recorded video. It was one of the most unconventional and exciting performances of the season and showcased Snook’s versatility as an actress in acting.
Best Leading Actress in a Play: Cole Escola
Cole Escola became the first openly non-binary actor to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his role in *Oh, Mary!*. The production also won the award for Best Direction of a Play (Sam Pinkleton). With his performance, Escola is sending a powerful message about increasing diversity and inclusion in the theatre world.
🎭 Other outstanding awards at the 2025 Tony Awards
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Kara Young for “Purpose”.
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Natalie Venetia Belcon for “Buena Vista Social Club”.
- Best Direction of a Play: Sam Pinkleton for “Oh, Mary!”.
- Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Arden for “Maybe Happy Ending”.
- Best Choreography: Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck for “Buena Vista Social Club”.
- Best Orchestration: Marco Paguia for ‘Buena Vista Social Club’.
- Best Costume Design in a Musical: Paul Tazewell for “Death Becomes Her”.
- Best Lighting Design in a Musical: Jack Knowles for ‘Sunset Blvd.’.
- Best Set Design in a Musical: Dane Laffrey and George Reeve for “Maybe Happy Ending”.
🎤 The 2025 Tony Awards – An unforgettable evening
The 78th Tony Awards in 2025 were hosted by Cynthia Erivo, who opened the ceremony with a powerful original song. She was joined by Broadway stars such as Kristin Chenoweth and Adam Lambert. The event was broadcast live on CBS and was also available on Paramount+.
An emotional highlight of the gala was the ‘In Memoriam’ segment, which paid tribute to figures such as Gavin Creel, James Earl Jones and Maggie Smith. Sara Bareilles and Cynthia Erivo performed the song ‘Tomorrow’ from the musical ‘Annie’ together, with Bareilles being comforted by Erivo after the performance, having burst into tears at the sight of Creel’s picture.
🏆 Harvey Fierstein – Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Tony Awards
On 24 April 2025, the Tony Awards Administration Committee announced that four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein would be awarded the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. Fierstein is known for his roles in *Torch Song Trilogy* and *Hairspray*, as well as for his work as a writer of musicals such as *Kinky Boots* and *Newsies*. His contributions to the theatre span both acting and writing and have had a lasting impact on American theatre. More at tonyawards.com.
🎤 Quote from Harvey Fierstein at the awards ceremony
During his acceptance speech at the Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony, Fierstein spoke emotionally about his career and the significance of theatre:
“I wrote three versions of my acceptance speech, but when I saw this picture of Arthur Laurents and Jerry Herman, I knew who I had to dedicate this award to. Arthur, you showed me what it means to be an artist.” (Harvey Fierstein at the 2025 Tony Awards)
This quote highlights the deep personal connections and the importance of mentors in Fierstein’s life and career.
The event not only celebrated the outstanding achievements of the Broadway season, but also emphasised the importance of regional theatres and honoured the transformative power of theatre.
🌟 Conclusion: The 2025 Tony Awards set new standards
The 78th Tony Awards in 2025 were a celebration of diversity, innovation and artistic excellence. Productions such as “Maybe Happy Ending”, “Purpose” and “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” set new standards and were celebrated for their creative contributions to theatre. The event demonstrated that Broadway remains a place for groundbreaking and meaningful art.
🎭 Why the 2025 Tony Awards can be an inspiration for students at the Musicalschule Ahrensburg
The 2025 Tony Awards are not only a glittering celebration of the best productions and performers on Broadway, but also an incredible source of inspiration for all those dedicated to the art of musical theatre and the performing arts – including the students at the Musicalschule Ahrensburg.
Every year, the Tony Awards recognise outstanding achievements in various categories, including Best Actors, Directors, Set Design, Costume Design and many more. These awards are not only a symbol of artistic excellence, but also of years of dedication, creativity and hard work. Those who win these prestigious awards have distinguished themselves through exceptional achievements in the world of theatre and stand as living proof that talent, passion and commitment can lead to great things.
For the students at the Musicalschule Ahrensburg, the Tony Awards are clear proof that hard work and the tireless desire to grow as artists are recognised and rewarded on an international level. The students can draw inspiration from the winners’ stories and the diversity of the talented artists on the stage. They can see how exceptional musicals, plays and performances are honoured with awards that represent not only a moment of glory but also lasting proof of years of preparation and dedication.
The Musicalschule Ahrensburg, as an institution that supports young talents on their journey into the world of musical theatre and the performing arts, can help students realise their own goals and ambitions by showing them that it is possible to make it onto the world’s great stages, just as many Tony winners before them have done. The path to a Tony nomination or award may be long and demanding, but the recognition that comes with such success shows that the effort is worthwhile.
The Tony Awards are more than just a prize – they are a reminder that the theatre is a place of boundless creativity where visions are brought to life, and that art in all its forms inspires and connects people worldwide. For the students at the Musicalschule Ahrensburg, it is an opportunity to learn from the best and to see that they, too, could one day take to the big stage. This is the true meaning of artistic expression and tireless effort in the world of theatre – a message that every young artist should understand and which is celebrated anew every year at the Tony Awards.