By Riley Bacon
After an unforgettable year on Broadway, the 2025 Tony Awards reminded us why we still need live theatre. This year, and for the first time (also highlighted by several nominees from Broadway across different genres), the Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall, and celebrated the unforgettable magic, mayhem, and memories that only live theatre offers. With a few shockers and a hosting first, this year’s Tonys produced a show as exciting as the productions it celebrated.
A Hamilton Reunion
When was the last time that you were moved by something you saw on stage? For one night, at least until the show ended, it was impossible not to think back to the tone and impact of Hamilton, with all original cast members together on stage. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, and Daveed Diggs reintroduced their character and nostalgia to establish their reunion and they combined songs from Hamilton with the original cast. This performance earned a standing ovation and set the tone for an excellent night.
The Big Winners
Top of the list is Maybe Happy Ending, a heartbreaking musical about old-fashioned robots who find love. This production won six awards including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Arden), and Best Actor in a Musical (Darren Criss) who became the first known Asian American to win an award in the category of Best Actor in a Musical.
Buena Vista Social Club followed with four wins in total including Best Orchestrations and Best Choreography. Nicole Scherzinger won Best Actress in a Musical for her skilled performance in Sunset Boulevard, and the show won Best Revival of a Musical.
In terms of plays, Purpose took Best Play, while Cole Escola took Best Actor for Oh, Mary! and Sarah Snook took Best Actress for a solo performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Standout Moments
One of the best moments of the night was the duet performance of “Tomorrow” by the host Cynthia Erivo and Sara Bareilles during the In Memoriam part of the show. The performance was so heartfelt it moved people in the audience to tears as it acknowledged the losses to the theatre community from the previous year.
