The Tony Awards are almost here again. If you love Broadway as much as I do, this is a night you have circled on your calendar. It is not just about who wins which trophy. It is a true celebration of live theater. It shows off the incredible hard work and talent that makes Broadway so special. This year's event promises to be as exciting as ever with some very tight races and some major moments ready to happen.
You can catch the Tonys live on Sunday, June 8, from Radio City Music Hall. It starts at 7 PM Central time and will run for three hours. This is your chance to see the best of American theater. It will be broadcast on CBS and also streamed on Paramount+. Before the main show kicks off, there is a pre-show called The Tony Awards: Act One. Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry will host it on Pluto TV starting at 5:40 PM Central time. This is where some of the technical awards get handed out. While I always wish these talented people got more time on the main stage, it is still great to see them recognized.
The biggest news for this year's ceremony is Cynthia Erivo hosting for the first time. Erivo is already a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner. She won a Tony in 2016 for her amazing work in The Color Purple. She is also a star in the upcoming Wicked movie. I think she brings a lot of energy and passion to anything she does. This makes me excited to see how she handles the night. She is clearly someone who truly cares about the theater world. That kind of genuine connection always makes a host better.
New Musicals And Plays Are Vying For Top Honors At This Year's Tony Awards CeremonyFrom "Death Becomes Her" To "Purpose", The Competition Is Seriously Tough This Broadway Season
Twenty-nine shows on Broadway got Tony Award nominations this season. This means there are many talented people and productions hoping to walk away with a trophy. For new musicals, the nominees include Buena Vista Social Club, Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending, and Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical. Three shows, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending, each scored a leading 10 nominations. That is a lot of love from the voters. As a fan, it is hard to pick a favorite from such a strong group.
On the play side, the nominees for best new play are English, The Hills of California, John Proctor Is the Villain, Oh, Mary!, and Purpose. Purpose, which actually started in Chicago, is up for six awards. One producer for Death Becomes Her, Lowe Cunningham, joked about how good all the nominated shows are. She said, "How dare the Broadway community come together with such excellent work. I needed everything else to be much worse, and I don’t appreciate it." I completely agree with her. It makes betting on the winners almost impossible because so many shows bring something truly special.
Many of the races this year are very close. Broadway has truly bounced back from the pandemic which is fantastic news. This means there is a lot of high-quality work to choose from. It is not just the big categories that are tight. Even in acting and design categories, voters faced some very tough choices. It shows how much talent is working on Broadway right now. This is a very good sign for the health of theater overall.
Explore the electrifying 2025 Tony Award nominations, featuring genre-defying shows, star-studded performances, and a fan engagement game that turns theater lovers into prediction heroes.
Audra McDonald's Potential Record And Other Historic Moments To Watch For At The Tonys
From Long-Time Favorites To Fresh Faces, Several Performers Could Make History This Year
The Tonys are always full of big moments and this year will be no different. Audra McDonald, already the most recognized performer in the history of the awards, could add to her already impressive record. She has six acting Tonys already. If she wins for her role in the revival of Gypsy, she would push that record to seven. It is hard to imagine anyone else doing what she has done. She is simply amazing to watch on stage. Her performances always feel so real and powerful.
Kara Young also has a chance to make history. She is the first Black actress to be nominated for a Tony Award four years in a row. If she wins for her role in the play Purpose, she would be the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively. That would be an amazing achievement. It shows her consistent strength and talent. Daniel Dae Kim could become the first Asian winner for best leading actor in a play for his work in Yellow Face. Marjan Neshat and Tala Ashe are both trying to be the first female actors of Iranian background to win a Tony. These potential wins highlight how Broadway is becoming more diverse. It is something to celebrate.
Even Hollywood stars are getting in on the Broadway action. George Clooney is nominated for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck. It is always interesting to see movie stars take on the stage. Their presence brings new eyes to Broadway. While I always appreciate the dedicated theater actors, a bit of Hollywood sparkle can add to the excitement. It is great to see these big names embrace live performance. It reminds everyone of the power of the stage.
Patti LuPone, known for her sharp remarks, has apologized for comments made about Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in a New Yorker interview, creating a stir in the Broadway community.
Hamilton's Big Anniversary Performance And Broadway's Continued Rise
Celebrating Ten Years Of A Modern Classic While Considering Broadway's Financial Future
Normally, shows that have been running for many years do not get much attention on the Tony broadcast. But Hamilton is no normal show. The original cast will reunite to celebrate the musical's 10th anniversary on Broadway with a performance. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will be there. So will many of the original actors like Renée Elise Goldsberry and Leslie Odom, Jr. This is huge news for fans. I know I will be glued to my screen for this one. It is a testament to how much that show changed Broadway.
Last year's Tonys had a bit of a hiccup with Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ "Empire State of Mind" performance. It seemed live but was actually pre-taped. This caused a bit of a stir among Broadway fans. We expect live singing and dancing on this night. It is what makes Broadway special. I hope this year focuses purely on real, live performances. That is what the community truly wants to see. It is about the magic of the moment, not Hollywood trickery.
Broadway as a whole is doing very well financially. The 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion. This is the highest-grossing season ever recorded. It beat the previous high from before the pandemic. Nearly 14.7 million tickets were sold. This makes it the second-best attended season ever. While this is great news for the industry, some worry about high ticket prices. A revival of Othello with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, for example, made a record-breaking $2.8 million in eight shows. Some seats sold for over $900. It is a concern that Broadway might become too expensive for many people. It would be a shame if only a few could experience the magic of live theater.
Even if you cannot get to Broadway, you can still see some of the nominated work. The night before the Tonys, George Clooney's nominated play Good Night, and Good Luck will stream across CNN properties. This is a nice way to bring Broadway to a wider audience. It helps people who might not be able to visit New York City still get a taste of the excitement.
Overall, this year's Tony Awards promise to be an incredible night. From the tight races to the historic moments and the exciting performances, there will be something for everyone. It is a moment to celebrate the resilience and creativity of Broadway. I for one cannot wait to watch every minute.