Tony Awards 2025: A Spectacular Finale to Broadway’s Record-Breaking Season

Broadway’s latest season brims with diversity, showcasing a plethora of artistic expression. The stage is set for the Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, airing Sunday night on CBS and streaming via Paramount+.

This year, Broadway features an eclectic mix: singing androids, a drunken Mary Todd Lincoln, and a musical hero who happens to be a corpse. Notably, industry heavyweights like George Clooney are drawing attention in productions such as “Good Night, and Good Luck” and “Othello.” Clooney, along with Sarah Snook and Bob Odenkirk, is nominated for a Tony, adding star power to the nominations.

Two Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, “English” and “Purpose,” highlight the season’s success. Yet, “Oh, Mary!” stands out with its outrageous take on Mary Todd Lincoln, solidifying its nomination for best play alongside “John Proctor is the Villain” and “The Hills of California.”

On the musical stage, three works are contenders for the night’s top honors: “Maybe Happy Ending,” a comedy featuring androids; “Dead Outlaw,” a tale of an alcoholic drifter; and “Death Becomes Her,” a satirical look at friendship and youth. Each of these musicals is strong in nominations, with ten each.

The 2024-2025 Broadway season generated $1.9 billion, marking a record-breaking achievement as the highest grossing to date. This financial resurgence signals a rebound from the pandemic’s grasp, surpassing the previous best of $1.8 billion in the 2018-2019 season.

Harvey Fierstein, set to receive a lifetime achievement award, remarked on the significant cultural shift post-COVID, drawing parallels to the impact of the AIDS crisis on Broadway in the 1980s.

Audra McDonald, known for her remarkable talent, may heighten her record Tony count with a potential seventh win for her performance in “Gypsy.” Competing against her is Nicole Scherzinger, who has captivated audiences in “Sunset Blvd.”

Kara Young, nominated for her role in “Purpose,” could make history as the first Black actor to win consecutive Tonys. Additionally, director Danya Taymor aims for a repeat win for “John Proctor Is the Villain,” while playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins hopes for a second consecutive win for “Purpose.”

Potential historical achievements loom as Daniel Dae Kim seeks to become the first Asian winner for best leading actor in a play, and Marjan Neshat aims to make waves as one of the first female actors of Iranian descent to secure a Tony.

This Broadway season also indicates a shift toward alt-rock themes and narratives targeting younger audiences, embodied in shows like “John Proctor is the Villain” and a reimagined “Romeo + Juliet.”

The upcoming telecast promises performances from nominees vying for the best new musical award, alongside features for “Hamilton,” which marks its tenth anniversary. However, some shows, including “BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical” and “SMASH,” will not be represented.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.