NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� a rom-com about androids that crackles with humanity, had a definite happy ending at Sunday's Tony Awards. It won best new musical on a night when made history as the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively for 鈥淧urpose,鈥� which also won best new play.
Starring and Helen J. Shen, 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending鈥� charts the relationship between two decommissioned robots, becoming a commentary on human themes and the passage of time. It won a leading six Tonys.
With 鈥淧urpose,鈥� a drawing-room drama about an accomplished Black family exposing hypocrisy and pressures during a snowed-in gathering, playwright caps a remarkable year: In addition to winning back-to-back Tonys 鈥� his 鈥� he earned the Pulitzer Prize for 鈥淧urpose.鈥� (That win came the day of where he served on the host committee.)
Jacobs-Jenkins is the first Black playwright to win the category since August Wilson for 鈥淔ences鈥� in 1987. He urged viewers to support regional theaters; 鈥淧urpose鈥� was nurtured in Chicago.
鈥淭heater is a sacred space that we have to honor and treasure, and it makes us united,鈥� Young said in her own acceptance speech.
Notable Tony moments
鈥淪unset Blvd.,鈥� with as a fallen screen idol desperate to reclaim her fame, won best musical revival, handing composer his first competitive Tony since 1995 鈥� when the original show won. The current version is a stripped-down, minimalist production.
Scherzinger also won for best lead actress in a musical, muscling aside a considerable challenge from in a remarkable career pivot for the former lead singer of pop group Pussycat Dolls and TV talent show judge.
鈥淕rowing 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,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o if there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong, or your time hasn't come, don't give up. Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.鈥�
Criss, who has starred in everything from 鈥淕lee鈥� to won his first Tony for 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending,鈥� which he also co-produced. He said he shared it with Shen, who was not nominated.
won leading actress in a play for her tireless work in 鈥淭he Picture of Dorian Gray,鈥� where she plays all 26 roles.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel alone any night that I do this show,鈥� Snook said, dismissing the idea of it as a one-woman show. 鈥淭here are so many people onstage making it work and behind the stage making it work.鈥�
Downtown cabaret star Cole Escola won best actor in a play for their deranged, repressed and over-the-top ahistorical version of Mary Todd Lincoln in 鈥淥h Mary!,鈥� beating such Hollywood stars as and Sam Pinkleton won best director for 鈥淥h, Mary!鈥� and thanked Escola, saying they taught him, 鈥淒o what you love, not what you think people want to see.鈥�
Francis Jue won best featured actor in a play for the revival of 鈥淵ellow Face.鈥� He said he was gifted his tuxedo from another Asian actor who wanted him to wear it to the Tonys.
鈥淚鈥檓 only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful deserving Asian artists who came before me,鈥� he said.
Jak Malone won best featured actor in a musical for the British import 鈥淥peration Mincemeat: A New Musical,鈥� playing a woman every performance. He hoped his win could be powerful advocacy for trans rights. 鈥淓ureka Day,鈥� Jonathan Spector鈥檚 social satire about well-meaning liberals debating a school鈥檚 vaccine policy, won best play revival.
The original cast of including creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, did a victory lap dressed in black to mark the show's 10th anniversary on Broadway, with a medley including 鈥淢y Shot,鈥� 鈥淭he Schuyler Sisters,鈥� 鈥淗istory Has Its Eyes on You鈥� and 鈥淭he Room Where It Happens.鈥�
The host with the most
First-time host kicked off the show from her Radio City Music Hall dressing room, unsure of her opening number. As she made her way through the backstage warren, she ran into various people offering advice until she reached Oprah Winfrey, who advised, 鈥淭he only thing you need to do is just be yourself.鈥�
Erivo then appeared at the stage in a red, spangly gown with white accents, hip cocked, as she launched into the slow-burning original 鈥淪ometimes All You Need Is a Song,鈥� written by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Initially alone with a pianist, Erivo鈥檚 soaring voice was soon joined by members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir, all dressed in white, making her look like a powerful strawberry in a bowl of whipped cream.
In her opening comments, she singled out first-time nominees Escola, , Sadie Sink, and 鈥渁n up-and-comer that I think you鈥檙e going to really be hearing quite a bit about 鈥� George Clooney.鈥�
She noted that the 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing ever and signaling Broadway has finally emerged from the COVID-19 blues.
鈥淏roadway is officially back,鈥� Erivo said. 鈥淧rovided we don鈥檛 run out of cast members from 鈥楽uccession,鈥欌�� a nod to appearances this season by former co-stars Snook and and last season by
She and Sara Bareilles dueted for a moving in memoriam, singing 鈥淭he Sun Will Come Out鈥� from 鈥淎nnie,鈥� and honoring its composer as well as Richard Chamberlain, Quincy Jones, Linda Lavin, and
Erivo was an amiable host, at one point appearing in the second mezzanine to comment that everyone likes the view from theater balconies 鈥� except perhaps Abraham Lincoln. She had fun with Winfrey later on, telling her to check under her chair, where she found a gift bag with a toy automobile. 鈥淵ou get a car!鈥� Erivo cracked.
Pre-show results
The best book and best score awards went to 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending,鈥� with lyrics written by Hue Park and music composed by Will Aronson. Its director, Michael Arden, won 鈥� 鈥淗appy Pride!鈥� he said 鈥� and it also picked up best scenic design.
Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado won for choreographing 鈥淏uena Vista Social Club鈥� and Peck noted a song from the renowned original album was played at their wedding. The musical takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders鈥� 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary on the making of the Cuban album. It won four Tonys.
Best costumes in a play went to Marg Hornwell for 鈥淭he Picture of Dorian Gray,鈥� while 鈥淒eath Becomes Her鈥� won the musical counterpart for Paul Tazewell months after he became the
the four-time Tony winner behind 鈥淭orch Song Trilogy鈥� and was honored with a lifetime achievement Tony and became emotional during his speech.
鈥淭here is nothing quite like bathing in the applause of a curtain call, but when I bow, I bow to the audience, with gratitude, knowing that without them I might as well be lip-syncing showtunes in my bedroom mirror," he said. "And so I dedicate this award to the people in the dark.鈥�
___
For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit .
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
