The Ups, Downs, and Surprises at the 78th Annual Tony Awards

A collective gasp fell over the Press Room across the street from Radio City Music Hall when Purpose won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play. Now two-time Tony Award Winner Kara Young leaned over the press table to borrow another journalist’s headset so she could hear her team make their acceptance speech with tears in her eyes. The camaraderie of the Broadway community was unfolding right in front of us. 

The 78th Annual Tony Awards were filled with plenty of memorable moments. We think it’s safe to say that the ceremony was one of the best we’ve seen in years — Cynthia Erivo, are you free next year? Erivo’s vocals brought down the house in the opening number and set the tone off strong for the night ahead. 

Before the broadcast began, we took to the Red Carpet to hear from the stars and creatives ahead of Broadway’s Biggest Night. The most surprising thing we saw wasn’t anyone up for an award; it was The Phantom of the Opera himself barreling down the carpet. We aren’t sure what this might mean for the return of the Phantom to New York, but it’s got to mean something! 

During the pre-show, hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry, we got choked up alongside Sara Bareilles when she introduced Celia Keenan-Bolger, who was honored with the Isabelle Stevenson award for her advocacy work. Hearing both stars discuss their relationship to the late Gavin Creel reminded us what it’s all for — and grounded us for the night ahead. 

After hearing from the talented creatives and designers behind the costumes, lighting, sound, and choreography of this season, we geared up for the main broadcast. The press room was thrilled when Francis Jue took home his Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for Yellow Face. Jue is a true theatre veteran, and seeing him finally get his flowers was one of the night’s biggest wins. 

“It is interesting that it is still unusual, historic, groundbreaking, to tell an Asian American story on Broadway,” Jue said after winning his award. “And to tell it at a time when this country is wrestling with its identity, with who gets to be American, who gets to say who gets to be American?” 

Another popular winner? Cole Escola, the writer and star of this year’s hit play Oh, Mary! Escola gave a particularly memorable speech where they thanked not only their team, but someone they met on Grindr. Quite a shoutout! Escola made their way to the press room alongside their collaborator Sam Pinkleton, who won the Tony for Best Direction of a Play for Oh, Mary!

“This is the most pure creative process that I've ever had, and it was a real collaboration,” Pinkleton said. “It was what you dream of making theater to feel like, that is, not me trying to win an award? But I won an award.” 

In arguably the most memorable moment of the night, Escola was asked to put the rumor to bed that they’re a demon. They did no such thing. 

“The voters have decided I am a demon twink, and that's why they gave me this, that's really what the award is for. Thank you,” Escola said. 

Escola and Pinkleton were on the press room stage as everyone sat in bated breath awaiting the announcement for who would win the competitive Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical category. We heard quite a few “woahs” when Nicole Scherzinger’s name was called for her turn as Norma Demond in Jamie Lloyd’s inventive Sunset Blvd., which had already won Best Revival of a Musical. Escola joked they’d just kill time until Scherzinger made her way over. 

While we loved hearing from the winners, we were just as captivated by the performances on the broadcast! Megan Hilty started the show strong with “For The Gaze” from Death Becomes Her — a Pride Month gift to us all! Jonathan Groff dancing on Keanu Reeves’ seat was, simply put, everything to us, and the 10th anniversary reunion of Hamilton was as impressive as expected. No comment on whether the company of Maybe Happy Ending — which took home six awards, including the coveted Best Musical — made one of us tear up with their performance of “Fireflies.” 

To see the full list of winners from Sunday night’s show, visit here.