The 2025 Tony Awards marked a triumphant return to Radio City Music Hall on June 8, hosted by Tony Award winner and recent Billboard cover star, Cynthia Erivo. This year’s ceremony celebrated an unexpectedly successful Broadway season, which has become the highest-grossing on record, demonstrating Broadway’s resilience and appeal following a challenging recovery period post-pandemic.
The event drew a star-studded crowd, featuring Hollywood icons like George Clooney, TV luminaries such as Sarah Snook, music stars like Adam Lambert, and established theater favorites including Audra McDonald. This vibrant gathering showcased not only the talent present but also the resurgence of interest in live theater.
A highlight of the evening came from Jonathan Groff, a former star of Glee, who mesmerized the audience with his performance in Just In Time, where he portrays teen idol Bobby Darin. Groff, a nominee this year after winning for Merrily We Roll Along in 2024, joined fellow Glee alums Lea Michele and Darren Criss at the ceremony. Michele, who previously starred as Fanny Brice in a 2022 revival of Funny Girl, served as a presenter, while Criss co-hosted the pre-show with Renée Elise Goldsberry and received a nomination for his work in Maybe Happy Ending.
Maybe Happy Ending emerged as one of the frontrunners of the evening, sharing the top spot with two other productions—Death Becomes Her and Buena Vista Social Club—each securing ten nominations. The latter’s journey from a Grammy-winning album to a Broadway adaptation embodies the enduring legacy of the Cuban musical collective from the 1990s, which continues to resonate with audiences.
As the stars walked the red carpet amidst a gentle drizzle in Manhattan, the celebration captured the essence of Broadway’s revival, underscoring a hopeful future for the arts in New York City. The sense of community and creativity at the Tonys serves as a testament to the enduring power of theater to inspire and connect us all.