'Maybe Happy Ending' tops Broadway's Tony Awards
"Maybe Happy Ending," a South Korean musical adapted for Broadway about two robots who find connection, won big at Sunday's Tony Awards, scooping up six prizes at the gala celebrating the best in American theater.
Stars of the season Cole Escola and Nicole Scherzinger also won their first Tonys, on a night that celebrated Broadway's revival after a years-long pandemic slump.
Cynthia Erivo -- the Oscar-nominated "Wicked" star who herself boasts a Tony -- hosted the ceremony at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall honoring this year's buzzy, diverse competitive slate .
It was Broadway's most financially lucrative year ever, she told the crowd.
"Broadway is officially back -- provided we don't run out of cast members from 'Succession,'" she joked, referring to the decorated TV dramedy about a family's media empire.
Sarah Snook -- who scored an Emmy for her role in "Succession" -- won the Tony for best leading actress in a play, taking on all 26 roles in the stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray."
A host of new shows and stars drew 14.7 million people to the Broadway performances this season, grossing $1.89 billion at the box office.
Some of showbiz's biggest names graced New York's stages, including George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal -- and Snook's "Succession" co-stars Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong.
"Please go to the theater, whether it's a Broadway show or a school play," said Michael Arden, who won a Tony for best direction of a musical for "Maybe Happy Ending."
Darren Criss of "Glee" fame -- already an Emmy winner for portraying killer Andrew Cunanan in "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" -- won the Tony for lead actor in that musical.
"I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse exquisite Broadway season this year," he told the audience as he accepted his award.
Scherzinger bested a packed field including the legendary Audra McDonald -- the performer with the most Tonys in history -- for best actress in a musical for her role as faded star Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard," which also won for best revival of a musical.
"If there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong or your time hasn't come, don't give up," said an emotional Scherzinger, who once fronted the pop girl group The Pussycat Dolls.
"Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever. This is a testament that love always wins."
- 'Oh, Mary!' -
Even though Escola's hit dark comedy "Oh, Mary!" was the favorite for best new play, the award went to intense family portrait "Purpose" by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, which also won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
But Escola still won big for their unhinged performance in the one-act reimagining of Abraham Lincoln's assassination through the eyes of his wife -- a raging alcoholic who dreams of life as a cabaret star.
Escola bested a stacked field that included Clooney.
"Oh, Mary!" also snagged the prize for best direction, won by Sam Pinkleton.
"You have taught me to make what you love and not what you think people want to see," Pinkleton said in his speech, speaking directly to a tearful Escola.
"We can bring joy to people at the end of a crappy day and that feels like a big deal to me," Pinkleton added to ardent applause.
The night's rollicking performances included a gripping rendition of "Rose's Turn" from McDonald, and a captivating performance of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Scherzinger.
The gala also featured a much-touted reunion of the original cast of "Hamilton," as that groundbreaking smash musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrates its 10th anniversary.
A heartfelt segment honored those the theater community lost over the past year, with Erivo and Sara Bareilles delivering the classic "Tomorrow" from "Annie."
The song's composer, Charles Strouse, died last month.
Some acceptance speeches made oblique references to ongoing political turmoil across the United States, as President Donald Trump's immigration raids trigger protests. But Trump was not explicitly mentioned.
mdo/sst
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
32 minutes ago
- Fox News
The Quiz #431 - Egg-citing Facts
What is the yellow part of an egg called? Whisk it all and take The Quiz. Play. Share. Listen with Host of FOX Across America and FOX News Saturday Night, Jimmy Failla.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Finneas Says He Was Tear-Gassed During ICE Protest in L.A.
Finneas has spoken out after being tear-gassed while attending what he called a 'very peaceful' protest in downtown Los Angeles. Finneas has spoken out after being tear-gassed while attending what he called a 'very peaceful' protest in downtown Los Angeles. More from Billboard Kylie Minogue Joins Prestigious '21 Club' at London's O2 Arena Kevin Parker Previews New Tame Impala Music During Barcelona DJ Set 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Sunset Blvd.' Win Key 2025 Tony Awards: Full Winners List The Grammy-winning artist and producer took to Instagram on Sunday (June 8) to describe the scene, where protesters rallied against recent mass ICE raids in Southern California. 'Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown. They're inciting this,' he wrote on his Story, referring to escalating tensions sparked by federal agents and military presence in the city. The protest was one of several erupting across the city after President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops into L.A. — a move that California officials called unconstitutional and inflammatory. Among the scenes shared by Finneas: a viral video showing Australian 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi being struck by a rubber bullet while covering the unrest. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department fired rounds of crowd control munitions to disperse those gathered, with one hitting Tomasi in the leg, prompting her to cry out and grab her calf while continuing to report. 9News later issued a statement confirming the incident and affirming the safety of Tomasi and her camera operator. 'While reporting from protests in Los Angeles, 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet,' the statement read. 'This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.' California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deployment in a letter sent to the White House on Sunday, calling it 'a serious breach of state sovereignty.' He was in Los Angeles meeting with law enforcement and local leaders but did not confirm if he had spoken with Trump since the raids began. 'What we're seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration,' said Mayor Karen Bass in an afternoon press conference. 'This is about another agenda — this isn't about public safety.' The White House quickly fired back. 'It's a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved,' said spokesperson Abigail Jackson in a statement. Finneas, who has previously used his platform to advocate for immigrant rights and social justice, also encouraged military personnel to resist unconstitutional orders. He shared the GI Rights Hotline — 1-877-447-4487 — along with a message soundtracked by Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down.' The protest he attended was one of several that grew increasingly tense over the weekend, including one outside a federal building where immigrants were reportedly detained after arriving for routine check-ins with ICE. Lawyers say some detainees were escorted to basement holding areas without notice. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Forbes
39 minutes ago
- Forbes
What Every Creator Should Know Before Launching A Digital Product
Man podcaster influencer blogger smiling while broadcasting his live audio podcast in studio using ... More headphones, laptop and headphones. Male radio host making podcast or interview The creator economy is entering its next major phase, not one defined by followers or viral content, but by real product ownership and long-term equity. From digital memberships to full-fledged software ventures, creators are unlocking serious revenue streams and reshaping what it means to build an audience online. Miles Sellyn, VP of Creator Partnerships at Rare Days, has helped some of the biggest names in the industry, from Colin and Samir to Ryan Trahan, launch products that now generate millions. I spoke to him to unpack what's working, what's not and how creators can move from content to commerce with intention. 'What the market is telling me is the biggest opportunity right now are memberships and subscriptions,' Sellyn explained. 'It's a bit of an evolution from courses or communities. You might have a course within a membership. You might have a community within a membership. You might have AI chatbots. It's a flexible container for delivering content.' Still, Sellyn's eyes are on a more ambitious horizon: creators building software. 'The cost of developing software is dropping dramatically. That opens the door for creators to own the product rather than just being the face of it,' he said. 'It creates long-term enterprise equity value.' 'The eye-popping ones: we work with a creator who is making more than $15 million a year through their digital products,' Sellyn shared. 'Another did $300,000 within 30 days of launching. We have creators who have sold $15 million plus of courses.' But big numbers aren't the only metric. 'Even $60,000–$70,000 a month in digital product sales can change the game for creators relying on brand deals. It's great for mental health and strategic freedom.' So what makes a creator product-ready? 'A ruthless standard for quality,' Sellyn emphasized. 'That stems from a deep respect for the audience. The top creators care about the person on the other end of the screen. They're not just selling—they're delivering outsized value.' He also urges creators to go beyond intuition and mine their DMs and comments. 'That's where the product ideas are hiding.' Rare Days uses 'feature vignettes' to validate product ideas. These are low-fidelity mockups that gauge audience interest. 'We'll create 10 to 20 of these and test them directly with the creator's audience. That feedback is gold.' When creators don't have a product idea, that's not a deal-breaker. 'They're filmmakers, creatives, educators, not necessarily product strategists. But if they know their audience, we can find the opportunity together.' The timeline depends on complexity. A course or membership might take three to four months. Custom software can take up to a year. One warning: 'Creators almost always underestimate the content burden. They're already making a YouTube video every week. Creating a product is another layer entirely.' Pricing is both art and science. Sellyn recommends Jay Clouse's four-question pricing framework, based on the Van Westendorp Model: Then, price toward the lower end. 'You want customers to feel like they're getting 10 times the value for every dollar they spend.' 'One of the biggest mistakes? The creator launches and goes dark,' Sellyn warned. 'You need to talk about it constantly. Algorithms don't guarantee reach, so act like you're inviting your audience to a party. They need to know it exists.' Sellyn recommends a two-week pre-launch window, followed by strategic post-launch engagement. 'It's not 'Field of Dreams.' You can't just build it and expect people to come. You have to market it.' Entertainment creators can still sell, but it's tougher. 'If your content is a vitamin, not a painkiller, the product needs a lot more thought. But if your content solves problems, the audience is already primed.' One standout example is Hannah Williams of Salary Transparent Street. Instead of launching a course, she built a salary database and a job board. 'It fits her mission and audience. Not everything has to be an educational product.' Sellyn sees a wave of creator-led SaaS products on the horizon. 'Creators used to partner with software tools. Now they're building their own. We're seeing creators in 3D modeling, for example, realize they can build plugins for $20,000 and keep the upside, rather than just taking affiliate fees.' It's not just about products. It's about ownership. If you're a creator thinking about launching a product? 'Spend time in your DMs,' Sellyn said. 'Read every comment. Look for pain points. Then build solutions around those. That's your roadmap.' And when you're ready to scale? 'Your audience is your edge. But your product is your future.' This article is based on an interview from my podcast, The Business of Creators.
