Tony red carpet: USA TODAY'S Ralphie Alversa talks Sarah Snook and more
Tony red carpet: USA TODAY'S Ralphie Alversa talks Sarah Snook and more
USA TODAY'S Ralphie Alversa recaps Sarah Snook, George Clooney and more at the 2025 Tonys red carpet.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'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
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 Tony Awards first-timers club: Half of this year's acting winners triumphed for their Broadway debuts
The 2025 Tony Awards gave a warm welcome to first-timers tonight by awarding four actors for their Broadway debut. This accounts for half of the ceremony's acting categories — one of the best showings for debut performances this century. Sarah Snook also portrayed multiple roles to win Lead Actress in a Play for The Picture of Dorian Gray. The Succession star impressively swaps between 26 characters in this adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic, often acting opposite recorded versions of herself projected onto a giant screen center stage. More from GoldDerby 2025 Tony Awards: 'Maybe Happy Ending' dominates with 6 wins, Nicole Scherzinger shocks with Best Actress win over Audra McDonald 'Sunset Boulevard' wins Best Musical Revival, Andrew Lloyd Webber breaks 30-year Tony drought Tony Awards: Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda, original 'Hamilton' cast perform show's greatest hits for 10th anniversary Cole Escola became the first nonbinary performer to win the Lead Actor in a Play category for their wild performance in Oh Mary!, which they also wrote. Escola portrays a comically demented version of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, who craves nothing more than becoming a 'rather well-known niche cabaret legend.' Nicole Scherzinger won Lead Actress in a Musical for Sunset Boulevard in an upset over the favored Audra McDonald (Gypsy). The former Pussycat Dolls singer played faded screen star Norma Desmond in a wildly reimagined interpretation of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Jak Malone picked up the Featured Actor in a Musical trophy for his rousing performance in the new musical Operation Mincemeat. As Hester Leggett, one of several characters he plays in the show, Malone stops the show with his tender song 'Dear Bill.' SEE 2025 Tony Awards: Complete list of winners While it's not uncommon for performers to win a Tony on their first nomination, it's quite rare for them to be recognized for their first-ever appearance on the main stem. Recent years have typically seen only performer (at most) triumph for their Broadway debut in the eight acting categories. This includes Maleah Joi Moon (Hell's Kitchen) in 2024, Jodie Comer (Prima Facie) in 2023, Myles Frost (MJ) in 2022, Andrew Burnap (The Inheritance) in 2021, and Ari'el Stachel (The Band's Visit) in 2018. Three thespians won for their Broadway debut was back in 2015. That year featured victories for Alex Sharp (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), Richard McCabe (The Audience), and Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I). Another three debut performances were also fêted in 2006. Those wins were bestowed on Richard Griffiths (The History Boys), John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys), and Ian McDiarmid (Faith Healer). No year this century was kinder to debuts than 2010, however. A whopping five actors won Tonys at that ceremony for their first appearances on Broadway. Tonys went to Douglas Hodge (La Cage aux Folles), Catherine Zeta Jones (A Little Night Music), Eddie Redmayne (Red), Scarlett Johansson (A View From the Bridge), and Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet). For curious theater fans, Tonys were also bestowed this year to Broadway debuts in disciplines beyond acting. Creative duo Will Aronson and Hue Park won three awards for Tony favorite tuner Maybe Happy Ending: Best Musical, Original Score, and Book of a Musical. Video designer George Reeve picked up the Scenic Design of a Musical trophy (alongside scenic artist Dane Laffrey), also for Maybe Happy Ending. Australian artist Marg Horwell won Costume Design of a Play for The Picture of Dorian Gray, work for which she already has an Oliver Award. Finally, Eureka Day playwright Jonathan Spector won Revival of a Play. Best of GoldDerby 'Maybe Happy Ending' star Darren Criss on his Tony nomination for playing a robot: 'Getting to do this is the true win' Who Needs a Tony to Reach EGOT? Sadie Sink on her character's 'emotional rage' in 'John Proctor Is the Villain' and her reaction to 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Click here to read the full article.
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Tonys 2025 Takeaways: ‘Maybe Happy Ending' Wins 6 Awards
'Maybe Happy Ending,' a stirring Broadway musical about two discarded robots who go on a road trip and forge a relationship, won the coveted Tony for best new musical on Sunday night, capping a remarkable journey for a show that faced long odds but won over both critics and fans. The triumph of a show with a puzzling title and tough-to-explain themes was a vote of confidence in originality by an industry often dominated by big-brand intellectual property and big-name Hollywood stars. The musical's prize capped a night in which Broadway rewarded adventurous newcomers: Sarah Snook, the 'Succession' star who played 26 roles in a technologically complicated adaptation of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'; Nicole Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Doll who, barefoot and bloodied, delivered a scorching performance in a revival of 'Sunset Boulevard'; and Cole Escola, an alt-cabaret performer who imagined Mary Todd Lincoln as an alcoholic who longs to be a chanteuse and turned that zany idea into the hit play 'Oh, Mary!' The awards were spread out among a diverse array of shows. 'Maybe Happy Ending,' set in a futuristic Korea, won a night-leading six awards, and 'Buena Vista Social Club,' a musical set in Cuba, finished with four. The awards show took place as Broadway seems finally to be rebounding after a damaging pandemic shutdown. The season that just ended was the highest grossing on record when the figures are not adjusted for inflation. But attendance remains slightly below prepandemic levels and very few musicals are achieving profitability. The season's success was attributable in large part to three starry plays whose runs are now ending: 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' 'Othello' and 'Glengarry Glen Ross.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
