The 2025 Tony Awards honored the best shows of the year — for once!
'Maybe' schmaybe.
Sunday night was a signed, sealed, delivered happy ending for 'Maybe Happy Ending,' the stratospherically original South Korean gem about robots in love starring Darren Criss that deservedly won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
What a stunning achievement for the little show that almost didn't open.
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Gleeky Criss also earned his first Tony for Best Actor in a Musical — one of the production's five total.
5 'Maybe Happy Ending' won the Tony Award for Best Musical on Sunday.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
I know, I know — their performance on the telecast was meh. Microscopic in that 50th Street barn. But go see 'Maybe Happy Ending' at the intimate Belasco Theatre. It's sublime in person.
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Ditto — but different — for 'Purpose,' playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' scintillating drama at the Hayes about a bickering black political dynasty that took home Best Play. Hysterical and vicious, it's the season's meaty tomahawk steak.
The Tonys, back home at Radio City Musical Hall for the first time since 2022, finally felt like they were back to their old selves again. The last few years have been quiet, dinky, dark and apologetic.
But last night was euphoric. And several productions that performed came off fabulously on the broadcast, hosted by 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo, which is watched by about 3.5 million people.
That's barely a drop in the viewership bucket compared to the Oscars. The Super Bowl? Fuggedaboutit. But the teeny Tonys exist to sell targeted products that are housed in just 41 theaters across a few blocks in Manhattan. That 3.5 million matters.
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What won our wallets?
'Death Becomes Her''s performance of 'For the Gaze' with Megan Hilty was shimmering and hilarious. It'll sell tickets. 'Buena Vista Social Club' showcased its electrifying Tony-winning dance and transportive Cuban music. The show's box office — or website, anyway — will get a lot of traffic.
5 Nicole Scherzinger took home her first Tony Award for playing Norma Desmond in the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard.'
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
The ingenious Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical 'Sunset Boulevard' has only a month left. Sprint, don't run. And star Nicole Scherzinger, who triumphantly won the Tony for Best Actress, shattered every window in Midtown with her glorious rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'As If We Never Said Goodbye.'
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A beaming Lloyd Webber won his first Tony in 30 years.
What will not move a single seat was 'Gypsy' star Audra McDonald's nails-on-a-chalkboard version of 'Rose's Turn.' Awful.
5 The musical 'Death Becomes Her' came off great on the telecast.
Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
And the smaller musicals, 'Dead Outlaw' and 'Operation Mincemeat,' were a little weird in the TV context. Both are niche-as-it-gets musicals about corpses. Welcome to the Radio City Music Morgue!
Especially random was 'Real Women Have Curves,' which wasn't even nominated for Best Musical. It should never have been given a slot. It's gonna flop big time, and you could feel as much through the screen.
Not that 'Hamilton' — ever heard of it? — needs the boost, but a reunion medley featuring stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and Phillipa Soo was both energizing and nostalgic.
'This makes me feel old,' a friend texted. Too right.
5 Cole Escola won Best Actor in a Play for 'Oh, Mary!'
Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
And it was a deeply moving idea for Sara Bareilles and Erivo to duet on the 'Annie' classic tomorrow by the late composer Charles Strouse, who died this year, during the teary In Memoriam.
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My favorite moment of any winner's speech was when Cole Escola, the brilliant writer-director of 'Oh, Mary!' recalled meeting fellow nominees, including George Clooney, while accepting Best Actor in a Play.
'It's been an honor getting to know you over warm salads at all these luncheons,' the always funny Escola quipped. 'Oh, Mary!' is another must see.
5 'Succession' star Sarah Snook won Best Actress in a Play for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.'
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
Sarah Snook, Shiv from 'Succession,' snagged Best Actress in a Play for her mind-bending portrayal of 26 separate roles in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' At risk of repeating myself, check it out.
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Erivo didn't quite defy gravity as host. Elphaba stayed respectably on the ground, played to her strengths (singing, being British) and thankfully didn't go overboard with bits.
In the end, though, the 2025 Tony Awards did a superb job of celebrating the best work of a veyy creative Broadway season.
Plenty of the winners are still on. Say it with me: Go see 'em.
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Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
BET Awards bring star power as Doechii, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey shine in 25th anniversary show
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'I feel like it's my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people. … We all deserve to live in hope and not fear. I hope we stand together.' Advertisement Ultimate Icon Award honorees Jamie Foxx accepts the ultimate icon award. Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Foxx, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin received the Ultimate Icon Award. They were selected due to their impact on entertainment as well as their community impact and advocacy. Foxx was the first to receive his award. He was visibly moved during a heartfelt moment at the awards, being brought to tears while accepting his trophy after surviving a life-threatening health scare in recent years. The Oscar and Grammy winner reflected on watching the in memoriam tribute from his seat. 'When I saw the memoriam, I was like, 'Man, that could've been me,'' said Foxx, who was hospitalized in 2023 after suffering a stroke. In an interview with The Associated Press, he recalled the severity of the moment: 'The thing was almost a wrap. Every prayer counted.' Foxx was presented the award by music legend Stevie Wonder, adding even more weight to the emotional moment. As he stood on stage, his voice cracked with gratitude. 'I don't know why I went through what I went through. But I know my second chance — I won't turn it down,' Foxx said, as his two daughters and sister wiped away tears from the audience. 'I have so much love to give. Just give me one more crack at this. Whatever reason you put this on me, I promise I'll do right. … You can't go through something like that and not testify.' Carey said this was her first time collecting a trophy at the BET Awards. The singer said she became emotional after Busta Rhymes introduced her. Advertisement 'It took me a while, but I finally realized that life is far too short to live for anyone else's approval, which is something I always did,' said Carey, a five-time Grammy winner. 'I decided to own who I am.' Dr. Dre presented the award to Snoop, who walked onstage with his wife Shante Taylor. In his speech, he paid homage to Carey, Franklin and Foxx before thanking the many others who helped him throughout his life. 'Hip-hop gave me a voice. It gave me a purpose,' he said. 'It gave me a way out and a way into homes, hearts, cultures and countries I'd never thought I would even touch. Being an icon isn't about fame. It's about legacy. It's about what you build, what you leave behind and who you lift up along the way.' Franklin expressed gratitude for the honor, admitting he's far from the perfect Christian, husband, father or artist. He joked, 'I can't even sing.' 'Which makes this award so amazing, because what I do really don't make sense,' he said. 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Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
In London, the fox has its own ambulance service when it needs help
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The foxes didn't invade London so much as adapt and expand their range inward as the city spread to their habitat in the 1930s and suburbs grew. Love 'em or hate 'em But people and the bushy-tailed member of the canine family have not always lived in harmony, and the species has admirers and adversaries. For everyone enchanted seeing a fox trotting nonchalantly down their street at dusk or basking in a sunny backyard, there are plenty who see them as pests. They poop where they like, tear into garbage and the vixens in heat let out terrifying shrieks in the dead of winter when attracting a mate. 'It's like Marmite with foxes,' Townsend said, referring to the food spread that is an acquired and divisive taste. 'You either love them or hate them.' The divide between the two camps led Trevor Williams to found what became The Fox Project nearly 35 years ago. 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While the omnivores survive on small animals, bugs and berries in the wild, they favor easily scavenged leftovers in the city and handouts that make them more dependent on humans. Their main urban menaces are cars, getting snagged in soccer nets or getting stuck in tight spaces. In their effort to get free, they often get nasty abrasions that can become infected. Many also suffer from mange, a parasitic infestation that leads to all kinds of problems. Townsend pilots her VW Caddy on city streets, highways and narrow lanes that roll through lush hills, responding to calls about injured or ill foxes or cubs that have lost their mothers. She's seen a bit of everything since her first humbling call 2 1/2 years ago when the supposedly injured fox bolted. 'In my inexperience, I chased after him, which is comical because you're never going to outrun a fox,' she said. 'I just remember he ran very fast and I looked silly running after him.' 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Cubs that recover are socialized in packs of five until they mature and are then released in a rural location while the adults are freed in the neighborhoods where they were found. The fox does not say 'Thank you' Given a second chance, it's not clear how well the foxes fare, because they are rarely tracked. A 2016 study in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that rehabilitated foxes were more likely to behave as if they had been displaced when returned to their original territory. They were tracked wandering farther away, potentially exposing them to more traffic and greater stress. 'It is a gap in the knowledge and there's an assumption that when you release them, they thrive and I think that that assumption needs to be challenged more,' said Bryony Tolhurst, a University of Brighton honorary research fellow and lead author of the study. For Townsend, fox deaths are offset by the joy of seeing little ones venture into the unknown or an adult darting into a neighborhood it instantly recognizes. 'Sometimes they look back and people like to romanticize that they're saying 'thank you,'' she said. 'They're just making sure we're not chasing after them.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Weinstein jury set to keep deliberating after tensions spill into public
NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors in Harvey Weinsteinn'ssex crimes retrial appear to be moving past some interpersonal tensions and focusing on one of his three accusers as deliberations stretch into a fourth day Tuesday. At the end of Monday's session, jurors requested to start off Tuesday with electronic copies of emails and other evidence pertaining to Jessica Mann — the accuser with arguably the most complex history with Weinstein. During days of testimony, Mann said the Oscar-winning movie producer raped her in 2013 amid a consensual relationship that continued for years afterward. Weinstein's lawyers emphasized that she kept seeing him, accepting invitations and sending warm messages to him. Mann said she 'compartmentalized' the pain he caused her. Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges in the case. In addition to the rape charge, he's accused of sexually assaulting two other women, Mimi Haley and Kaja Sokola. Weinstein didn't testify during the current trial, but maintained through his attorneys that he had completely consensual encounters with his accusers, who wanted his help building show business careers. Weinstein was one of the movie industry's most powerful figures until a series of sexual misconduct allegations against him became public in 2017, fueling the #MeToo movement and eventually leading to criminal charges. The jury is made up of seven women and five men. Their closed-door discussions began Thursday and apparently have been fractious at times. One juror asked Friday to be excused because he felt one member of the group was being treated unfairly. Monday began with two jurors giving contrasting takes on the atmosphere in the deliberation room. First, the foreperson complained to the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers that some jurors were 'pushing" others to change their minds, talking about Weinstein's past and going beyond the charges. The foreperson didn't specify what was said. Trial evidence has included some testimony about allegations outside the scope of the current charges, such as mentions of the groundswell of claims against the ex-studio boss in 2017. Another juror soon asked to speak to the court. In her estimation, things were 'going well' and jurors were 'making headway.' By the end of Monday, the jury as a whole said in a note that it was 'making good progress.' Weinstein originally was convicted in New York in 2020 of raping Mann and forcing oral sex on Haley. Sokola's allegation was added last year, after New York state's highest court overturned the 2020 conviction and sent the case back for retrial. The Associated Press generally does not identify people without their permission if they say they have been sexually assaulted. Sokola, Mann and Haley have agreed to be named.
