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Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Tony Awards 2025: From Francis Jue's tux to a musical cut-off in Kara Young's speech
Gather the brightest stars of stage and song under one roof, and you get a night to remember—exactly what the 2025 Tony Awards offered in dazzling measure. With Wicked star Cynthia Erivo at the helm—bringing the same commanding presence that made her 2015 turn in The Colour Purple unforgettable—the evening unfolded as a stirring tribute to theatre's enduring magic. From Sarah Snook's emotionally raw acceptance speech to Audra McDonald's soul-stirring performance of 'Rose's Return,' and Francis Jue's gentle, heartfelt homage, the ceremony struck a perfect chord between celebration and remembrance. Francis Jue Francis Jue, who won best actor in a featured role in a play for his work in a revival of Yellow Face, said he was gifted the tuxedo he was wearing by another Asian actor, the late Alvin Ing, who wanted him to wear it to the Tonys. Jue shared that Ing had the tux made for himself for the opening of Pacific Overtures on Broadway in 1976. 'When he gave it to me 20 years ago, he told me he wanted me to wear it when I accepted my Tony Award,' he said in his acceptance speech. Jue concluded his speech saying, 'I'm only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful, deserving Asian artists who came before me. To those who don't feel seen, I see you.' Kara Young accepts the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play award for Purpose Kara Young, the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony Award in four consecutive years, became the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively, with the featured actress in a play trophy for her work in Purpose. As she was wrapping up her acceptance speech after calling the theatre a 'sacred space,' host Cynthia Erivo's voice started playing over it. In fairness, Erivo had already jokingly earned that anyone taking more than 90 seconds for their acceptance speech will be played off to her singing. But the timing was just not-so-ideal. Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of Hamilton The original cast of Hamilton reunited at the Tony Awards after 10 long years. They performed a "mixtape" of the songs from the hit musical. The returning performers included the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Phillipa Soo, and Leslie Odom, Jr. Jonathan Groff, center, performs a medley from 'Just in Time' Jonathan Groff performed an unforgettable medley from Just in Time. Midway through a medley of 'Mack the Knife,' 'That's All,' and 'Once in a Lifetime,' he leapt into the audience and playfully straddled his The Matrix Resurrections co-star Keanu Reeves. Fully embracing the moment, Reeves flashed rock-'n'-roll hand signs and gamely joined in on the fun. Sarah Bareilles, left, and Host Cynthia Erivo perform 'Tomorrow' during the In Memoriam segment Cynthia Erivo briefly stepped away from her hosting role to join Sara Bareilles for a moving rendition of 'Tomorrow.' The duo harmonised on the beloved Annie classic as the room honoured industry peers lost over the past year, including James Earl Jones, Gavin Creel, Maggie Smith, and others. Oprah Winfrey at Tony Awards First-time host Cynthia Erivo kicked off the show from her dressing room in Radio City Music Hall, urged by the stage manager to get to the stage. He asked if she had an opening number and she replied she hadn't figured it out yet. As she made her way through the backstage warren, she ran into various people offering advice until she reached Oprah Winfrey, who advised, 'The only thing you need to do is just be yourself.' It turned into a heartwarming moment as Oprah Winfrey re-enacted the now-iconic Wicked scene where Ariana Grande playfully grabbed Cynthia Erivo's finger—an interaction that had quickly captured fans' hearts.
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Sarah Snook wins best actress in a play Tony Award while Kara Young makes history
Sarah Snook poses in the press room with the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for "The Picture of Dorian Gray" during the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) NEW YORK — 'Succession' star Sarah Snook took home the Tony Award trophy for leading actress in a play Sunday for her tireless work in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' while Kara Young became became the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively. 'This means so much for a little Australian girl,' Snook, who plays all 26 roles in her play, said. Young -- already the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony in four consecutive years -- made history after nabbing the featured actress in a play trophy for her work in 'Purpose.' She also won last year for 'Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.' Young thanked her parents, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, her cast and director Phylicia Rashad. She called the theater 'a sacred space and it makes us united.' Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' He said he was gifted the tux he was wearing from another Asian actor who wanted him to wear it to the Tonys. 'I'm only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful deserving Asian artists who came before me,' he said. 'To those who don't feel seen,' he added. 'I see you.' Jak Malone won best actor in a featured role in a musical for the British import 'Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical,' playing a woman every performance. He hoped his win could be a powerful advocacy for trans rights. The host with the most First-time host Cynthia Erivo kicked off the show from her dressing room in Radio City Music Hall, urged by the stage manager to get to the stage. He asked if she had an opening number and she replied she hadn't figured it out yet. As she made her way through the backstage warren, she ran into various people offering advice until she reached Oprah Winfrey, who advised, 'The only thing you need to do is just be yourself.' Erivo then appeared at the Radio City stage in a red, spangly gown with white accents, hip cocked, as she launched into the slow-burning original song 'Sometimes All You Need Is a Song,' written by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Alone onstage with just a pianist, Erivo's soaring voice was soon joined by dozens of members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir, all dressed in white, making her look like a powerful strawberry in a bowl of whipped cream. She went into the audience and got front-row guests to sing along, including Adam Lambert. 'So I took in all the voices that told me what to do/And I looked through all the choices and I found one thing is true/It's really very simple/It's the thing that makes you sing, that makes you soar/Sometimes, sometimes all you need is a song.' In her opening comments, she singled out first-time nominees Louis McCartney, Sadie Sink, Cole Escola and 'an up-and-comer that I think you're going to really be hearing quite a bit about -- George Clooney.' She noted that the 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing season ever and signaling that Broadway has finally emerged from the COVID-19 blues. 'Broadway is officially back,' Erivo said. 'Provided we don't run out of cast members from `Succession,'' a nod to appearances this season by former co-stars Snook and Kieran Culkin and last season by Jeremy Strong. Pre-show results 'Buena Vista Social Club' and 'Maybe Happy Ending' built up early heads of steam at the pre-show, well before the main event had even started. The best book and best score awards went to 'Maybe Happy Ending,' with lyrics written by Hue Park and music composed by Will Aronson. The show was one of the favorites to win the best new musical crown, also picking up best scenic design of a musical. Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado won for choreographing 'Buena Vista Social Club' and Peck noted a song from the renowned album was played at their wedding. The musical takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders' 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary on the making of the Cuban album. Marco Paguia, winning best orchestrations for 'Buena Vista Social Club,' thanked Broadway for welcoming Cuban music. Best costumes in a play went to Marg Hornwell for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' while 'Death Becomes Her' won the musical counterpart, a win for Paul Tazewell in a year where he also became the first Black man to win an Oscar for designing costumes, for 'Wicked.' 'I have dressed so many of you out there,' he said from the podium. This season on Broadway Broadway buzz is usually reserved for musicals but this year the plays -- powered by A-list talent like Snook and Clooney -- have driven the conversation. There were two Pulitzer winners -- 2024 awardee 'English' and 'Purpose' from 2025 -- but perhaps one of the season's biggest surprises was 'Oh, Mary!,' Escola's irreverent, raunchy, gleefully deranged revisionist history centered on Mary Todd Lincoln. All three are nominated for best play, along with 'John Proctor is the Villain' and 'The Hills of California.' On the musical side, three options seem to be in the mix for the top prize: 'Maybe Happy Ending,' the rom-com about a pair of androids; 'Dead Outlaw,' about an alcoholic drifter whose embalmed body becomes a prized possession for half a century; and 'Death Becomes Her,' the musical satire about longtime frenemies who drink a magic potion for eternal youth and beauty. 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Death Becomes Her' and fellow musical nominee, 'Buena Vista Social Club,' led nominations going into the night with 10 apiece. History on the line Audra McDonald, the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history, could possibly extend her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 'Gypsy.' She has to get past Nicole Scherzinger, who has been wowing audiences in 'Sunset Blvd.' Other possible back-to-back winners include director Danya Taymor, hoping to follow up her 2024 win with 'The Outsiders' with another for 'John Proctor Is the Villain,' and Jacobs-Jenkins, who won last year with 'Appropriate.' Other possible firsts include Daniel Dae Kim, who could become the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' Playwright Sanaz Toossi could be the first Iranian-born play winner, for 'English.' Broadway this season saw a burst in alt-rock and the emergence of stories of young people for young people, including 'John Proctor is the Villain' and a 'Romeo + Juliet' pitched to Generation Z and millennials. Sunday's telecast, as usual, has a musical number for each of the shows vying for the best new musical crown, as well as some that didn't make the cut, like 'Just in Time,' a musical about Bobby Darin, and 'Real Women Have Curves.' This year, there's also room for 'Hamilton,' celebrating its 10th year on Broadway. But the musicals 'BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical' and 'SMASH' didn't get slots. Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Daniel Dae Kim making history at the Tony Awards and pushing for Asian representation on Broadway
Nominee Daniel Dae Kim attends the 78th Annual Tony Awards Meet the Nominees press event at the Sofitel New York on May 8, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) The first monologue Daniel Dae Kim ever performed was by David Henry Hwang. He had to do one for his college summer program at the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. Kim chose a scene from 'FOB,' Hwang's play about the assimilation struggles of a Chinese American. So, it's fitting that 35 years later Hwang — the first Asian American to win the Tony Award for best play — would be the one to bring Kim into the Tony spotlight. Known for TV series such as 'Lost' and 'Hawaii Five-0,' Kim, 56, is the first Asian nominee in the category of best leading actor in a play in the Tonys' 78-year history for his work in a Broadway revival of Hwang's 'Yellow Face.' 'I can imagine a lot of things, but I did not imagine this scenario with David,' Kim said. 'That I would be in a play with him, that we would both be nominated for Tony Awards and we would be able to call each other friends.' In the semi-autobiographical show, which ran last fall at the Roundabout Theatre Company, Kim played a satirical version of Hwang. The show also scored nods for best play revival and best performance by a featured actor in a play for first-time nominee Francis Jue, an original 2007 cast member. You could not have scripted a better ending for a play that was written in response to the musical 'Miss Saigon' casting white actors as Asian characters. Kim's performance was filmed in November and PBS will broadcast 'Yellow Face' on Friday. The Tonys, airing on June 8, also will put a spotlight on the play. Asian representation and the Tonys This groundbreaking nomination seems like the perfect karmic reward for Kim, who has spent years advocating for greater Asian representation. At the pandemic's height, the Korean American actor was a constant media presence speaking out against anti-Asian hate. He also jump-started a campaign for veteran actor James Hong, then 91, to get a Hollywood star. He woke up to the news of his nomination after people were able to get around his phone's 'do not disturb' mode. His competition includes George Clooney and Cole Escola. 'It'd be a huge surprise if I won, but I will say that even getting the nomination is a win especially when you put it in the context of our community and what this means for Asian Americans,' said Kim, whose previous Broadway credits include 'The King and I.' He admits it's surprising and 'a little sad' that no other Asian actor has been in this category. There's still never been an Asian nominee for best lead actress in a play. 'Of course, the barrier we really want to break is to actually have someone win, and hopefully that happens sooner rather than later, whether it's me or not.' Kim is one of seven Asian acting nominees this year. Only three acting trophy winners have been Asian. One was Lea Salonga for 'Miss Saigon' and another was Ruthie Ann Miles for 'The King and I.' Coincidentally, the first was BD Wong for best featured actor in Hwang's Tony-winning play, 'M. Butterfly.' Hwang takes special pride in helping actors break glass ceilings. 'I get to feel like, 'Oh, maybe I'm actually able to make a difference' and change the culture in the way that my little-kid-self would have loved but would not have thought possible,' said Hwang, who now has his fourth career Tony nomination. He was last nominated 22 years ago. Bringing Asian Americans into the theater For a long time, Hwang felt the only way to get a play with Asian characters made was to set it outside America because 'Broadway audiences are not interested in Asian Americans.' Historically, productions with Asian ensembles have been musicals set in 'the exotic lands of Asia,' such as 'The King and I,' said Esther Kim Lee, a theater studies professor at Duke University and author of 'The Theatre of David Henry Hwang.' 'Flower Drum Song,' set in San Francisco, was an exception but the songs and book were by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Hwang actually revised the book in 2002. 'It's 2025. We finally see an actual Asian American play with an Asian American lead,' Lee said. 'You can have 'The King and I' and have great actors and they may get Tony Awards, but it's really not about Asian Americans. That this has happened with 'Yellow Face' is just incredible.' The show's two-month run brought the Roundabout a 50% increase in first-time audience members — 'a powerful statement,' Kim said. 'One of the nicest compliments I would hear after the show when I would go to the stage door is, 'This is the first Broadway show I've ever seen,'' Kim said. 'That meant a lot to me because bringing Asian Americans into the theater is important and bringing younger people into the theater is important just for the health of theater in general.' 'Yellow Face' has new relevance Besides discussing whitewash casting, 'Yellow Face' examines the pain of the main character's immigrant father. The role is based on Hwang's father's experience being wrongly accused of laundering money for China. With the current anti-immigrant and anti-DEI climate, the show's airing on PBS feels especially vital to Hwang. 'Whenever there's a conflict between America and any Asian country, Asian Americans are the first to get targeted,' Hwang said. PBS is also where in 2020 the five-episode history docuseries 'Asian Americans' aired for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Kim was a narrator and remains 'unequivocally proud' of the project. Five years after the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, Kim sees 'Yellow Face' simply making it to Broadway as a victory. 'I don't want to get preachy, but I will say that the goal with spotlighting and elevating people of color is not to threaten the establishment,' Kim said. 'The goal was really to say everyone can contribute to our society. Everyone can be a positive force for change.' Terry Tang, The Associated Press
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Daniel Dae Kim making history at the Tony Awards and pushing for Asian representation on Broadway
The first monologue Daniel Dae Kim ever performed was by David Henry Hwang. He had to do one for his college summer program at the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. Kim chose a scene from 'FOB," Hwang's play about the assimilation struggles of a Chinese American. So, it's fitting that 35 years later Hwang — the first Asian American to win the Tony Award for best play — would be the one to bring Kim into the Tony spotlight. Known for TV series such as 'Lost' and 'Hawaii Five-0,' Kim, 56, is the first Asian nominee in the category of best leading actor in a play in the Tonys' 78-year history for his work in a Broadway revival of Hwang's 'Yellow Face.' 'I can imagine a lot of things, but I did not imagine this scenario with David,' Kim said. 'That I would be in a play with him, that we would both be nominated for Tony Awards and we would be able to call each other friends.' In the semi-autobiographical show, which ran last fall at the Roundabout Theatre Company, Kim played a satirical version of Hwang. The show also scored nods for best play revival and best performance by a featured actor in a play for first-time nominee Francis Jue, an original 2007 cast member. You could not have scripted a better ending for a play that was written in response to the musical 'Miss Saigon' casting white actors as Asian characters. Kim's performance was filmed in November and PBS will broadcast 'Yellow Face' on Friday. The Tonys, airing on CBS on June 8, also will put a spotlight on the play. Asian representation and the Tonys This groundbreaking nomination seems like the perfect karmic reward for Kim, who has spent years advocating for greater Asian representation. At the pandemic's height, the Korean American actor was a constant media presence speaking out against anti-Asian hate. He also jump-started a campaign for veteran actor James Hong, then 91, to get a Hollywood star. He woke up to the news of his nomination after people were able to get around his phone's 'do not disturb' mode. His competition includes George Clooney and Cole Escola. 'It'd be a huge surprise if I won, but I will say that even getting the nomination is a win especially when you put it in the context of our community and what this means for Asian Americans,' said Kim, whose previous Broadway credits include 'The King and I.' He admits it's surprising and 'a little sad' that no other Asian actor has been in this category. There's still never been an Asian nominee for best lead actress in a play. 'Of course, the barrier we really want to break is to actually have someone win, and hopefully that happens sooner rather than later, whether it's me or not.' Kim is one of seven Asian acting nominees this year. Only three acting trophy winners have been Asian. One was Lea Salonga for 'Miss Saigon' and another was Ruthie Ann Miles for 'The King and I.' Coincidentally, the first was BD Wong for best featured actor in Hwang's Tony-winning play, 'M. Butterfly.' Hwang takes special pride in helping actors break glass ceilings. 'I get to feel like, 'Oh, maybe I'm actually able to make a difference' and change the culture in the way that my little-kid-self would have loved but would not have thought possible," said Hwang, who now has his fourth career Tony nomination. He was last nominated 22 years ago. Bringing Asian Americans into the theater For a long time, Hwang felt the only way to get a play with Asian characters made was to set it outside America because "Broadway audiences are not interested in Asian Americans.' Historically, productions with Asian ensembles have been musicals set in 'the exotic lands of Asia,' such as 'The King and I," said Esther Kim Lee, a theater studies professor at Duke University and author of 'The Theatre of David Henry Hwang." 'Flower Drum Song,' set in San Francisco, was an exception but the songs and book were by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Hwang actually revised the book in 2002. 'It's 2025. We finally see an actual Asian American play with an Asian American lead,' Lee said. 'You can have 'The King and I' and have great actors and they may get Tony Awards, but it's really not about Asian Americans. That this has happened with 'Yellow Face' is just incredible.' The show's two-month run brought the Roundabout a 50% increase in first-time audience members — 'a powerful statement," Kim said. 'One of the nicest compliments I would hear after the show when I would go to the stage door is, 'This is the first Broadway show I've ever seen,'" Kim said. 'That meant a lot to me because bringing Asian Americans into the theater is important and bringing younger people into the theater is important just for the health of theater in general.' 'Yellow Face' has new relevance Besides discussing whitewash casting, 'Yellow Face' examines the pain of the main character's immigrant father. The role is based on Hwang's father's experience being wrongly accused of laundering money for China. With the current anti-immigrant and anti-DEI climate, the show's airing on PBS feels especially vital to Hwang. 'Whenever there's a conflict between America and any Asian country, Asian Americans are the first to get targeted,' Hwang said. PBS is also where in 2020 the five-episode history docuseries 'Asian Americans" aired for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Kim was a narrator and remains 'unequivocally proud" of the project. Five years after the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, Kim sees 'Yellow Face' simply making it to Broadway as a victory. 'I don't want to get preachy, but I will say that the goal with spotlighting and elevating people of color is not to threaten the establishment,' Kim said. 'The goal was really to say everyone can contribute to our society. Everyone can be a positive force for change.'
