Notizie

Want to win an Emmy? Work with Ryan Murphy.

In 2023, Niecy Nash-Betts became the 13th performer from a Murphy production to win an Emmy Award. Her compassionate performance as Glenda Cleveland, the neighbor of notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters) in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, wowed voters and secured Nash-Betts her first Primetime Emmy; she also has a Daytime Emmy for producing Clean House.

This year, Chloë Sevigny, Javier Bardem, and Cooper Koch are all nominated for their roles on Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Sevigny and Bardem portray Kitty Menendez and José Menendez, parents who were murdered by their sons, Erik (Koch) and Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez), at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.

The Netflix limited series is produced and cowritten by Murphy, which begs the question: Can Sevigny, Bardem, or Koch continue Murphy's lucky streak at the Emmys and become his 14th winning actor?...

As backlash continues over Maybe Happy Ending's decision to cast Andrew Barth Feldman in the role of 'Oliver,' replacing Darren Criss, actor Bd Wong has penned an open letter about the matter, which has been signed by 2,400 theatre artists. Aaron J. Albano, Ali Ewoldt, Ann Harada, Anthony Rapp, Conrad Ricamora, the Broadway Body Positivity Project, Joaquina Kalukango, Jon Jon Briones, Telly Leung, and many more. The musical is set in South Korea, and the role of Oliver was originally played by Darren Criss, an actor of Filipino descent. Many believe that the casting of Feldman, who is white, was wrong, as the character should be played by an Asian actor. Wong's letter can be read below. "This deserves attention. To put it simply: Asian Actors and the Asian...

With a new leading man taking over Broadway‘s Maybe Happy Ending, the South Korean musical’s creators are responding to discourse around the casting of Andrew Barth Feldman.

After Darren Criss, who is of Asian descent, originated the role of Oliver on Broadway following the show’s Asian-led run in Seoul, writers Hue Park and Will Aronson responded to recent backlash over the casting of Feldman, who is white.

“Our dream at the outset was that our allegorical robot show could one day miraculously become part of the American musical theater canon – a modern Fantasticks, able to be comfortably performed by anyone, anywhere – yet distinctly set in Korea,” they explained in a statement on Instagram (read it in full below). “This went against prevailing wisdom that we needed to set our show in America.”

After the musical’s 2016 premiere in Korea and 2024 Broadway premiere, the pair added in part,...

Helen J. Shen is speaking out in response to the controversy over her real-life boyfriend Andrew Barth Feldman being cast as the new lead alongside her in Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway.

Fans of the show have criticized the casting of a white actor in a show that takes place in Seoul, South Korea. Many feel that the role of Oliver, originated by Darren Criss, should be played by a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (Aapi) community.

Darren will leave the show on August 31 and it was recently announced that Andrew will replace him for a nine-week engagement. He and Helen have been dating for years and he actually helped her make her audition video!

Maybe Happy Ending is the story of two abandoned robots who go on an adventure together.

So, what did Helen say?

Keep reading to find out more…

“I’ve been struggling to...

Helen J Shen has released a statement regarding the recent backlash in response to the casting of Andrew Barth Feldman in Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway. The casting decision drew controversy upon announcement as the musical is set in South Korea, and the role of Oliver was originally played by Darren Criss, an actor of Filipino descent. In a new social media statement, Shen revealed that she has struggled to hold "multiple truths" within herself that "seem to contradict." She acknowledges that while it is a "huge moment of joy" to perform alongside her off-stage boyfriend in the musical, she understands the "hurt that people feel" by the casting. "I acknowledge that we can't control how the show is received and the impact that it...

In the week since the casting of Andrew Barth Feldman in the role of Oliver in Maybe Happy Ending, the decision has sparked backlash. The musical is set in South Korea, and the role of Oliver was originally played by Darren Criss, an actor of Filipino descent. Many believe that the casting of Feldman, who is white, was wrong, as the character should be played by an Asian actor. Now, the writers of Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson and Hue Park, have spoken out about this backlash, defending their decision and explaining their thought process when creating this production. "Our dream at the outset was that our allegorical robot show could one day miraculously become part of the American musical theater canon –...

The Town Hall has revealed initial programming for their 2025-2026 Season of The Town Hall Presents. The 2025-2026 season will celebrate Black Brilliance, Queer Icons, Girlhood, Animated Splendor, and Spiritual Inspirations, among other programming. The season opens with a star-studded concert version of John Cassavetes' Opening Night, the first staged musical with music, lyrics, and orchestrations arranged by Rufus Wainwright. Sara Bareilles, Laura Benanti, Darren Criss, Patti LuPone, and Elizabeth Teeter come together for this ACLU benefit show. See full programming here! More Details On The 2025-2026 Season: Murmrr and The Town Hall Present A Concert with the Music of John Cassavetes’ Opening Night September 15, 2025 at 7:30pm John Cassavetes' Opening Night is...

Actor Darren Criss and composer Will Aronson, both of whom won Tony Awards for their work on Maybe Happy Ending, were recently featured on PBS NewsHour's Canvas series to discuss the acclaimed musical. During their conversation with PBS correspondent Jeffrey Brown, the pair touched on love and the original idea that inspired the show. "I think one of the most beautiful sentiments of the show is the way that love makes things alive," Criss shared on the segment. The musical follows two retired helper bots who unexpectedly fall in love. However, this wasn't the original pitch given to Aronson by his collaborator, Hue Park. "He said, 'I have an image for you. It's this lonely robot playing trombone in this basement parking garage...

On Sunday, Conrad Ricamora, a Tony-nominated actor currently starring in Oh, Mary! on Broadway, announced the creation of a scholarship fund for Asian American male actors.

The idea for the fund came from “decades of erasure” of Asian American men in the theater industry, Ricamora says, but also took place days after a casting controversy at Maybe Happy Ending, which has prompted outcry from members of community.

The Tony Award-winning musical, which came to Broadway from South Korea, announced that a white actor, Andrew Barth Feldman, would be replacing Darren Criss, who had won a Tony Award for his role and became the first Asian American actor to win best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical. The show follows two robots living in Seoul, and had featured actors of Asian descent in the leading roles and understudies in its various stage iterations, with Criss pointing...

Andrew Barth Feldman is heading back to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending!

The 23-year-old actor first made his Broadway debut at 17 in Dear Evan Hansen, and now he’s returning to the stage opposite his real-life girlfriend Helen J Shen.

Andrew will take over the role of Oliver from Tony-winner Darren Criss, who originated the role on Broadway.

Keep reading to find out more…

“The entire creative team is absolutely thrilled to welcome Andrew Barth Feldman to the cast of Maybe Happy Ending as the robot Oliver for this special limited engagement. Andrew is a remarkable talent — emotionally honest, musically gifted, and full of heart — and we can’t wait for audiences to experience his fresh and moving take on this role,” producers Will Aronson and Hue Park, and director Michael Arden said in a joint statement.

“He joins the luminous Helen J Shen and the incredible company including Marcus Choi,...

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Andrew Barth Feldman will join the cast of Tony Award-winning Best Musical Maybe Happy Ending, by Tony Award-winners Will Aronson and Hue Park and directed by Tony Award winner Michael Arden. Feldman will play the role of “Oliver” beginning on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 for a special limited 9-week run through Saturday, November 1, 2025. Feldman stars in the production following Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winner Darren Criss. Feldman joins the current original cast: Helen J Shen, Dez Duron, Marcus Choi as well as Steven Huynh, Hannah Kevitt, Daniel May, Christopher James Tamayo and Claire Kwon rounding out the production as the understudies. Will Aronson, Hue Park, and Michael Arden jointly said, “The entire creative team is absolutely thrilled to welcome Andrew Barth Feldman to...

Maybe Happy Ending won Best Musical at the Tony Awards last month, and it’s getting a new lead actor after Labor Day. Andrew Barth Feldman will take over as Oliver starting September 2.

Feldman — who played the title role for a year in another Tony-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen — will assume the part originated on Broadway by Darren Criss, who won the Lead Actor in a Musical Tony on June 8. Producers said today that Feldman’s run will be a nine-week limited engagement through November 1.

“The entire creative team is absolutely thrilled to welcome Andrew Barth Feldman to the cast of Maybe Happy Ending as the robot Oliver for this special limited engagement,” the show’s writers Will Aronson and Hue Park and director Michael Arden said in a statement. “Andrew is a remarkable talent — emotionally honest, musically gifted, and full of heart — and we can’t wait for audiences...

Andrew Barth Feldman will replace Darren Criss in the Tony Award-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending.

Feldman, who starred in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, as well as the film No Hard Feelings, will play the role of Oliver starting Sept. 2 for a nine-week run through Nov. 1. Criss originated the role of Oliver, a retired robot living in South Korea, on Broadway and won a Tony Award for his portrayal, becoming the first Asian American actor to win best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical. Criss has been playing the role since October 2024.

Feldman will star opposite original cast Helen J. Shen, who he is dating, as well as original cast members Dez Duron and Marcus Choi, and understudies Steven Huynh, Hannah Kevitt, Daniel May, Christopher James Tamayo and Claire Kwon. The musical originated in South Korea, and this appears to be the first time the...

Earlier this week, 106.7 Lite FM's Broadway in Bryant Park kicked off its 2025 program, bringing the best of Broadway back together for free performances, every Thursday in July. The week 1 performances featured the casts of: & Juliet: Gianna Harris, Michael Iván Carrier, Nathan Levy, and more performed "...Baby One More Time" and "I Kissed a Girl". Boop! The Musical: Jasmine Amy Rogers, Ainsley Melham, Erich Bergen, Faith Prince, and more performed "Where I Wanna Be" and "The Color of Love". Hell’s Kitchen: Amanda Reid and Benjamin H. Moore performed "The River" and "If I Ain't Got You". Maybe Happy Ending: Darren Criss, Helen J Shen, and Dez Duron performed "The Rainy Day We Met" and "A Sentimental Person". Mj...

Earlier this week, 106.7 Lite FM's Broadway in Bryant Park kicked off its 2025 program, bringing the best of Broadway back together for free performances, every Thursday in July. The week 1 performances featured the casts of: & Juliet: Gianna Harris, Michael Iván Carrier, Nathan Levy, and more performed "...Baby One More Time" and "I Kissed a Girl". Boop! The Musical: Jasmine Amy Rogers, Ainsley Melham, Erich Bergen, Faith Prince, and more performed "Where I Wanna Be" and "The Color of Love". Hell’s Kitchen: Amanda Reid and Benjamin H. Moore performed "The River" and "If I Ain't Got You". Maybe Happy Ending: Darren Criss, Helen J Shen, and Dez Duron performed "The Rainy Day We Met" and "A Sentimental Person". Mj...

The HollyShorts Film Festival is pulling out all the stops for its 21st edition, assembling a powerhouse lineup featuring global music icon Stormzy, the late Michael Madsen, Viola Davis, Stephen Fry, Idris Elba, Letitia Wright and a host of other A-list talent.

Running Aug. 7-17 at the Tcl Chinese Theatres in Los Angeles, the festival will also stream globally via Bitpix, showcasing films selected from a record 7,000 submissions worldwide.

Stormzy stars in Academy Award winner Aneil Karia’s “Big Man,” while Viola Davis takes center stage as narrator of Emmai Alaquiva’s documentary “The Ebony Canal: The Story of Black Infant Health.” Idris Elba stars in the west coast premiere of “Victory,” the cinematic visual album from hip-hop icon Slick Rick, also featuring Nas and Giggs and directed by Meji Alabi. Stephen Fry stars alongside Miriam Margolyes in Lee Knight’s “A Friend of Dorothy.”

Among other marquee entries, Madsen...

On Friday, July 4, Macy’s presented their annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. In attendance were several Broadway performers, including Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss, Megan Hilty, and Patrick Wilson, in addition to Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, John Stamos, and more. Take a look at photos from the event below! Before the fireworks lit up the sky, a star-studded lineup took the stage for live performances from New York City, including the Jonas Brothers, Eric Church, Lenny Kravitz, Ava Max, Keke Palmer, and Trisha Yearwood. Broadway alum Ariana DeBose hosted the show. Check out their performances! Jonas Brothers Full Performance <iframe allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/daV3VpVX3b0?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border:...

Featuring the voices of: Darren Criss, Ryan Hurst, Ike Amadi, Zachary Quinto, Alexandra Daddario, Brett Dalton, Neil Flynn, Bellamy Young | Written by Tim Sheridan | Directed by Chris Palmer

It’s the dawn of a new age of heroes, and Metropolis has just met its first. But as Daily Planet intern Clark Kent – working alongside reporter Lois Lane – secretly wields his alien powers of flight, super-strength and x-ray vision in the battle for good, there’s even greater trouble on the horizon. Follow the budding hero as he engages in bloody battles with intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo and fights for his life to halt the attack of power-hungry alien parasite.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow originally debuted on DVD and Blu-ray back in 2020 and was, at the time, a reboot of DC’s “Animated Universe”, which removed all continuity from the “The New 52” series of animated features, which tied into the comics continuity of the same name.

Earlier this month, Broadway Inbound and New York City Tourism + Conventions, the City’s official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau, presented their annual "NYC Center Stage" luncheon at Ipw, held this year at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Shows participating in the Broadway Collection marketing initiative, focused on the travel industry, are invited to perform each year. Hosted by Darren Criss, winner of Best Leading Actor in a Musical at this year’s Tony Awards® for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, this year’s luncheon performance featured some of Broadway’s most popular, award-winning musicals. Travel professionals and press from around the world got a taste of Broadway, with performances from this year’s Tony Award-winners Death Becomes Her and Buena Vista Social Club, as well as last season’s Tony-winning The Outsiders, Hell’s Kitchen, and The Great...

Happy final day of Pride Month! Today and every day, we will continue to celebrate the voices, stories, and brilliance of the Lgbtqia+ community — on stage and beyond. Watch a video of Kip Williams, Kimberly Belflower, Megan Hilty, Darren Criss, and the company of Operation Mincemeat discussing what Pride means to them. "I love Pride. I know Pride wasn't designed for me but I love being a supporter and rallying from the sidelines and doing anything I can to support," the Death Becomes Her star said. "Pride means community, it means advocacy, it means showing up for people even when you're tired, even when you're not your best self. Being the best version of yourself for other people and for something that's bigger...

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Two weeks after the 2025 Tonys, we discuss the upcoming Broadway season and forecast likely 2026 Tony contenders.

David Buchanan: Last June, you and I offered our earliest predictions for what could contend and even win at the Tonys a whole 12 months in the future! Looking back at our extremely early 2025 predictions, we hit some nails on the head, including the Best Musical Revival and Best Actress in a Musical showdowns between Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard and stars Audra McDonald and Nicole Scherzinger, respectively. For the 2025-26 Broadway season — which has already kicked off with Jean Smart in the solo play Call Me Izzy — it looks like the revivals are once again front and center. We have remountings of musicals Ragtime, Chess, and The Rocky Horror Show forthcoming, as well as plays Art,...

It’s been decades since Julia Sweeney was in the zeitgeist thanks to “It’s Pat,” her series of popular Saturday Night Live sketches in which she played Pat, an androgynous, awkward individual who confuses coworkers and passersby: Is Pat a man or a woman? Pat would never say, each answer only further clouding the issue.

Sweeney developed the Pat character during her time with the Groundlings, and she brought them to SNL, where she worked from 1990 to 1994. In August of 1994, a full-length It’s Pat movie hit theaters, receiving terrible reviews and tanking at the box office, effectively killing the character in the culture. Sweeney went on to do a series of superb monologues in the late 1990s and 2000s, including God Said Ha! and Letting Go of God, while Pat drifted out of the collective consciousness. But that started to change in the late 2010s once queer and trans...

The Tony Awards effect has hit Broadway grosses.

Sunset Blvd saw the biggest post-Tonys bump last week with its grosses jumping up more than $400,000 from the prior week to reach $1.7 million.

Nicole Scherzinger, star of the show, won a Tony Award for her performance at the ceremony June 8 and also performed as part of the telecast. The show also won best revival of a musical. Sunset Blvd’s average ticket price also increased to $138 from $110 the week before and capacity increased to 92 percent from 89 percent.

Purpose, which took home the Tony Award for best play and one for featured actress Kara Young, also saw a $100,000 boost in grosses, hitting $636,381 last week, which is the highest gross of its run yet. The play opened March 17 at the Hayes Theater and has had a high capacity throughout its run.

Oh Mary!, which lost out on best play, but took home trophies for its lead,...

Watch Joy Woods and Darren Criss rock out to "Suddenly, Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors during the Maybe Happy Ending star's recent concert! At last night's An Evening With Darren Criss at 92Ny, Woods joined him on stage to perform the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman classic. Both Woods and Criss starred in the hit Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey and Seymour, respectively. Woods originated the role of Chiffon in 2019, before returning as Audrey in 2023. Criss played Seymour alongside Evan Rachel Wood as Audrey in 2024. Criss recently won a Tony Award for Maybe Happy Ending, building upon his Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning work in Glee, and on and off Broadway in Little Shop of Horrors, How to Succeed in Business,...

Hollywood Insider - 'Maybe Happy Ending' - 2025 Tony Awards

'Maybe Happy Ending' sweeps the awards, Nicole Scherzinger clinches her first Tony. The 2025 Tony Awards were more than just a celebration of talent—they were a reminder of what makes Broadway magical. Amid the current cultural spotlight on film and television, it was refreshing to see Broadway take center stage and remind audiences of why it holds such a special place in the hearts of so many. The 78th Tony Awards brought robot love stories and emotional tributes. Nothing short of a night full of originality, purpose, and a deep love for the theater world. 'Maybe Happy Ending': The Big Winner ‘Maybe Happy Ending’, a musical about two robots falling in love, giving the feel of a Pixar movie, took the stage as the evening’s biggest winner. It didn’t just take home the top prize of best musical; it swept five Tonys,...

Hayao Miyazaki’s mastery of his craft has inspired millions across the globe. Apart from the movies, the director’s experience is reflected in his words during his public appearances and interviews. There’s always something you can take away from his words, and that’s something that Maybe Happy Ending star Darren Criss also believes in.

Darren Criss is an actor, singer, and songwriter who’s leaving a mark on Broadway with his consecutive excellent performances. During an interview, Criss recently mentioned how Miyazaki’s words helped him continue with theatre and look at the bright side of the format.

Hayao Miyazaki’s words inspired Maybe Happy Ending star Darren Criss

Maybe Happy Ending is a very popular Korean musical, and Darren Criss starred in its Broadway production. The musical has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Criss became the first Asian American actor to win...

Glee makes it three straight at the Tonys.

When Darren Criss picked up a Tony Award on Sunday night for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for his turn in Maybe Happy Ending, the veteran star became the third straight Glee alum to win a trophy on Broadway’s biggest night. He followed hot on the heels of Jonathan Groff, who won his first Tony last year for Merrily We Roll Along (and he was nominated this year in the same category as Criss for Just in Time), and Alex Newell, who won best featured actor in a musical for Shucked in 2023.

Criss accepts his Tony during Sunday’s ceremony. Theo Wargo/Getty Images

While the springboard from screens big and small to the stage is busier than ever, the wins deepen the validation for Ryan Murphy and his beloved Fox musical TV series,...

Good Night, and Good Luck ended its Broadway run on a high, bringing in $4.3 million last week and yet again breaking its own record for highest-grossing play on Broadway.

The record gross came as the play, starring George Clooney, also broadcast its June 7 performance live on CNN, making the show available to all viewers. The play, which recouped its $9.5 million capitalization in just over seven weeks, also hit the highest average ticket price of its run with $347 and played to more than 100 percent capacity.

The production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre April 3 and ended its run June 8, the day of the Tony Awards. The play had five Tony nominations, including one for Clooney, but walked away without any trophies.

Othello, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington, also ended its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre June 8 and reached the highest gross of its run with $3.8 million, while reaching a...

The 2025 Tony Awards was a big night for a lot of people — but mostly for the cast of Glee.

Where do we even begin? Perhaps with Jonathan Groff (aka Jesse St. James) getting everyone on their feet with a performance from the Bobby Darin musical Just in Time? Or maybe Lea Michele (Rachel Berry) presenting an award while celebrating her own impending return to Broadway in the revival of Chess? Or how about Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson) taking home his first-ever Tony Award for his role in this year’s Best Musical winner Maybe Happy Ending?

More from TVLineCasting News: Felicity Huffman Joins Doc,...

Darren Criss and cast of “Maybe Happy Ending” perform at The 78Th Annual Tony Awards

The 2025 Tony Awards, which aired on CBS on June 8th, had the awards show’s best ratings since 2019. CBS reports the viewership was up a whopping 38% over 2024. In addition, the 78th Annual Tony Awards hosted by Cynthia Erivo drew in the largest streaming audience on Paramount+, increasing the streaming viewership by 208% over last year.

Maybe Happy Ending emerged the big winner, taking home the Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Darren Criss), Best Direction of a Musical (Michael Arden), Best Book of a Musical (Will Aronson and Hue Park), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Dane Laffrey and George Reeve), and Best Original Score trophies. Buena Vista Social Club followed with four, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Sunset Blvd. picked up three each.

2025 Tony...

Following Broadway’s 78th Annual Tony Awards, winners, nominees and guests all took to the social scene following a night of wins for Sarah Snook, Nicole Scherzinger, Cole Escola, Darren Criss, Francis Jue, Kara Young, Natalie Venetia Belcon and more.

Cynthia Erivo’s hosting began with an original song acknowledging all the nominees from George Clooney to Jonathan Groff. Other performances included the original company of Hamilton reuniting 10 years after the production made its debut — with Groff returning to the stage alongside castmates Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Ariana DeBose, Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom Jr., and many more.

Scroll on to see what the talent at the 2025 Tonys did after the awards ceremony for a historic year on Broadway:...

CBS will be telling the story of Tonys night for some time….

America’s Most Watch Network’s presentation of the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday night averaged 4.85 million total viewers, an increase of 38% year-over-year to mark the biggest audience since 2019 for the telecast. (In 2020, there was no formal Tonys ceremony.)

More from TVLineBoston Blue: Gloria Reuben Joins Blue Bloods Offshoot as Family MatriarchGlee Reunion: Chris Colfer and Darren Criss Bring #Klaine to the Tonys, 10 Years After Series FinaleGood Night, and Good Luck: Live Broadcast of Broadway Play Delivers CNN's 2nd-Biggest Night of 2025

The show also enjoyed...

Updated: The 2025 Tony Awards saw a substantial rise in viewership compared to last year’s telecast on CBS.

According to Nielsen’s time-zone adjusted data, the awards show drew 5.1 million viewers for CBS. That is up from 3.53 million in 2024, an increase of approximately 44%. That is also the largest audience for the Tonys since 2019, when the telecast that year nabbed 5.4 million viewers.

CBS parent company Paramount also claimed that the show drew its largest ever streaming audience on Paramount+ to the tune of a 208% increase over last year, though actual streaming viewership numbers were not disclosed. The show was up across the major demographics compared to last year as well, with CBS saying the show was up 116% in adults 18-49, 157% in adults 18-34, and 99% in adults 25-54.

Read the full 2025 Tony Awards winners list here.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards aired for just over three hours on CBS. Hosted by Cynthia Erivo,...

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The 2025 Tony Awards saw a substantial uptick in viewership from last year. Broadway’s biggest night was viewed by 38% more viewers this year compared to last.

Sunday night’s ceremony, which broadcast live from New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, brought in 4.85 million viewers, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day viewing figures. That’s up from the 2024 Tonys, which scored a viewership of 3.53 million on CBS, which coincided with Father’s Day last year. That’s also the biggest viewership the Tonys have seen since 2019.

This uptick corrects a trend of Tonys viewership consistently decreasing over the past several years. Viewership for the 2024 show saw a 14.8% decrease from the 4.12 million viewers brought in by the 2023 telecast, which was just below the 4.22 million viewers seen by the 2022 show.

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If you’re from out of town (or even a New Yorker who normally avoids the theatre district like the plague), securing coveted seats to blockbuster musicals, plays, and other live shows on Broadway can be confusing. But with a bit of planning, it’s more accessible than ever to buy Broadway tickets to some of the most successful shows — like Hamilton, Wicked, and Chicago, to name a few.

On Sunday, the annual Tony Awards saw the best of Broadway commended for their skill at Radio City Music Hall.

Hosted by Cynthia Erivo, the 78th Tony Awards show was attended by numerous star celebrities on the screen, yet still firmly served as a platform to elevate the unsung musical cast and crew of live performances.

In addition to the many smooth quips Erivo delivered on stage, she also showcased her stellar vocals, singing her original number “Sometimes All You Need Is A Song.”

Notably, the 2025 awards show featured three historic wins for Asian American performers, who are regularly subject to stereotypes and prejudice in the business. The first Asian male to win a Tony was B.D. Wong for M. Butterfly, in 1988, and the first Asian woman was Lea Salonga for Miss Saigon in 1991.

Darren Criss won Best Actor in a Musical, making history as the first Asian American actor...

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Mere hours after the 2025 Tonys, we reconvene to dissect the shocking wins, highlight our favorite victors, and discuss the musical performances.

David Buchanan: After a truly sensational Broadway season, last night's Tony Awards didn't disappoint with some surprises, did it? If folks have been reading our weekly column, they probably did pretty well with their predictions and would've seen some of these upsets coming — I shockingly tied for first place worldwide! — but there were still some wins that were hard to call correctly in the moment but were predictable in hindsight. One of those categories was Best Play. We knew that this would be a squeaker between frontrunner Oh, Mary! and challengers Purpose and John Proctor Is the Villain, but very few Gold Derby users correctly called the win for the Pulitzer victor.

Robot love story Maybe Happy Ending and Black family drama Purpose had great nights at the 78th annual Tony Awards, which took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, respectively winning Best Musical and Best Play.

Speaking of the decision to bring the show from its native South Korea to New York City, Maybe Happy Ending producer Hunter Arnold said in the Tonys press room post-win, “The moment I read it, heard it, [director] Michael [Arden] told me about it — it was just this gorgeous jewel box of a heartwarming show. So universal, it’s so hopeful and it’s ironically so incredibly human. So it was a very easy decision to be like, let’s put this thing in Michael’s hands and make it and bring it to life.”

In the musical acting categories, Darren Criss nabbed the Tony for Best Performance by a Leading...

Of all the winners (and also-rans) in the 26 competitive categories at the 2025 Tony Awards, 25 results stand out in terms of historical context. So, what were this year’s most interesting facts, records, and milestones?

1. Cole Escola is the third nonbinary performer to win a Tony for acting, following historic victories by Alex Newell (Shucked) and J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot) in 2023. Escola is also the first individual to have won for starring in their own play since Harvey Fierstein (Sunday's Lifetime Achievement Award winner) for Torch Song Trilogy in 1983.

2. In 1973, Julie Harris won Best Actress in a Play for portraying Mary Todd Lincoln in James Prideaux's The Last of Mrs. Lincoln. This year, Escola won Best Actor in a Play for portraying Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!

3. The productions that received multiple Tony nominations, but went home empty-handed, were Boop!, Dead Outlaw, English, Floyd Collins, Good Night,...

A night of firsts and familiar triumphs defined Broadway’s 78th Tony Awards as the robot romance “Maybe Happy Ending” led the field with six prizes, including best musical, direction and actor Darren Criss’s historic win as the first Asian American in that category. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ drawing-room drama “Purpose” captured best play, making him the first Black playwright to earn the honor since August Wilson in 1987 and only the third writer ever to score back-to-back Tony victories.

In acting races, Cole Escola seized best leading actor in a play for “Oh, Mary!”, becoming the Tonys’ first openly non-binary performer to win a lead role award after joking onstage about a canceled Grindr date. Nicole Scherzinger’s powerhouse turn as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Blvd.” earned best leading actress in a musical, upsetting six-time winner Audra McDonald and extending Scherzinger’s run of accolades that began with last year’s Olivier.

Cole Escola’s name rang out at Radio City Music Hall on 8 June when the writer-performer behind the anarchic farce Oh, Mary! won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, becoming the first openly non-binary artist to claim a lead acting prize in any play category. They accepted the trophy with a cheeky nod to a cancelled Grindr date and a salute to “every queer kid who thinks Broadway has no room for them”.

Escola both wrote and stars in Oh, Mary!, a bawdy re-imagining of Mary Todd Lincoln that transferred to the Lyceum Theatre last July after a sold-out Off-Broadway run. The production, staged by director Sam Pinkleton, had already earned Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk honors before arriving at the Tonys with five nominations. In the lead actor race Escola prevailed over high-profile contenders including George Clooney, whose stage debut in Good Night, and Good Luck went home empty-handed.

Tony Awards 2025: Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending and Purpose Lead a Historic Night for Broadway Xmag UK Xmag Editorial

Maybe Happy Ending and Purpose were the standout winners at a Tony Awards ceremony marked by innovation, emotion,…

The post Tony Awards 2025: Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending and Purpose Lead a Historic Night for Broadway first appeared on Xmag UK.

Theater is the art of looking at ourselves. And truly, if ever there was a night we peered into the soul of Broadway and saw it shimmering in rhinestones, jazz hands, and overdue monologues, it’s Tony night. This year’s 78th Annual Tony Awards, held on Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Music Hall, was a celebratory combustion of talent, diversity, and straight-up Broadway bravado.

If you missed the Broadway buffet, so rich it could give the Met Gala indigestion. This was a perfectly choreographed celebration of talent, trailblazing, and tenacity, hosted by none other than Cynthia Erivo, who didn’t just host; she owned the night.

The nominations dropped on May 1, 2025, and three big-league contenders hit the ground running with 10 nods each — Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending were clearly the cats that got the cream. So, ready for the standing ovation-worthy breakdown?

Best...

Earlier tonight at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, Darren Criss took home a Tony Award for 'Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical' for his outstanding work in Maybe Happy Ending. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction! Multi-hyphenate actor and musician, Darren Criss burst on to the scene as one of the most memorable TV characters of all time, Blaine Anderson in Fox’s hit show “Glee.” His portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in Ryan Murphy’s critically acclaimed limited series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” earned him a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics’ Choice Award. In addition to...

Darren Criss is now a Tony winner.

Criss won his first Tony Award on Sunday night for best actor in a leading role in a musical for Maybe Happy Ending, which is an original musical. He thanked his co-star in his acceptance speech.

“Helen J. Shen, I’m so proud of you and your Broadway debut for the books. This is where you belong,” he said before thanking the rest of the show’s crew and his fellow teachers. The show also won best musical.

Criss continued, “Also my wife Mia, who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this and to allow this crazy upheaval in our life, to make this logistically possible and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three so that I could raise a singing robot at the Belasco Theater eight times a week. Mia, you are the very pedestal...

Jonathan Groff hit the stage for a performance during the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday (June 8) at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The 40-year-old actor joined his Just In Time company to perform a medley of “Mack the Knife,” “That’s All” and “Once in a Lifetime” from the Tony-nominated Broadway musical.

While introducing the performance, host Cynthia Erivo joked about the balcony being the best place to sit for a Jonathan Groff performance, as he has become synonymous with spitting while singing.

Keep reading to find out more…

Later that night, Jonathan took the stage for a second performance, joining the original Broadway cast of Hamilton for a medley to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the hit show.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, Jonathan and co-stars Gracie Lawrence and Erika Henningsen were seen hitting the red carpet for the Tonys.

In addition to his two performances, Jonathan...

Darren Criss and his new musical Maybe Happy Ending won big at the Tonys!

The 38-year-old actor picked up his first win at the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday (June 8) at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Darren won the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his work in the new musical, which won six awards in total. Check out the Full winners list for the Tonys.

Maybe Happy Ending also won Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical for Michael Arden, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Scenic Design of a Musical. Darren won a second award since he’s a producer on Maybe Happy Ending.

Darren emotionally thanked his wife Mia, who joined him on the carpet at the show.

Keep reading to find out more…

“The real hero about this for this remarkable journey is my wife,...

Maybe Happy Ending, a musical about two robots falling in love, was the big winner at the Tony Awards Sunday, as the ceremony also awarded a number of firsts.

The musical took home the top prize of best musical, with Darren Criss winning his first Tony Award for leading the show, as well as four other Tonys, including best director of a musical. Nicole Scherzinger won her first Tony Award for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. in one of the most hotly contested categories, beating out six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald.

“Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong. But you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home, at last,” Scherzinger said during her emotional acceptance speech.

Sunset Blvd. also won the Tony for best revival of a musical, for Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-down reinterpretation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic.

The 78th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall got off to a rousing start, as Oprah Winfrey blessed host Cynthia Erivo with a finger hold before the “Wicked” star took center stage to sing the original “Sometimes All You Need is a Song.” With the support of a choir, Erivo tipped her hat to the nominated movie stars (lyric: “Half of Hollywood did a play”), supplied powerhouse vocals, and brought the number to crescendo by getting the audience involved, briefly handing off the mic to Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, and Adam Lambert, among others.

It was, indeed, a union of Broadway and Hollywood throughout the evening. During her opening monologue, Erivo noted that it was the most lucrative year in Broadway history (with reported ticket sales of $1.89 billion), “providing we don’t run out of cast members from ‘Succession.’”

“Succession” star Sarah Snook was actually won the first Tony of the evening.

In any other year, whether or not Patti LuPone merely attended the Tony Awards wouldn’t be newsworthy — but this isn’t just any other year for her.

Speculation swirled in recent weeks over whether LuPone would show her face at Sunday’s annual salute to Broadway, following the extremely public backlash to controversial remarks she made about fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in a recent New Yorker profile.

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