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The 78th Annual Tony Awards returned to Radio City Music Hall this year, with Cynthia Erivo hosting. Some years, one musical is crowned the absolute best of the season, sweeping almost all of the awards (think Hamilton). That didn't happen this time around, for good reason — Broadway had a banner year, with a tremendous diversity of shows. There were a lot of tight races (and a lot of gasps of surprise in the media room across the street, where I was stationed).

The favorite, Maybe Happy Ending, an original musical about two lonely robots who find each other, won the most awards: six, including Best Musical.

Purpose, which won the Pulitzer this year, was named Best Play (one of the surprises — many theater-watchers predicted it would go to the buzzy queer farce Oh, Mary). But the show won only one other award, Best Featured Actress (Kara Young).

The rest of the awards, however, were really spread across shows. Buena Vista Social Club won four competitive awards, plus a special award for their musicians, while Sunset Boulevard won three, including Best Revival and Lead Actress in a Musical. Stranger Things: The First Shadow also won three competitive awards, all technical ones, plus a special award for Illusions & Technical Effects.

But this year, it felt appropriate that there was no sweep. It was a season of very diverse shows, and it deserved diverse winners.

Here are my top takeaways from a joyous Tony Awards.

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Jennifer Vanasco

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This year, there was no sweep. It was a season of very diverse shows, and it deserved diverse winners.

Broadway celebrates a spectacular season at the 2025 Tony Awards

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