Broadway Buzz Builds Ahead of 2025 Tony Awards: Top Nominees/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2025 Tony Awards air Sunday, June 8, spotlighting 29 Broadway shows. With tight races, major milestones, and show-stopping performances expected, the night promises high drama and historic moments. Cynthia Erivo hosts live from Radio City Music Hall.
2025 Tony Awards Preview Quick Looks
- Airs Sunday, June 8, 8–11 p.m. ET, live on CBS and Paramount+ with Showtime.
- Cynthia Erivo hosts, with pre-show hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry on Pluto TV.
- 29 Broadway shows received nominations, but only a few will take home trophies.
- Top nominated shows: Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending (10 each).
- Performances include “Hamilton” 10th anniversary reunion with original cast and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
- Audra McDonald and Kara Young may make Tony history with potential record-breaking wins.
- Presenters range from Oprah to Keanu Reeves, with appearances by Ariana DeBose, Lea Michele, and more.
- Broadway raked in $1.9 billion this season, its highest-grossing year ever.
- “Good Night, and Good Luck” starring George Clooney streams Saturday on CNN platforms.
Deep Look: Everything to Watch at the 2025 Tony Awards
NEW YORK — Broadway’s biggest night is almost here, and the 2025 Tony Awards promise an electrifying celebration of theater’s best. From historic nominations to blockbuster performances and celebrity presenters, the event — airing live from Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 8 — will be a night to remember.
When and Where to Watch
The awards will be broadcast live from 8–11 p.m. ET on CBS, and available to Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers. A special pre-show begins at 6:40 p.m. ET on Pluto TV, where early awards will be handed out.
Hosting Duties
Cynthia Erivo, a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner — and upcoming “Wicked” star — makes her Tony hosting debut, just days after releasing her new album I Forgive You. The Pluto TV pre-show will be led by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
The Top Contenders
Three musicals share the spotlight with 10 nominations each:
- Buena Vista Social Club – inspired by the Oscar-nominated documentary
- Death Becomes Her – based on the dark 1992 cult film
- Maybe Happy Ending – a futuristic rom-com musical about androids
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Dead Outlaw
- Death Becomes Her
- Maybe Happy Ending
- Operation Mincemeat
- English
- The Hills of California
- John Proctor Is the Villain
- Oh, Mary!
- Purpose
Historic Stakes
Audra McDonald, the most decorated actor in Tony history, could break her own record with a seventh Tony for her role in Gypsy. Meanwhile, Kara Young aims to become the first Black actor to win back-to-back Tonys. Other milestones could come from:
- Daniel Dae Kim, possibly the first Asian actor to win Best Leading Actor in a Play.
- Tala Ashe and Marjan Neshat, who may become the first Iranian-descended actresses to win Tonys.
Live Performances Galore
Expect musical numbers from each of the Best New Musical contenders, as well as surprise performances from non-nominated shows like Just in Time (Bobby Darin musical) and Real Women Have Curves.
One of the most anticipated moments: a 10-year anniversary tribute to Hamilton, featuring a reunion of the original cast — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., and more.
Star-Studded Presenters
Hollywood and Broadway collide with presenters including:
- Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Bryan Cranston, Michelle Williams, Lea Salonga, Kristin Chenoweth, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Samuel L. Jackson, and Allison Janney.
- Fan favorites like Ben Stiller, Ariana DeBose, Katie Holmes, and Tom Felton will also take the stage.
Broadway’s Big Money Year
This season’s financial health is booming. Box office sales hit $1.9 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Broadway welcomed 14.7 million attendees, second only to the 2018–2019 season.
Still, ticket price surges are raising concerns about accessibility. Case in point: Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, shattered the record for highest-grossing Broadway play with $2.8 million in one week — some seats sold for $921.
Bonus Viewing: Clooney on Broadway
The night before the Tonys, George Clooney’s play “Good Night, and Good Luck”, which he co-wrote and stars in, will stream on CNN platforms, giving audiences a chance to experience Broadway from home.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.