Anticipating the 78th Annual Tony Awards: Highlights and Insights for 2024-25 Season

The upcoming Tony Awards ceremony promises a night of suspense and excitement, with several categories remaining fiercely competitive. However, one certainty stands out for the 2024-25 Broadway season: the industry’s box office has experienced a remarkable resurgence. Thanks to high-profile productions like “Othello,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” and “Glengarry Glen Ross,” the season concluded in April with total grosses reaching approximately $1.89 billion, according to the Broadway League. This figure marks a significant recovery, bringing Broadway’s financial performance close to pre-pandemic levels after years of decline.

As the season’s artistic honors are debated, the spotlight remains on a diverse array of productions-ranging from innovative new works, including a robot romance and musicals centered around unconventional themes, to beloved revivals. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what to expect from the 78th Tony Awards, including broadcast details, performance lineups, and the intriguing involvement of Patti LuPone in this year’s festivities.

Event Date and Venue: Returning to a Broadway Classic

This year, the Tony Awards will be held at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan, marking a return to a familiar and historic venue after two years at alternative locations. In 2023, the ceremony took place at United Place in Washington Heights, and last year it was hosted at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. Radio City, with its storied history and capacity for grandeur, will host its 21st Tony Awards-more than any other venue-surpassing the Waldorf Astoria, which last hosted the event in 1962.

Viewing Options: How to Experience the Ceremony

The broadcast will commence with the “Act One” segment, starting at 6:40 p.m. Eastern Time-slightly later than last year’s kickoff. This pre-show, available free of charge on Pluto TV, features coverage of technical categories such as costume design, scenic design, and choreography, along with special awards recognizing lifetime achievements and other noncompetitive honors. The main event begins at 8 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+, with the latter offering a free seven-day trial for viewers without a subscription. The televised ceremony typically lasts around three hours.

While there is no official red carpet broadcast, enthusiasts can follow live updates and behind-the-scenes content through platforms like Playbill and Spectrum News’s YouTube channels, ensuring fans stay connected to all the glitz and glamour of the night.

Hosts and Presenters: New Faces Leading the Night

This year’s hosting duties will be undertaken by Cynthia Erivo, acclaimed for her Tony-winning performance in “The Color Purple” and her Oscar-nominated roles in “Harriet” and “Wicked.” Her debut as host comes ahead of the anticipated release of “Wicked: For Good” in November. She replaces Ariana DeBose, who has hosted the past three ceremonies. Co-hosting the “Act One” telecast will be Darren Criss, a nominee this year for “Maybe Happy Ending,” alongside Renée Elise Goldsberry, known for her role in “Hamilton.”

Who Decides the Winners? The Voting Process Explained

Nominees are selected by a rotating committee of approximately 50 industry professionals, including actors, playwrights, composers, and critics. These voters evaluate all new Broadway productions that opened between April 26, 2024, and April 27, 2025, across the 41 Broadway theaters, each with a minimum seating capacity of 500. Notable nominators this year include Victoria Clark, Bob Balaban, James Ijames, Michael R. Jackson, and Peter Marks of The Washington Post.

Once nominations are finalized, the winners are determined by a broader voting body of around 830 industry insiders-ranging from performers and writers to agents and critics. To maintain fairness, voters must have attended each nominated production; failure to do so disqualifies them from voting in categories related to that show.

Leading Contenders: The Most Nominated Productions

Among the new works, three musicals stand out with ten nominations each: the futuristic romance “Maybe Happy Ending,” the dark comedy “Death Becomes Her,” and the lively dance-centric “Buena Vista Social Club.” Additionally, “Dead Outlaw,” a musical about a hapless train robber whose corpse becomes a traveling tourist attraction, garnered seven nominations. On the theatrical side, “John Proctor Is the Villain,” a feminist reinterpretation of “The Crucible,” and “The Hills of California,” a poignant family drama, each received seven nods. The revival of “Sunset Boulevard,” notable for its innovative use of projection and modern staging, also earned seven nominations, matching the top contenders.

Predictions for the Night’s Major Awards

“Maybe Happy Ending,” with its compelling blend of sci-fi romance, stunning visuals, and catchy score, is considered the frontrunner for Best Musical, having swept the top prizes at the Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, and Drama League awards. Its underdog story-initially struggling with an unconventional concept and untested creatives-has transformed into a box office hit driven by enthusiastic word-of-mouth.

Meanwhile, “Dead Outlaw” remains a dark horse, especially since it was ineligible for many pre-award honors due to its off-Broadway run, despite its critical acclaim. In the revival categories, Jamie Lloyd’s bold reimagining of “Sunset Boulevard” is favored to win Best Revival of a Musical, potentially earning Lloyd his first Tony for Best Director, surpassing George C. Wolfe’s “Gypsy” staging. For plays, “Eureka Day,” a sharp comedy about vaccine debates, is expected to contend strongly against “Yellow Face,” a semi-autobiographical work by David Henry Hwang.

The Best Play category features a competitive lineup, with “Purpose,” Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s drama about a fractured African American family, leading with five acting nominations and recent Pulitzer Prize recognition. However, Phylicia Rashad’s omission from the Best Director category might influence its chances. The favorite, “Oh, Mary!,” a hilarious and irreverent take on Mary Todd Lincoln’s life, has gained momentum, especially after winning the Drama League Award, and could secure the top prize.

Star Power and Anticipated Winners

In the acting categories, “Oh, Mary!”‘s playwright and star Cole Escola is expected to win Best Actor in a Play, competing against notable names like George Clooney. Sarah Snook’s remarkable solo performance in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” makes her a strong contender for Best Actress in a Play. For featured roles, Kara Young from “Purpose” and Conrad Ricamora from “Oh, Mary!” are poised to repeat their successes, with Ricamora’s portrayal of Abraham Lincoln particularly resonant.

In the musical acting categories, Tom Francis from “Sunset Boulevard” is a favorite for Best Actor, thanks to his consistent performances and the innovative use of technology to showcase his talent. Jonathan Groff, who starred in “Just in Time,” might also contend for a repeat win. For Featured Actor in a Musical, Jak Malone’s heartfelt rendition of “Dear Bill” in “Operation Mincemeat” is seen as a likely winner, while Natalie Venetia Belcon’s vibrant portrayal of Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in “Buena Vista Social Club” could take home the award for Best Featured Actress.

The Night’s Showdown: Best Actress in a Musical

The most anticipated acting award of the night is Best Actress in a Musical. Nicole Scherzinger, reprising her acclaimed role as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard,” is considered a strong contender, especially after winning the Drama League Award. However, Audra McDonald’s powerful performance as a domineering stage mother in “Gypsy” might earn her a historic seventh Tony, potentially boosted by recent comments from Patti LuPone that have stirred industry debate. Jasmine Amy Rogers, a rising star from “Boop,” also remains in the mix, promising a competitive and emotionally charged category.

Controversy and Industry Dynamics: Patti LuPone’s Recent Remarks

In a recent profile for The New Yorker, Patti LuPone, a three-time Tony winner, made headlines by criticizing fellow actress Audra McDonald, stating that McDonald was “not a friend” and referencing a past disagreement. McDonald responded publicly, expressing confusion over LuPone’s comments. The exchange sparked widespread discussion, with hundreds of theater professionals signing an open letter condemning LuPone’s remarks as racially insensitive and misogynistic. LuPone subsequently issued a public apology, acknowledging her mistake and expressing a desire to personally apologize to McDonald and Kecia Lewis, another Black actress targeted in the controversy.

Performance Lineup: What to Expect on the Night

During the broadcast, all nominees for Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical will perform selected numbers, including “Maybe Happy Ending,” “Dead Outlaw,” “Death Becomes Her,” “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Operation Mincemeat,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Gypsy,” “Floyd Collins,” and “Pirates! The Penzance Musical.” Additionally, “Just in Time” and “Real Women Have Curves,” which received nominations in other categories, will also take the stage. To celebrate a decade of “Hamilton,” the original cast-including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Daveed Diggs, Goldsberry, Groff, and Ariana DeBose-will reunite for a special performance, highlighting the enduring legacy of this groundbreaking musical.