Category: Cover Story

The 79th Annual Tony Awards arrived at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night and delivered exactly what Broadway fans want from theatre’s biggest celebration: major wins, historic milestones, emotional speeches, and a few surprises along the way. By the end of the evening, one thing was clear: Broadway is thriving.

Hosted by P!nk, the ceremony aired live on PlutoTV and CBS and celebrated a season that saw Broadway showcase an impressive mix of new musicals, beloved revivals, and daring plays. The result was one of the most entertaining and memorable Tony broadcasts in years.

The Opening Number

P!nk kicked off the ceremony acknowledging the elephant in the room: why was someone who has never been on Broadway hosting the Tony Awards? She then launched into a star-packed rendition of “Leading Lady Marmalade,” joined by Megan Thee Stallion, Neil Patrick Harris, Marla Mindelle, Shoshana Bean, Sara Chase, and 170 cast members from all of the nominated musicals that demonstrated she might not have a Broadway credit (yet!) but has the talent to perform with the best of them. The twist on the original song, with lyrics by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Mark Sonnenblick, shouted out each leading lady nominated for acting awards. The opener has been praised by fans and critics alike, and no one will be forgetting “Gitchie, gitchie Carrie Coon” anytime soon!

A Three-Way Tie at the Top

While no single musical completely dominated the evening, three productions emerged as the night’s biggest musical winners. Schmigadoon!, The Lost Boys, and Ragtime tied for the lead among musicals with four awards each.

For Schmigadoon!, the evening culminated with the coveted Best Musical prize. The Broadway adaptation of the 2021 musical TV series also won Best Book and Best Original Score, with creator Cinco Paul winning three Tonys for his solo authorship of the show’s book, music, and lyrics, along with Best Orchestrations. Might Schmigadoon!’s success lead to season 3 of the beloved TV show on which the musical is based?

Ragtime continued its remarkable run, winning Best Revival of a Musical and reminding audiences why the epic American story remains one of the most powerful works ever written for the stage. In a funny moment, sound designer Kai Harada also won Best Sound Design of a Musical, but he only heard his name and had to ask presenter Laura Benanti which show he’d won for (he was also nominated for Cats: The Jellicle Ball.)

The Lost Boys took home design awards, including Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design of a Musical, as well as supporting acting awards for both Actress and Actor.

Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy Deliver the Night’s Most Celebrated Wins

Joshua Henry won his first Tony for Best Actor in a Musical, having been previously nominated for The Scottsboro Boys, Violet, and Carousel. His commanding performance as Coalhouse Walker Jr. anchored the revival. In his speech, Henry shouted out the “Black-don’t-crack legacy” of original Ragtime stars Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Caissie Levy won Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Mother — also her first Tony, and remarkably, her first nomination. In her acceptance speech, Levy proclaimed, “Playing Mother has been one of the greatest gifts of my artistic life,” and she also honored the community surrounding her who enables her to work in the theatre: “I’m twenty years in, and the most important thing I’ve learned is that no one does it alone. Thank you to every babysitter who’s made it possible for me to be both a Broadway actor and a mother.”

Qween Jean Makes Tony History

One of the evening’s most important moments came when Qween Jean won Best Costume Design of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, making her the first openly trans person to win a Tony Award.

Her work on the ballroom-inspired reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical involved creating around 500 costumes, including tributes to trans revolutionaries like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. But beyond the artistry, the moment represented a milestone for Broadway and the Tony Awards.

In her acceptance speech, Jean said, “We are here for the legacy of queer people, trans people. We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space. We have to shift the paradigm.” It was instantly one of the defining moments of the night, fans clacking in agreement.

The Plays Shared the Love

Death of a Salesman emerged as the night’s overall leader with six Tony wins, including Best Revival of a Play. Laurie Metcalf took home Best Featured Actress in a Play for her third career Tony, and Joe Mantello was honored for his direction. The production also won for lighting, scenic, and sound design.

Playwright Bess Wohl was honored for Liberation with Best Play, making her only the fourth woman in Tony history to receive the award and the first American woman playwright to win since Wendy Wasserstein in 1989, which she passionately called out during her speech.

Both Best Actress and Actor in a Play awards went to British vets who also won the Olivier for the same role. John Lithgow won Best Actor for Giant, breaking the record for the longest gap between Tony wins — 53 years after his first — and simultaneously becoming the oldest man to win a competitive acting Tony at age 80. Primarily a West End actress, Lesley Manville took home the Best Actress award for Oedipus in her Broadway debut and completed her sweep of all the major awards this season.

A Night That Celebrated Broadway’s Future

Broadway can honor its past through revivals like Ragtime and Death of a Salesman; it can reinvent classics through bold productions like Cats: The Jellicle Ball; it can push the boundaries with The Lost Boys, while remembering its roots with Schmigadoon! With hints at next season’s shows (marmalade sandwich, anyone?) and a beautiful performance by Rachel Zegler, starring in Evita next season, there’s much to look forward to.

With historic wins, recognition for beloved performers, and some incredible performances that didn’t pander to audiences but showed Broadway in all its bright, gay, fun, sometimes inappropriate self, the 2026 Tony Awards was a success.

It takes a lot of invisible labor to make Broadway’s theatrical magic look effortless, and many of the hardest-working folks in the industry are still left out of the Tony Awards. Here are ten of the many blind spots that the Tony Awards could address with new categories.

1. Best Ensemble

Why it should be added: If the leads are the face of a musical, the ensemble is its beating heart. A competitive award would honor the collective heavy lifting, immense stamina, and seamless collaboration – from complex, synchronized choreography to lush harmonies – required to make a Broadway show truly soar.

2. Best Hair and Wig Design

Why it should be added: Hair and wigs are crucial to establishing a character’s age, era, and social status long before they speak. While the Tonys recently honored visionary wig designer Nikiya Mathis with a Special Tony Award in 2024 for her incredible work on Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, this shouldn’t be relegated to a one-off special recognition. From gravity-defying historical updos to rapid quick-changes, these designers are true architects of character identity and deserve a permanent competitive category alongside costume design.

3. Best Makeup Design

Why it should be added: Makeup is a highly technical, transformative art form that faces unique live-theatre challenges, like executing flawless, sweat-proof glamour eight times a week. With the Oscars and Emmys already recognizing this artistry, it’s time the Tonys formally honored these meticulous designers.

4. Best Replacement Performer

Why it should be added: Stepping into a starring role in a massive hit without a full, original rehearsal process is a unique and daunting challenge. Honoring the fresh energy and sheer resilience of replacement performers would celebrate masterclass performances while giving long-running shows a well-deserved moment back in the Tony spotlight.

5. Best Projection Design

Why it should be added: Projections have evolved from simple background enhancements into foundational elements of scenic storytelling. These incredibly detailed digital designs can shift locations instantly, doing groundbreaking, immersive work that warrants its own spotlight distinct from traditional scenic or lighting design.

6. Best Casting Director

Why it should be added: Casting is the invisible alchemy that makes or breaks a show. With the Academy Awards finally introducing a competitive Oscar for casting directors starting in 2026, it’s highly overdue for the Tonys to celebrate the theatrical visionaries discovering stars and curating the talent on stage.

7. Best Understudy, Standby, or Swing

Why it should be added: Covers are Broadway’s ultimate lifesavers. Honoring the superhuman agility and dedication required to learn up to a dozen complex tracks and step into them at a moment’s notice would be a massive, well-deserved victory for these essential theatrical athletes.

8. Best Fight Direction and Intimacy Coordination

Why it should be added: Keeping actors safe during intense combat or physically vulnerable romantic scenes is a deeply technical skill. These artists ensure physical storytelling is dynamic, repeatable, and secure. As the industry rightfully prioritizes actor boundaries, their vital choreography deserves recognition.

9. Best Stage Management Team

Why it should be added: Stage managers are the air traffic controllers of Broadway. Giving an award to the team that calls every cue, oversees massive transitions, and ensures chaotic, multi-million-dollar productions run safely would be the ultimate nod to the people holding the entire show together.

10. Best Artwork (Key Art & Creative Direction)

Why it should be added: A show’s key art is its first impression and lasting legacy… think of the iconic Les Misérables Cosette illustration or the Wicked silhouettes. Creative directors and designers do the vital commercial work of distilling a production’s entire emotional soul into a single, captivating image.