BroadwayWorld.com 2027 Tony Awards Stories

Robert Galinsky's COULD YOU PATENT THE SUN? is Coming to 14th Street Y

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:51:18 PST

This June, Robert Galinsky is bringing his 55-minute solo keynote performance Could You Patent the Sun? to the 14th Street Y Theater for a live staged reading and taping on Tuesday, June 23, with doors at 6:30 PM and curtain at 7:00 PM. $10.00 tickets.

When legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow asked Jonas Salk who owned the patent to the polio vaccine, Salk's response… “could you patent the sun?” became one of the most enduring statements about science, service, and the public good. More than seventy years later, at a time when fear, illness, debates over public trust, scientific discovery, and healthcare access shape the daily life of millions, that question remains as relevant as ever.

On Tuesday, June 23, acclaimed playwright and performer Robert Galinsky brings his 55-minute solo keynote performance Could You Patent the Sun? to the 14th Street Y Theater, exploring the extraordinary story behind one of the most consequential ethical decisions in modern history. Directed by Cory Michael Herman and executive produced by Dr. Nigel Brown, the solo theatrical work examines what happens when a world-changing discovery collides with questions of responsibility, access, and human conscience.

Through storytelling, archival imagery, projection design, and live performance, Galinsky brings audiences inside the life and legacy of Jonas Salk. Not simply to revisit history, but to engage with a question that continues to shape our world. Who should benefit from a breakthrough capable of saving millions of lives? This question becomes the moral engine of Galinsky’s solo performance.

Photos: TITANIQUE Cast and Friends Celebrate The Tony Awards

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:20:02 PST

On Sunday night, the company of Titanique and friends came together to celebrate the Tony Awards as the hit musical was recognized with four nominations, including Best Musical. Check out photos from the festivities at The Green Fig at The Yotel.

Titanique was nominated for four Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Marla Mindelle), Best Book of a Musical (Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli), and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Layton Williams).

The current cast of Titanique features Olivier and Lortel Award-winning co-creator Marla Mindelle as Celine Dion; four-time Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Jim Parsons as Ruth DeWitt Bukater; film and television star Melissa Barrera as Rose DeWitt Bukater; Grammy-nominated singer and actress Deborah Cox as Unsinkable Molly Brown; original cast member Frankie Grande as Victor Garber; Olivier Award-winning co-creator Constantine Rousouli as Jack Dawson; Lortel Award nominee John Riddle as Cal Hockley; and Olivier Award-winning West End star Layton Williams as The Iceberg.

Photo Credit: Alexa Jae Photography

Marla Mindelle

Titanique Tonys After Party

Melissa Barrera and Constantine Rousouli

Jeffrey Gugliotti and Billie Aken-Tyres

Eva Price, Constantine Rousouli, Tye Blue, and guest

Deborah Cox

Layton Williams

Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli

Britani Bateman and guest

Joey Fatone and Constantine Rousouli

Matt Rogers, Bowen Yang, and guest

John Riddle, Melissa Barrera, and Jim Parsons

Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli

Photos: Darren Criss, Neil Patrick Harris and More at Tony Awards After Party at Rockefeller Center

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:36:10 PST

Broadway's biggest night has come and gone! The 79th Annual Tony Awards took place last night, June 7, at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by P!nk and celebrated some of this season's best and brightest shows.

Look at how Broadway’s biggest stars celebrated both on and off the stage at last night’s 79th Annual Tony Awards, from the Baccarat x Dewar’s Scotch Whisky Speakeasy at the ceremony’s telecast to the official Tony Awards After Party at Rockefeller Center.

The full list of celebrity attendees in the links below include USHER, Luke Evans, Queen Latifah, Mark Strong, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Paulson, Christian Siriano, Julianne Hough, Rose Byrn, Darren Criss, Bowen Yang, Rachel Dratch, Alex Newell, Joshua Henry, Rosie O’Donnell, Josh Sharpe, Noah Galvin, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Lorne Michaels, Jordan Roth, Deborah Cox, Scott Hoying, Mark Hoying, Daniel Radcliffe, Carry Coon, Tracy Letts, Drew Barrymore, Jordan Fisher, Lisa Ann Walter, and Anna Gesteyer.

Photo credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Baccarat & Dewar's Scotch Whisky

Usher

Ben Ahlers

Usher

Taryn Delanie Smith

Matt Rogers

Joey Fatone and JC Chasez

Laurie Metcalf and Christian Siriano

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

Caissie Levy and David Reiser

Exclusive: How Did the Tony Awards Opening Number Come Together? Producers Weigh In

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:04:27 PST

Broadway's biggest night may have come and gone, but we are still thinking about that glorious opening number. On Sunday, host P!nk kicked off The 79th Tony Awards with one of the most memorable openings in recent years, a flashy tribute to leading ladies everywhere, written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick.

Not only did it feature cast members from every nominated musical and musical revival, the number, a showbiz twist on "Lady Marmalade," also included appearances from frequent Tonys host Neil Patrick Harris, along with standout musical moments from other nominees, such as the always-willing June Squibb. And then, of course, there was a very cheeky reference to Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) from Moulin Rouge! alum Megan Thee Stallion.

But beyond the opening, there were still nearly three hours to fill with musical tributes, showcases, and the main event: the awards. Less than 24 hours after Sunday's show, BroadwayWorld caught up with Raj Kapoor and Sarah Levine Hall, who, along with Jack Sussman, served as executive producers for this year's ceremony.

Both Kapoor and Levine Hall are award-winning veterans of live shows, with Kapoor having served as showrunner and executive producer for both the Oscars and Grammys earlier this year, among numerous other events. Levine Hall is no stranger to Broadway, having been involved with a whopping nineteen Tony Awards ceremonies, in addition to her many other credits.

During the interview, Kapoor and Levine Hall expressed their reactions to the big show and its standout moments. The duo also offered insights into the process itself, with Kapoor sharing his experience of producing his very first Tony Awards ceremony and Levine Hall explaining why the annual event never gets old.

This interview has been condensed for clarity and length.

Now that it’s behind you, how are both of you feeling?

Levine Hall: Happy, grateful, relieved. In awe of all the talent that was on the stage. So many things.

Sarah, you have a few Tonys under your belt and Raj, you have, of course, worked on many live events, but this was your first time at the Tonys. How did it compare to other shows and also your own expectations?

Kapoor: You can't really describe it unless you do it. I've watched this show since I was a kid and I'd never even been to the ceremony in person. This year was a real learning curve and Sarah helped me along the way. When you see how all the pieces fit together, it's absolutely mind-boggling. I think that was my biggest takeaway.

I was really reflecting yesterday when we were putting the numbers together, because the whole [opening] number really came together in about two and a half weeks. What blew me away was that all those 170-some people, not including our cutaways, came to dress rehearsal yesterday. They got to us at 8:00 AM and what people don't know is that they were actually at their theaters at 6:00 AM to get into their costumes and wigs and makeup. And they all had a show the night before.

They did our camera blocking with us for an hour. We did a full dress rehearsal. Then most of them went away and did a matinee and then they came back and did the Tonys. They basically did eight shows this week, and then in their time off, they came and rehearsed or learned part of their blocking or a little bit of extra choreography if they had those sections. Those Broadway kids work so hard.

People really love being a part of a great show and their dedication to the art form… still brings a little bit of a tear to my eye. I think maybe that's why the whole opening was so joyful, because you really felt the love that hopefully we had putting the number together, but also the love that they had in celebrating each other. All of them donated their extra time to come and make something beautiful with us. And I think that was one of the biggest takeaways of the show for me this year.

People always talk about the Broadway community as such a family. Sarah, you've probably seen this because you've been part of several of them, but that seems to be one of the reasons why they're willing to do all that work, too. They're around people that they love and in this community of people that they love.

Levine Hall: It's amazing because I've been so lucky to see this in varying degrees over the years and it never gets old. It never lessens. And to get to do it this time with this particular team of people [and] alongside Raj for the first time, was a dream come true.

The show this year was so extra special with the effort of everybody involved, including all of those incredible people in this opening, who just worked their butts off with so much extra stuff over the last few weeks. It's remarkable, and we're so grateful.

Kapoor: And so much of that, too, came from our host, P!nk, who was just the most talented, lovely human on the planet. We are so fortunate to work with her. I think her energy just translated through the entire show, but especially through that opening. She wanted to celebrate all those amazing leading ladies and then everybody else, everybody who was nominated in a musical and revival musical, and then found opportunities to have humor and wit and just really celebrate the entire season all in one epic number.

Levine Hall: Her love and respect for this community is so genuine and it telegraphed through the whole night.

She seemed up for anything and very relatable. She made it feel like everybody was in it together and I think that's an important thing in a host.

Kapoor: I think she was such a fan of everybody who got nominated and the shows. She went to everything. I've been scrolling online and you just see her with photos backstage with cast members and it's just awesome. You even felt that with Neil Patrick Harris coming back and Megan Thee Stallion. Looking at all the pictures today, they just all have so much joy in them. It's really making me feel awesome.

Levine Hall: The level of connection, the level of community, it's so needed right now. And that's the biggest takeaway from last night: what a joy to be able to experience all of these different people coming together to just celebrate and support.

What were the logistics of putting that number together?

Kapoor: It was a masterful schedule and [choreographer] Sarah O'Gleby is one of the reasons I think that number was so successful. Seeing her move all of those people around and then giving them entrances and exits and cameos and quick cutaways. June Squibb came and rehearsed with us twice. And it didn't matter whether your piece was with three seconds or five seconds or you had four bars, everybody was down to play. I think a few people didn't know that they were going to have a shout-out and those reactions were so awesome.

Levine Hall: We can’t shout [Sarah] out enough. First of all, she’s a creative genius. She was able to sit with the songwriters and figure out how to bring their gorgeous lyrics and vision and put it onto the stage with all of these moving parts. But the way that she's able to take that creative vision from A to Z, know exactly what story she's trying to tell and then break it apart into all of these little intricate pieces and weave them all together into this seven-and-a-half-minute tapestry of joy.

Sometimes in live events, of course, things don't always go exactly as planned. But was there a moment for either of you where everything felt like it came together as close as possible to your original planned vision?

Kapoor: I think the opening number did it. We were so relieved because it's honestly so complicated. It's not only all the choreography on stage and getting everybody to participate. For P!nk, I think it was a really heavy lift with choreography, entrances, exits, all the people that she had to acknowledge and everywhere where she had to actually be on stage and in the theater.

Our kick-ass audio team, who have so many different mics to pick up and mute and make live. And then our amazing directorial team, led by Liz Clare and her AD, Hayley Collett. If you see the scripting of what actually happened and how many shots there are, it really is mind-boggling and they nailed it. We were all wiping away tears at the end of it because I think we were really stressed and then to see it all come together, but also to feel it and that roar of that audience and how long the standing ovation went for.

Levine Hall: It was nice to see how we were able to plan out the rest of the show. The pacing that we intended from the start really let people have a moment to speak in their acceptances. It didn't feel like people felt rushed or couldn't speak. There were a couple of different things online today about the acceptance speeches that just landed. Every award show has good speeches, but this one in particular seems to be the show where people can speak to things that harken back to childhood and the journey that it took for them to get into this place. It felt nice that [those] who were in the room and [watching] on TV could feel the joy that started with this incredible opening number and then just carried through the rest of the night.

Kapoor: I wanted to make sure we mentioned Benj [Pasek], Justin [Paul], Mark [Sonnenblick] and [opening creative consultant] Tim Murray. They did such a great job. As soon as they came on board, I think we had a draft two days later. We did a Zoom meeting and were just beaming from ear to ear. They got P!nk on a Zoom about an hour later. She loved it and then we were kind of off to the races and it was being orchestrated and minor tweaks were happening and offers were being made. It was such a team effort between so many people involved in that opening number. The stage management and lighting teams, too. We just want to say thank you to everybody.

The 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall were hosted by music superstar and global icon P!NK on Sunday, June 7. The awards were broadcast LIVE to both coasts on the CBS Television Network and are streaming on Paramount+. Check out the full list of winners here.

The opening number was written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick. Creative consultants for the opening number are Tim Murray and Isaac Josephthal. It was arranged by Sam Davis and orchestrated by Charlie Rosen. Check out the full lyrics to the number here and watch it in full below.

Photo Credit: Michele Crowe/CBS

Photos: Cole Escola, Nicole Scherzinger and More at the Tony Awards After-Party at the Carlyle

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:37:35 PST

Sunday marked the 14th Tony Awards After Party at The Carlyle, hosted by John Gore and Rick Miramontez. The late-night affair has been where Broadway parties until dawn since 2009. See photos from the event!

This year, the bash featured an all- night discotheque created by (Tony Award winner) Christine Schwarzman on the hotel’s mezzanine and a martini bar inside the Cafe Carlyle, curated by stars of Oedipus and martini aficionados Mark Strong and Tony Award winner Lesley Manville.

See photos of Cole Escola, Sarah Paulson, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel Dratch, Megan Thee Stallion, Bowen Yang, Brandon Uranowitz and more.

Photo credit: Little Fang

The 14th Tony Awards After Party at The Carlyle

Exclusive: Get Ready for Tonys Night with 2026 Nominee Tim Jackson

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:57:56 PST

Tim Jackson has a had a lot to celebrate this theatre season! Months after making their Broadway debut with Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) they earned their first Tony nomination (one of eight for the new musical) and headed to Radio City Music Hall on Sunday to celebrate.

BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you exclusive photos (with notes from Tim) from behind the scenes of their getting ready process on the day of the 79th Annual Tony Awards. Tim wore a custom suit they designed, and a Valentino shirt with a vintage brooch. Makeup was by Ayman Syed.

Tim is currently directing and choreographing a production of Something Rotten! At Manchester Opera House. It was also announced recently that Tim will once again be working with the writers of Two Strangers this fall, directing a workshop of the new musical Mona Loser in the UK. Previous credits include the development, direction, and choreography of Dylan Mulvaney’s hit one-woman show The Least Problematic Woman in the World (Wessex Grove & Seaview); as well as choreography on the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez; and Neil Patrick Harris’ celebrated “Spice Up Your Life” Toymaker sequence in Doctor Who: The Giggle (BBC/Disney+).

Photo Credit: Laurel Hinton

Pictured with husband Alex Magliaro.

With make-up artist Ayman Syed.

Vintage brooch from Matisse, earrings from Monica Vinader. Pictured here with a card from husband Alex.

Suit designed by Tim, tailored by Anthony Giliberto. Shoes by Valentino.

Shirt by Valentino.

Final touches!

⁠All hands on deck.

Tonys-ready!

En route to Radio City!

With fellow Two Strangers nominees Kit Buchan and Jim Barne.

Pre-ceremony hugs.

SCHMIGADOON! Completes Apple TV EGOT With Best Musical Victory

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:56:54 PST

Apple TV has achieved EGOT status thanks to Schmigadoon!'s Best Musical victory at the the 2026 Tony Awards.

The Broadway adaptation of the acclaimed Apple TV musical comedy series won four Tony Awards, and was nominated for twelve. The production earned wins for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for creator Cinco Paul, along with Best Orchestrations for Doug Besterman.

According to Deadline, Apple's awards journey began in 2020 when Billy Crudup won an Emmy Award for The Morning Show. The company added Oscar recognition in 2022 when CODA earned three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Earlier this year, Apple secured a Grammy Award when Chris Stapleton won Best Country Solo Performance for "Bad As I Used to Be" from F1.

Netflix has also achieved the distinction thanks to Tony wins for Stranger Things: the First Shadow.

About SCHMIGADOON!

Based on the Apple TV series, Schmigadoon! stars Alex Brightman and Sara Chase as Josh Skinner and Melissa Gimble, a couple who find themselves trapped in a magical town where life unfolds like a Golden Age musical. To escape, they must discover true love.

The cast also features Ana Gasteyer, Ann Harada, Brad Oscar, Isabelle McCalla, Ivan Hernandez, Maulik Pancholy, Max Clayton, McKenzie Kurtz, and Ayaan Diop.

The original television series earned seven Emmy nominations and won Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in 2022 for the song "Corn Puddin'."

Photos: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Celebrates Tony Triumph at CATSQUERADE After-Party

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:43:33 PST

Cats: The Jellicle Ball celebrated its Tony Awards success with a special CATSQUERADE watch party and after-party hosted at Masquerade following the 2026 Tony Awards.

The event brought together cast members, industry guests, VIPs, and members of the Tony-winning creative team for a crossover celebration honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber's connection to both productions. The festivities took over two floors of the Drama Desk Award-winning immersive musical Masquerade.

Guests in attendance included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Raúl Esparza, Chris Colfer, Law Roach, and Tony Award winners Qween Jean, Zhailon Levingston, and Bill Rauch, among others.

Cats: The Jellicle Ball earned three Tony Awards at the 2026 ceremony. The ballroom-inspired revival won Best Direction of a Musical for Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Best Choreography for Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, and Best Costume Design of a Musical for Qween Jean. With her win, Jean became the first openly transgender woman to receive a Tony Award in any competitive category.

Check out photos from the celebration below.

Photo Credit: Austin Ruffer

Andrew Lloyd Webber

CATSQUERADE

Tony Awards Fashion: Stars Serve Glamour, Glitter and More on Broadway's Biggest Night

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:12:16 PST

The category is: Tony Awards Eleganza.

Before Broadway's biggest stars stepped inside the ball at Radio City Music Hall, they took to the runway outside, serving looks that were every bit as memorable as the night's performances. From Broadway legends to Hollywood favorites, nominees, presenters, and special guests arrived ready to make a statement on theater's biggest night.

Rachel Zegler, Cole Escola, Darren Criss, Danielle Brooks, and Brandon Uranowitz were among the stars bringing their fashion A-game, while icons including Bernadette Peters, André De Shields, Queen Latifah, and Lesley Manville proved that timeless style never goes out of fashion. Meanwhile, Jordan Roth, Qween Jean, and Frankie Grande delivered bold looks that turned heads from the moment they arrived.

Whether giving classic glamour, modern sophistication, or pure red carpet drama, this year's arrivals understood the assignment. The judges have spoken, the scores are in, and it's 10s across the board.

Photo Credit: Bruce Glikas

Joshua Henry

Rachel Zegler

Nicholas Christopher and Jennifer Locke

Ali Louis-Bourzgui

Christopher Gattelli

Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale

Law Roach

Pink

Brandon Uranowitz

Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman

Sasha Clements and Corbin Bleu

Qween Jean

Arturo Lyons & Omari Wiles

Photos: Go Inside RAGTIME's Tony Awards After Party

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:04:18 PST

Last night, the company of Ragtime celebrated their Tony Award wins for Best Sound Design of a Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. See photos of the company celebrating!

Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ("Once On This Island," "Seussical," "Lucky Stiff"), noted playwright Terrence McNally, ("Kiss of the Spider Woman", "Master Class"), and based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families, as they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America.

Ragtime stars Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, Colin Donnell, Nichelle Lewis, Ben Levi Ross, Shaina Taub, Anna Grace Barlow, John Clay III, Rodd Cyrus, Nick Barrington and Tabitha Lawing.

Photo credit: Julia Khoroshilov

Back: Caissie Levy, Stephen Flaherty, Tom Kirdahy, Lynn Ahrens, John Buzzetti, Lear deBessonet, Joshua Henry, and Nicole Kastrinos
Front: Kai Harada

Caissie Levy, Stephen Flaherty, Kai Harada, Lynn Ahrens, Lear deBessonet, Kewsong Lee, Joshua Henry, and Nicole Kastrinos

Stephen Flaherty, Lear deBessonet, and Lynn Ahrens

Kewsong Lee, Lear deBessonet, and Nicole Kastrinos

Ben Levi Ross, Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz

Joshua Henry

Shaina Taub

Caissie Levy, Stephen Flaherty, Tom Kirdahy, Lynn Ahrens, Lear deBessonet, Joshua Henry, and Nicole Kastrinos

Lynn Ahrens and Lear deBessonet

Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens

Caissie Levy, Lear deBessonet, Kai Harada, and Joshua Henry

Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy and Ben Levi Ross

Joshua Henry

Lynn Ahrens

Lear deBessonet and Tom Kirdahy

Caissie Levy, Stephen Flaherty, Tom Kirdahy, Lynn Ahrens, Lear deBessonet, Joshua Henry, and Nicole Kastrinos

Caissie Levy, Stephen Flaherty, Kai Harada, Lynn Ahrens, Lear deBessonet, Kewsong Lee, Joshua Henry, and Nicole Kastrinos

Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens

Lear deBessonet

Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz

Caissie Levy

Cast and company of Ragtime

What Happened Inside the 2026 Tony Awards Afterparties

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:10:26 PST

When the Tony Awards have handed out the final award of the night and the curtain comes down at Radio City Music Hall, Broadway’s best are ready to let loose.

Immediately following the annual ceremony are the afterparties, and they typically go all night long. (Yes, some people are heading home as the sun begins to rise!)

After years at The Plaza and a stint at the Museum of Modern Art, the main 2026 Tony Awards afterparty was held at Rockefeller Center. As soon as the ceremony concludes, many people who were at the awards filter their way into the official Tonys afterparty for small bites, drinks and hellos.

Press are usually last to arrive since the Best Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical — Caissie Levy and Joshua Henry, both from Ragtime — made their way across the street to the press room after the show concludes.

Inside Rockefeller Center, the music was blasting, and the drinks were flowing. Dewar’s signature cocktails — the Showtime Spritz and the Maid for the Stage — were being passed around as guests filled up on Luke’s Lobster mini lobster rolls, Shake Shack ShackBurgers, NARO Fried Chicken and more.

Darren Criss was busy doing interviews while his wife, Mia Swier, talked to friends. Meanwhile, Ali Louis Bourzgui — who was awarded the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his work in The Lost Boys — was being flanked by photographers who were all trying to capture the joy radiating off his body as he held his trophy.

Two Strangers Tony nominee Sam Tutty was spotted deep in conversation, and his Tony-nominated costar Christiani Pitts worked the room as she made her way through Rockefeller Center in her ethereal Marchesa gown.

While the room was buzzing (and there was barely any space to elbow your way through the crowd!), it was only a matter of time before everyone started to make their way to the exit to bop around midtown Manhattan at the various parties held in celebration of the Tonys.

Lesley Manville, who won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her work in Oedipus, was being congratulated by just about everybody on the street outside of FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Plaza as people waited for their cabs and Ubers to jet off to their next stop.

For me, it was off to the Ragtime afterparty held at Rosa Mexicano right across the street from Lincoln Center.

Lear deBessonet, who directed the Tony Award-winning Best Revival, was like the belle of the ball. She was being hugged and congratulated by everyone in the room, so it took her a while before she even made it past the stairs.

Levy, the musical’s Tony-winning leading lady, was tucked away in the back, talking to others in attendance who were all congratulating her on her big win for playing Mother.

Meanwhile, the Tony-winning Best Musical Schmigadoon! was celebrating at Ascent Lounge in Columbus Circle, where the cast and creative team rejoiced in their big win.

Then, it was off to the Carlyle, where all of Broadway inevitably ends up during the wee hours of the morning.

Over at the annual late-night bash hosted by publicist Rick Miramontez and producers John Gore and Jamie DuMont, Broadway’s best were partying until nearly 5 a.m. with music by DJ Natasha Diggs, DJ Never Dull and DJ Webz.

The party was completely packed, with nearly every Broadway star in attendance, including former Tonys host Ariana DeBose, Sarah Paulson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dylan Mulvaney, Jessica Vosk, Adrienne Warren, Bowen Yang and many, many more.

Megan Thee Stallion was seen fangirling over Solea Pfeiffer’s impromptu performance of “If I Were a Bell” at the piano. In another room (in a totally surreal moment straight out of Harry Potter), Tom Felton could be seen grabbing Daniel Radcliffe for a personal chat over in the corner.

After being asked by Death Becomes Her songwriter Julia Mattison and her husband, actor Drew Gehling, to dance upstairs, we all made our way to another floor where a DJ was playing and guests danced the night away. A Glee reunion was simultaneously happening between Tony winner Alex Newell and Chris Colfer.

In one of the most anticipated moments of the night, Tony winners Shoshana Bean and Levy made their way through the crowd and were met with hugs and congratulations.

The party began dwindling down at around 4:30 a.m., when Ubers, Lyfts and cabs started pulling up to 76th Street — and revelers finally made their way home after another successful Tonys.

Photo Credit: Julia Khoroshilov, Laurel Hinton, Little Fang

Photos: SCHMIGADOON! Celebrates Tony Wins at After Party

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:32:14 PST

Last night at the 79th Tony Awards, Schmigadoon! took home the 2026 Tony Award for Best Musical! See photos from Schmigadoon!'s Tony's after party, where the company and many more celebrated the show's wins!

Schmigadoon! also took home the Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical, Best Orchestrations, and Best Original Score.

Schmigadoon! stars Alex Brightman and Sara Chase as Josh Skinner and Melissa Gimble, a couple who accidentally wanders into Schmigadoon – the magical town where every day is a musical. Everybody has a song for everything, the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye, and the only bridge out of town leads nowhere. Melissa and Josh soon discover the only way to escape is by finding true love—which may or may not be with each other.

Photo credit: Laurel Hinton Photography

Schmigadoon! Tony's After Party

Recap the 2026 Tony Awards

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:00:03 PST

Another Tonys has come and gone! The American Theatre Wing's 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk, aired live last night from Radio City Music Hall, honoring theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway and wrapping up the 2025/26 awards season.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Now that we've all had some time to recover from the excitement of the big night, treat yourself today to some highlights from ALL of the festivities. Below, BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a recap of all things Tonys!

THE CARPET:

BroadwayWorld's Bruce Glikas was on hand to bring us s tunning photos straight from the red carpet before the ceremony began. Plus BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge and Broadway icon Michael James Scott were on the red carpet to chat with the stars as they arrived at Radio City. Who served the best red carpet looks?

THE CEREMONY:

After you study up on P!nk's epic opening number, you can revisit all of the evening's acceptance speeches. Also make sure that you relive the performance highlights! Plus, we've got photos from inside the ceremony to brighten up your post-Tonys Monday. Learn more about how the opening number came to be. Miss the ceremony? You can watch the full 79th Annual Tony Awards on Paramount+.

THE UPDATES:

All night long, Michael Gioia brought us updates from backstage at Radio City Music Hall. Find out what the winners said once they left the stage and catch behind the scenes videos.

THE WINNERS:

Top winners of the night were Death of a Salesman (6), The Lost Boys (4), Ragtime (4), and Schmigadoon! (4). Check out a complete list of the 2026 winners. Plus, go backstage with Bruce Glikas and watch as they chat with Richard Ridge.

THE AFTERWARDS:

What did the critics think of the evening and what were our biggest takeaways from the ceremony? Find out in our full recap! Plus learn all about what went down at all of the biggest afterparties.

Review Roundup: What Did Critics Think of the 79th Annual Tony Awards?

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:09:04 PST

What are the critics saying about this year's ceremony? Check out the reviews for this year's Tony Awards in our roundup below. The ceremony is now available to stream on Paramount+.

Winners included Schmigadoon!, Liberation, Ragtime, Death of a Salesman, Shoshana Bean, Joshua Henry, and more. Check out the full list of winners here. Plus, BroadwayWorld rounded up some of our favorite moments here.

Performances included The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Titaníque, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), CATS: The Jellicle Ball, Ragtime and Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. Special tributes were performed in honor of the 30th anniversary of Chicago on Broadway, with a reunion of the original cast of The Book of Mormon and a special performance of A Chorus Line by Rachel Zegler.

Helen Shaw, The New York Times: "The caliber of filming the featured musical numbers at the Tonys was impressively high this year, managing to accurately convey choreography that often spilled into the aisles, stormed down the catwalk or came bursting through a glittering rain curtain."

Thomas Floyd, Washington Post: "Why was Pink hosting the Tonys? That was a question she seemed eager to address during a virtuosic opening number — penned by Oscar winners Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick — that established her Broadway bona fides by placing her alongside just about the entire Great White Way."

Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly: "While most of the rejiggered lyrics seemed to just be shouting out names of nominees like Lesley Manville and Carrie Coon, it was still thrilling to see basically every Broadway musical actor of the past year combine forces not unlike the mighty Justice League."

Greg Evans, Dessi Gomez, Deadline: "P!nk might have been an unusual choice for a Tony Awards host since she’s never been on Broadway, but from the opening musical number — a clever, specially written rendition of “Lady Marmalade” with special guests Megan Thee Stallion and just about everyone else who has been on Broadway this season — she won over."

Alex Apatoff, People: "From the moment Pink kicked off the Tony Awards hanging high above the stage dressed as Peter Pan, we knew we were in for a fun night, and she made sure to deliver. After addressing right off the bat that some people might be skeptical to see a pop star hosting Broadway's biggest night, she then showed them all why she was chosen, from a high-octane opening number to countless outfit changes — and even stepping into Velma Kelly's LaDucas."

Bryan Reesman, Gold Derby: "This year’s Tony Awards featured the usual speeches with political subtext, a couple braver than others, as well as anniversary tributes to A Chorus Line, Rent, Chicago, and The Book of Mormon, the latter two still playing on the Great White Way. While it was a fun telecast, it felt more about the showstoppers than the awards themselves."

Photo Credit: Michele Crowe/CBS

79th Tony Awards Viewership Dips Slightly From 2025, Drawing 5.06 Million Viewers

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:23:08 PST

The 2026 Tony Awards achieved an impressive 5.06 million viewers on Sunday, very slightly down from the 78th Tonys in 2025, but an increase from the 2024 ceremony.

According to data shared by the TV Ratings Guide, the CBS ratings were less than a 1% decrease (a negligable .78% to be precise) from the 2025 telecast, based on preliminary reports of home viewership.

Last year, the 2025 Tony Awards saw a total of 5.10 million viewers, marking the largest Tony Awards audience since 2019. According to TheWrap, those ratings were up 44% from the 2024 telecast, based on Nielsen fast national data and estimated out-of-home viewership.

This 2026 data also reveals that it was the most popular program during the 8:00 hour, with competing programs that included the Giants vs. Clubs baseball game and America's Funniest Home Videos. Live streaming data from Paramount+ and social media impressions have yet to be shared.

This will continue to be updated as more numbers are released.

The 78th Tony Awards also marked the largest streaming audience ever for Paramount+, with a 208% increase from last year. On the social media front, the live special hit 5.2 billion potential impressions, a three-year high and a 55% increase from 2024.

The 2024 Tony Awards broadcast scored 3.53 million viewers, which was down from 2023's 4.12 million. The 2024, 2023, and 2022 ceremonies all decreased ratings since the James Corden-hosted 2019 broadcast, which pulled in 5.5 million viewers.

The 2026 Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk, are now available to stream on Paramount+. Watch them here. Winners included Schmigadoon!, Liberation, Ragtime, Death of a Salesman, Shoshana Bean, Joshua Henry, and more. Check out the full list here and learn how the star-studded opening number came together in our exclusive interview with the producers here.

Presenters during the broadcast included Adrien Brody, Annette Bening, Ariana DeBose, Ben Platt, Bernadette Peters, Billy Crystal, Bowen Yang, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Carrie Coon, Cole Escola, Darren Criss, Jack O’Brien, Jeremy Pope, John Leguizamo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kara Young, Kelli O'Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Law Roach, Lena Waithe, Lily Rabe, Maya Rudolph, Megan Thee Stallion, Neil Patrick Harris, Nicole Scherzinger, Patrick Wilson, Paul Rudd, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Sarah Paulson, and Sting.

The 79th Tony Awards celebration recognized all the award categories and honored the incredible artistry of the 2025/26 season. The Tony Awards, which honor theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, were presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing and have been broadcast on CBS since 1978.

Photo Credit: Michele Crowe/CBS

Photos: Inside the 2026 Tony Awards Ceremony

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:38:25 PST

Last night saw the 79th Annual Tony Awards, celebrating the incredible theater work seen on Broadway this past year. Take a look inside the CBS and Pluto TV broadcasts below, including presenters, performances, and acceptance speeches from shows like The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Ragtime, Titaníque, and more.

The 2026 Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk, are now available to stream on Paramount+. Watch them here.

Winners included Schmigadoon!, Liberation, Ragtime, Death of a Salesman, Shoshana Bean, Joshua Henry, and more. Check out the full list of winners here.

Special tributes were performed in honor of the 30th anniversary of Chicago on Broadway, with a reunion of the original cast of The Book of Mormon and a special performance from A Chorus Line by Rachel Zegler.

Photo Credit: Michele Crowe/CBS

Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess

Kristin Caskey

Cinco Paul, Tituss Burgess, and Laura Benanti

Heather Hitchens, Jason Laks, Ted Chapin, and Kristin Caskey

Qween Jean

Kelli O'Hara

Mikaal Sulaiman

Farnam Jahanian and Leigh Silverman

Cinco Paul

Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons

Jen Schriever and Michael Arden

Alijah Joseph and Nick Barrington

P!NK

Ana Harada, Shaina Taub, and Deborah Cox

Neil Patrick Harris and P!NK

Marla Mindelle; P!NK, Shoshana Bean and Christiani Pitts

Megan Thee Stallion

John Lithgow

The cast of Schmigadoon!

Maya Rudolph and Cole Escola

Sara Chase

The cast of Schmigadoon!

Marla Mindelle and the cast of Titaníque

Joe Mantello

The cast of Ragtime

Rachel Zegler and Ben Platt

Laurie Metcalf

P!NK

André De Shields and the cast of Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty

The cast of Cats: The Jellicle Ball

P!NK

Bess Wohl and the cast of Liberation

Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty

The cast of Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Megan Thee Stallion

Ariana DeBose and P!NK

Lily Rabe and Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Shoshana Bean

Constantine Rousouli, Marla Mindelle, Melissa Barrera, Deborah Cox, Jim Parsons, and the cast of Titaníque

Leslie Odom, Jr.

The cast of The Lost Boys

P!NK and the cast of Chicago

L.J. Benet, Shoshana Bean, and Benjamin Pajak

Alex Newell

Luke Evans and the cast of The Rocky Horror Show

Lear deBessonet and the cast of Ragtime

Queen Latifah

The cast of The Lost Boys

Ali Louis Bourzgui

Lesley Manville

Alden Ehrenreich

P!NK and the cast of Chicago

Bernadette Peters

Andrew Rannells

Nathan Lane and the cast of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Rachel Zegler

Josh Gad and the cast of The Book of Mormon

Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger

Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James, and the cast of The Book of Mormon

Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Bobby Lopez

Juliette Lewis, Rachel Dratch, Luke Evans and cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The cast of Ragtime

Luke Evans and the cast of The Rocky Horror Show

Videos: Watch All of the Acceptance Speeches From the 2026 Tony Awards

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:45:48 PST

The 79th Annual Tony Awards took place on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall. The annual ceremony was hosted by music superstar and global icon P!NK, and was broadcast LIVE to both coasts on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+. Check out our roundup of speeches from the evening below!

If you missed any of the speeches from either the pre-show, The Tony Awards Act One, or the main ceremony, you can recap all of the speeches here! Plus, check out the full list of winners here and watch all of the performances here.

John Lithgow

Shoshana Bean

Shoshana Bean wins for Featured Actress in a Musical at The 79th Annual Tony Awards®" width="356">

Joshua Henry

Joshua Henry wins for Lead Actor in a Musical at The 79th Annual Tony Awards" width="356">

Caissie Levy

Caissie Levy wins for Lead Actress in a Musical at The 79th Annual Tony Awards" width="356">

Video: Lorne Michaels Celebrates Tony Win- 'Broadway Has Always Been a Part of My Life'

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:21:21 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Schmigadoon! took home a Tony Award for Best Musical. After the team left the stage at Radio City Music Hall, lead producer Lorne Michaels checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

"I think there are not that many people who can write comedy and write it in an original way. And [Cinco] was just... everything seemed both from a time but also very much now," he explained. "And that's hard to do because it's not really sentimental in it. The musicals that he's dealing with are generally sentimental, but he's kind of unsparing in lots of things. There's so many laughs and great performance moments. The music is great. It's hopeful."

The production was nominated for an impressive 12 awards this year, and earned two for writer Cinco Paul's book, music, and lyrics.

The musical also stars Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer as Mildred Layton, Ann Harada reprising her role of Florence Menlove, Tony Award-nominee Brad Oscar as Mayor Menlove, Isabelle McCalla as Emma Tate, Ivan Hernandez as Doc, Maulik Pancholy as The Reverend, Max Clayton as Danny Bailey, McKenzie Kurtz as Betsy and Ayaan Diop as Carson.

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Video: Joshua Henry Is Living to Share His Tony Win with Caissie Levy and the RAGTIME Company

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:02:59 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Joshua Henry took home a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Ragtime. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

"The words that are coming to mind are um deeply happy, content, peaceful, grateful," he said. "When I looked out and saw just all my friends and the people that I've respected for so long... I've always been one of them. I'm just more amplified now. And to be able to honor who got me here, the people that are with me, that felt so, so, so special. I took the moment really slow, I think, and I try to really just talk from the heart"

Joshua Henry recently starred as Gaston in ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” special and in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature Tick, Tick….Boom! He also appeared in Steven Knight’s Apple drama series “SEE,” and can be seen in a starring role in American Renegades. Theater includes Lear deBessonet’s Broadway revival of Into the Woods; ‘Dr. Pomatter’ in Waitress; ‘Billy Bigelow’ in Carousel (Tony Award nomination) directed by Jack O’Brien; ‘Noble Sissle’ in George C. Wolfe’s Tony-nominated production of Shuffle Along; Violet (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League award noms.); The Scottsboro Boys (Tony nom.) directed by Susan Stroman; and ‘Aaron Burr’ in Hamilton, in Chicago, and on the first U.S. tour. As a recording artist he has opened for Diana Ross at the Hollywood Bowl, performed alongside Common at The Kennedy Center, and his album GROW is streamable everywhere. He is composing an original musical called The Conversation along with Julia Harimann in development in NYC.

RAGTIME is not only a powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America, but a relevant tale for today. Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ("Once On This Island," "Seussical," "Lucky Stiff"), noted playwright Terrence McNally, ("Kiss of the Spider Woman", "Master Class"), and based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families, as they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. The Tony-winning score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty is just as diverse as the Melting Pot of America itself. It draws upon many musical styles from the ragtime rhythms of Harlem and Tin Pan Alley to the klezmer of the Lower East Side, from bold brass band marches to delicate waltzes, from up-tempo banjo tunes to period parlor songs and expansive anthems. Featured are such show stopping songs as "Getting Ready Rag," "Your Daddy’s Son," "Wheels of a Dream," "Till We Reach That Day," "Back To Before," and "Make Them Hear You." This thrilling musical is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike! Book by Terrence McNally; music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Presented by Mesa Encore Theatre at the Farnsworth Studio.

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Video: Caissie Levy Reacts to Tony Win- 'It's All I Ever Dreamed Of'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:59:45 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Caissie Levy took home a Tony Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Ragtime. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!

"Halfway up the stairs I thought, 'Did they say my name or have I just started walking?' And it was like a very long road to the stage and my dress is precarious," she joked. "But... it was just so beautiful to stand up there and look out and see all of the people that I love and have worked with or admired for so long. There's so much more I wanted to say. I hope I made sense! But I just feel so grateful"

Caissie Levy is an Olivier and Grammy-nominated veteran of eight Broadway and three West End shows. She earned an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for starring in the UK premiere of Next to Normal in London's West End and at The Donmar Warehouse. Most recently, she starred as ‘Mother’ in the critically acclaimed New York City Center Gala production of Ragtime, directed by Lear deBessonet. Caissie created the iconic role of ‘Elsa’ in Disney's Frozen on Broadway, starred in the Tony Award winning Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt, and as ‘Rose’ in the Tony nominated Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change, for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award. She is known to Broadway and West End audiences for originating the roles of ‘Sheila’ in the Tony Award winning revival of Hair, and ‘Molly’ in Ghost. Other Broadway credits include ‘Fantine’ in Les Miserables; ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked (also LA); ‘Penny’ in Hairspray (also 1st national tour & Toronto); ‘Maureen’ in Rent (national tour). Off -Broadway credits include Sarah Silverman's The Bedwetter (Atlantic); First Daughter Suite (The Public); and Murder Ballad (MTC). Caissie has been featured on many singer/songwriter's records, and her solo EP, With You, is available wherever you buy or stream your music. In concert, she backed up Sir Rod Stewart in his Las Vegas residency, headlined Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops twice, and has played solo across the US, UK and Canada.

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Video: Ali Louis Bourzgui Says His LOST BOYS Cast Almost Broke the Elevator When He Won

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:42:58 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Ali Louis Bourzgui took home a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for The Lost Boys. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

"The number one thing I feel is how much I love my cast," he said. "And the featured actor thing is really cool, because we're all kind of a featured ensemble. So I really feel like this is for all of us. I'm just trying to root this in community, because, whoo, it's a lot to process personally. This is crazy. I still can't believe it!"

Ali is an award-winning actor, singer, and musician who is best known for his starring role as Tommy in the Tony Award–nominated Broadway revival of The Who’s Tommy, where he made his Broadway debut to critical acclaim. He received a Theatre World Award and a Jeff Award (Performer in a Leading Role), plus Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nominations for the role. He was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for We Live in Cairo at NYTW and most recently starred on Broadway as Orpheus in the Tony Award–winning Best Musical Hadestown. Beyond acting, Ali is a musician and writer, and just released his debut original album, Becomes a Home, with his band, Resident Lightweight. He is the proud son of a Moroccan immigrant and is actively working to increase representation in the media and the arts.

With 12 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, The Lost Boys is the most Tony-nominated musical of 2026. When Lucy (three-time Tony Award nominee Shoshana Bean) and her teenage sons Michael and Sam move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging. As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a startling reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared. Based on the classic Warner Bros. film, The Lost Boys is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending, Parade). The production features music and lyrics by The Rescues, a book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch, choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant (Parade), and music supervision by Tony nominee Ethan Popp (Tina). The Lost Boys is produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait, and Patrick Wilson.

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John Lithgow Becomes Oldest Man to Win Tony Award in an Acting Category

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:45:02 PST

At 80 years old, John Lithgow has added another Tony to his prestigious collection of awards. For his performance as Roald Dahl in Giant, the stage and screen performer has broken records with his third Tony Award, making him the oldest man to ever receive an award in a competitive acting category.

Previous oldest acting winners include Frank Langella, who won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for The Father at 78 and Roy Dotrice, who, at 77, won for A Moon for the Misbegotten in 2000. In musical categories, Dick Latessa received the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Hairspray, with André De Shields winning for Hadestown in the same category. Both were 73 at the time of their wins.

Lithgow originated the role of the children's author at London’s Royal Court Theatre and in the West End transfer at the Harold Pinter Theatre, earning the Olivier Award for Best Actor, while the production won Best New Play.

Lithgow previously won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Sweet Smell of Success and Best Featured Actor in a Play in The Changing Room in 1973, a significant gap of 53 years between his first and third wins. Lithgow was also nominated for roles in Requiem for a Heavyweight, M. Butterfly, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Columnist.

About John Lithgow

John Lithgow is one of America’s most celebrated stage actors, with a career spanning more than five decades and 25 Broadway productions.

Beyond the stage, Lithgow has received six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Academy Award nominations. His notable screen credits include The World According to Garp, Conclave, The Rule of Jenny Pen, JIMPA, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, The Crown, and The Old Man. He will next appear as Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.

A bestselling author and advocate for arts education, Lithgow has written numerous children’s books, earned four Grammy nominations for his recordings for young audiences, and appeared with major orchestras across the United States. He is also the author of the memoir Drama: An Actor’s Education and the bestselling political satire series known as the “Dumpty Trilogy.”

Photo: Michele Crowe/CBS

Video: Qween Jean Reacts to Tony Win - 'It's a Tremendous Blessing'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:27:51 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Qween Jean took home a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on CATS: The Jellicle Ball. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!

"It feels really special to be able to have been on that stage tonight, to be able to step in the legacy of so many of our matriarchs, and to know that this recognition means a lot for so many people, not just myself, but so many of the queer and trans people that are navigating a lot right now all across this nation," she said. "Their stories need to be told and also their voices are beyond worthy. So those are the feelings that are immediately coming to mind."

With this award Qween Jean has made history, becoming the first openly trans person to win in her category. The designer was also nominated for Best Costume Design of a Play for her work on Liberation.

Her other credits include Macbeth in Stride, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Siblings Play, Amen Corner, Rags Parkland, Good Grief, Othello, Wig Out! Mary Antionette, Little Shop of Horrors, and What to Send Up, When it Goes Down. Jean is also the founder of Black Trans Liberation, an organization that provides weekly fellowship, food, groceries and housing resources for the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming community. She is also the author of Revolution Is Love.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s worldwide phenomenon CATS is reimagined in a production that smashed records, won awards and left New York City purring. And now CATS: The Jellicle Ball ascends to Broadway in a kaleidoscope of glittering spectacle, iconic music and electrifying ballroom choreography. Broadway meets Runway in the fiercest event of the season, directed by Obie Award winners Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, with choreography by Obie Award winners and New York City Ballroom icons Omari Wiles (House of NiNa Oricci) and Arturo Lyons (House of Miyake-Mugler).

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Video: Alden Ehrenreich Reacts to His Tony Win and Shares a Nugget He Learned from Angela Lansbury

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:21:01 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Alden Ehrenreich took home the 2026 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his acclaimed performance in the Broadway revival of Becky Shaw. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

"I was in drama school here at Stella Adler for just a semester but while I was there, Angela Lansbury came and spoke and she talked about playing Mrs. Lovett," he said. "She said sometimes in your career you find a character that kind of matches with the inherent talent you might feel in yourself... and I feel like this character was an opportunity of that. I just thought, 'I can't wait to see these words.' It's such a brilliant part. I'm very lucky."

BECKY SHAW marks Alden's Broadway debut, as well as his first Tony Award nomination. He is best known to television audiences for taking on the iconic role of Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. More recently, Alden has been seen on the big screen in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Marvel’s Ironheart, and Zach Cregger’s Weapons. His additional film and television credits include Hail, Caesar!, Cocaine Bear, The Yellow Birds, Rules Don't Apply, Blue Jasmine, Beautiful Creatures, Somewhere, Twixt, Stoker, and Brave New World. He recently wrapped production on The Last Resort opposite Daisy Ridley and Switzerland opposite Helen Mirren.

A Pulitzer Prize finalist and smash Off-Broadway hit, Becky Shaw is the latest comedy from Obie Award-winner Gina Gionfriddo (After Ashley, writer/producer of Law & Order). When Suzanna (Bergl, reprising the role she created in NY) decides to set her Best Friend Max up on a blind date with her husband's mysterious co-worker, Becky Shaw, she sets into motion a series of cataclysmic events forever changing all of their lives. Mixing sharp wit and humor with the taut suspense of a psychological thriller, Becky Shaw is a comedy of romantic errors that keeps audiences at the edge of their seats guessing what will happen next.

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Video: Jack Knowles Reacts to Tony Win- 'It's Dedication, Hard Work, and Appreciation'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:15:03 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Jack Knowles took home a Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Play for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

"It really was about digging into the emotion of the characters and exploring how we can communicate this play in a new way and what the story is about, what the detail is about," he explained. "And treating this play that so many people know and you studied it and it's seen various versions of it, but treat it as though it's been written for us to put on today in 2026."

Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN is the most nominated play of the year with 9 Tony Award nominations including Best Revival of a Play, Best Leading Actor in a Play (Nathan Lane), Best Featured Actress in a Play (Laurie Metcalf), Best Featured Actor in a Play (Christopher Abbott), Best Direction of a Play (Joe Mantello), Best Original Score (Caroline Shaw), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Chloe Lamford), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jack Knowles), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Mikaal Sulaiman). The production stars Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott, and Ben Ahlers.

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Video: Chloe Lamford Reacts to Tony Win and Shares Easter Eggs from Her Scenic Design

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:18:54 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Chloe Lamford took home a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!

"I've always worked on new plays in my career. I worked a lot at the Royal Court Theatre and I always worked with new writers," she explained. "So I guess I feel quite robust about hitting things like a new play and that's exciting that it feels kind of alive. Joe [Mantello], he was so brave about how we went into it and that we were going to look at it in a fresh way. Like, let's keep mining it, let's keep asking questions. And we kept going and that was really special."

Chloe trained in Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art. Chloe is Associate Designer at The Royal Court Theatre and a resident of Somerset House Studios. Theatre includes: Shoe Lady (Royal Court), The Antipodes (Co-Director & Set and Costume Designer, National Theatre), Hilary and Clinton (Broadway), John, Amadeus, Rules For Living, The World Of Extreme Happiness (National Theatre), Europe (Donmar Warehouse), The Duchess of Malfi (Almeida Theatre), The American Clock (The Old Vic), Our Ladies Of Perpetual Succour (National Theatre, West End, National Theatre Scotland), The Crucible (Theatre Basel), Hamilton Complex (Schauspielhaus Bochum), Jubilee (Royal Exchange Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith), 1984 (Headlong, West End, Broadway), Shakespeare’s Last Play, Atmen, Ophelia’s Zimmer (Schaubühne Berlin), De Maiden (Toneelgroep Amsterdam), The Cane, Pity, Gundog, Road, Victory Condition and B, Unreachable, The Twits, God Bless The Child, How To Hold Your Breath, Circle Mirror Transformation, Teh Internet Is Serious Business, 2071, Open Court (Royal Court Theatre), Britney and Goofy, Het Hamilton Complex (Hetpaleis Antwerp, Lift Festival), The Events (ATC and Young Vic), Disco Pigs, Sus, Blackta (Young Vic), The History Boys (Sheffield Crucible). Opera includes: Pelleas & Melisande (Aix-en-Provence Festival, Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa), Ariadne auf Naxos (Aix-en-Provence Festival, Finnish National Opera).

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What’s Next for LIBERATION? Producers Reveal Tony-Winning Play’s Plans

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:58:11 PST

After Liberation took home the 2026 Tony Award for Best Play on Sunday, June 7, the producers of the award-winning work talked about what’s next.

“This is a once-in-a-generation play,” Eva Price said in the press room following Liberation’s win. “And a once-in-a-generation play is going to be done over and over.”

“It’ll be produced not just by us, but every American and international theater that can get their hands on this play,” she continued, explaining that other iterations of director Whitney White’s production are happening or are in the works.

Liberation will make its West Coast premiere later this year, and it will also play the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C.

“And there will be more,” Price told the press. “And yes, we will take this play to London. You will find out more about when and where — but not tonight — but it is a play that will continue in the canon because, as you said, it is that good.”

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the play will also be produced in London in 2027, though specific details have not been announced.

“The world needs to see Liberation for generations to come,” she said.

Liberation was also awarded the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The Broadway production starred the original Off-Broadway company, who were honored by both the Drama Desk and the NY Drama Critic’s Circle for Best Ensemble Performance. The Off-Broadway production also earned the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

The cast featured Tony Award nominee Betsy Aidem as Margie, Audrey Corsa as Dora, Kayla Davion as Joanne, Susannah Flood as Lizzie, Kristolyn Lloyd as Celeste, Irene Sofia Lucio as Isidora, Charlie Thurston as Bill, and Adina Verson as Susan.

Video: Daryl Roth, Eva Price and Rachel Sussman React to Tony Win- 'Change Can Happen!'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:53:28 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, producers Daryl Roth, Eva Price and Rachel Sussman took home the Tony Award for Best Play for Liberation. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, they checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share their initial reaction!

"It feels very gratifying," said Roth. "We feel so proud of Bess and the history that she's making by winning this Tony tonight is remarkable. And the story that it's telling... it's so important to be told now for women's rights, for human rights. We must speak up!"

1970, Ohio. Lizzie gathers a small group of women to talk. But talking quickly becomes a necessary and bracingly funny attempt to change their own lives and the world. Fifty years later, her daughter is shocked to find herself asking the very same questions her mother did, and goes on a search through the past for answers. From Tony Award® nominees Bess Wohl (Grand Horizons) and Whitney White (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding) comes a provocative, revealing, and irreverent jolt of a play about what really goes on when women meet behind closed doors.

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Video: Kai Harada on His Tony Win- 'I Do Know What I'm Doing Sometimes!'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:34:11 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Kai Harada took home a Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical for Ragtime. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

"To do [Ragtime] in 2025 with the country the way it is... was very emotional," he said. "I just realized like so much of how much of an important piece of theater it is. And not to mention... Cats, not for nothing is also a really important piece of theater! So to be able to do two of these sort of shows in one season is really an honor."

Harada's Broadway credits include: Amelie; Sunday in the Park With George; Allegiance; Gigi; Fun Home; On the Town; First Date; Follies (Tony Award & Drama Desk Nominations); and Million Dollar Quartet. Other: A Legendary Romance; Poster Boy (Williamstown); Beaches (Drury Lane); Brooklynite (Vineyard); Little Dancer and First You Dream (Kennedy Center); Zorro (Moscow; Atlanta); Hinterm Horizont (Berlin); Sweeney Todd and Man of La Mancha (Portland Opera); and She Loves Me (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). Audio Consultant for the revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Education: Yale University.

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Video: Bess Wohl Reacts to Tony Win- 'LIBERATION Was the Collaboration of a Lifetime'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:30:04 PST

Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Bess Wohl took home a Tony Award for Best Play for Liberation. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!

"It's a very personal play," she explained. "It lived in my heart for a really long time. It relates to my mother her friends and and it's something I wanted to write really for my whole career, just to know how to do it. I finally figured out a path. And that's why I'm here right now!"

1970, Ohio. Lizzie gathers a small group of women to talk. But talking quickly becomes a necessary and bracingly funny attempt to change their own lives and the world. Fifty years later, her daughter is shocked to find herself asking the very same questions her mother did, and goes on a search through the past for answers. From Bess Wohl (Grand Horizons) and Whitney White (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding) comes a provocative, revealing, and irreverent jolt of a play about what really goes on when women meet behind closed doors.

Wohl is a playwright and filmmaker whose plays have been produced on and off Broadway, regionally and internationally. Wohl’s plays include Grand Horizons (Broadway, Tony Nomination), Camp Siegfried, Make Believe, Continuity, Small Mouth Sounds, American Hero, Touch(ed), In, Cats Talk Back, and the musical Pretty Filthy. Her plays have been recognized with a variety of awards and nominations, including the Drama Desk, Drama League, Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle. She made her feature film debut with her film Baby Ruby, starring Noémie Merlant and Kit Harington, which she wrote and directed. The film premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures in 2023. She also is developing multiple television projects and wrote for the Apple TV+ series “Extrapolations.” Wohl is an associate artist with The Civilians, an alumna of Ars Nova’s Play Group, and the recipient of new play commissions from Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Recently, she made her West End debut with a sold out run of Barcelona starring Lily Collins. She is a graduate of Harvard and the Yale School of Drama.

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