The Tony Awards surprised us all – again

Broadway closed the season with a jolt of electricity Sunday night as the 78th Tony Awards crowned new classics and carved fresh names into the history books. The futuristic rom‑com Maybe Happy Ending, a luminous tale of two outdated service androids who discover romance after being left on the scrap heap, walked away with six trophies, including the coveted Best New Musical. Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen breathe life—and a surprising amount of longing—into the chrome‑plated lovers, proving that stories about machines can expose the softest corners of the human heart.

Drama honors belonged to Branden Jacobs‑Jenkins’ Purpose, a tense snow‑day gathering that peels back the veneer of a prosperous Black family. The play, incubated at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, not only claimed Best New Play but also delivered back‑to‑back acting triumphs for Kara Young. One year after winning for Appropriate, she clinched a second statue, becoming the first Black performer to win Tonys in consecutive seasons. Accepting the award, Young reminded the room that theatre is “a sacred space we have to honor, a place that stitches us together.”

Jacobs‑Jenkins’ victory marks the first time a Black playwright has topped the category since August Wilson’s Fences in 1987. His whirlwind year already includes a Pulitzer Prize for the script and a stint on the Met Gala host committee. He used the spotlight to rally support for the regional theatres that first stage risky work: “If they wither, Broadway’s future withers with them.”

In another headline‑grabbing moment, pop powerhouse Nicole Scherzinger completed a career pivot, claiming Best Lead Actress in a Musical and edging Broadway royalty Audra McDonald. “I spent years feeling like I didn’t belong,” the former Pussycat Doll told the audience, urging late bloomers to keep pushing. “The world needs your love and your light now more than ever.”