NEW YORK, June 7 – Broadway’s most prestigious awards ceremony concluded Sunday evening with “Schmigadoon!” claiming the Tony Award for outstanding musical, while productions addressing social themes swept several major categories.
The television series adaptation “Schmigadoon!” pays homage to classic Broadway musicals through the story of a contemporary couple who find themselves transported into a theatrical fantasy realm.
“Liberation” secured the award for outstanding play, adding to its 2026 Pulitzer Prize recognition. Writer Bess Wohl made history as only the fourth woman to receive the Tony for best play and the first since 2009. The production explores themes from the 1970s women’s liberation movement.
The musical revival category went to “Ragtime,” which defeated “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” The winning production weaves together narratives of Black, immigrant, and wealthy white characters while examining themes of race, social class, and American opportunity during the early 1900s. Caissie Levy and Joshua Henry earned leading performer awards for their work in the production.
John Lithgow, age 80, received the leading actor award for his performance in “Giant,” where he depicts writer Roald Dahl during the 1980s confronting controversy over statements considered antisemitic. This marked Lithgow’s third Tony victory, with his first coming 53 years earlier for his Broadway debut in “The Changing Room.”
“At every point we had to figure out, ‘Why is this man doing this?’” he told reporters later. “Antisemitism, cruelty of all kinds … these are things that we’re dealing with these days up front and personal … that’s what makes ‘Giant’ so important and such a success.”
Lesley Manville earned the leading actress award for her portrayal of Jocasta in Robert Icke’s modern interpretation of the Sophocles tragedy “Oedipus” reimagined as a political thriller.
Joe Mantello’s production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” won the play revival category, with Mantello also receiving the directing award. Laurie Metcalf captured the supporting actress prize for playing Linda Loman, marking her third Tony win. The cast also features veteran performer Nathan Lane.
The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of Broadway’s most successful financial year, with productions earning $1.91 billion as audiences flocked to both long-running favorites and new offerings.
Pop artist Pink served as host at Radio City Music Hall, opening the show with a Broadway-style version of “Lady Marmalade” featuring cast members from every nominated musical production.
The opening performance included notable moments, with veteran performer Lea Michele singing “We don’t do it for the awards” and trans performer Dylan Mulvaney contributing “Protect the dolls.” Michele, who stars in the revival “Chess,” did not receive a nomination this season.
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch shared the musical directing award for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s reimagined musical set within New York’s ballroom culture scene.
Shoshana Bean won supporting actress in a musical for “The Lost Boys,” based on the 1987 vampire film about brothers relocating to a California coastal community overrun by vampires. The victory came after Bean’s third nomination.
Ali Louis Bourzgui earned supporting actor in a musical for playing the lead vampire character in the same production. Alden Ehrenreich took supporting actor in a play for “Becky Shaw.”
The evening featured anniversary celebrations for several landmark productions including “Chicago,” “The Book of Mormon,” “A Chorus Line” and “Rent.”
Queen Latifah, who appeared in the 2002 film adaptation of “Chicago,” introduced a Pink-led performance honoring the 30th anniversary of the musical’s ongoing revival.
The original cast of “The Book of Mormon” performed in recognition of its 15th anniversary, while Rachel Zegler sang “What I Did for Love” from “A Chorus Line” for its 50th anniversary celebration. Leslie Odom Jr. performed “Without You” from “Rent,” also marking 30 years, during the memorial tribute segment.
During pre-ceremony awards, Qween Jean won costume design for a musical and Omari Wiles with Arturo Lyons won choreography, both for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” According to the show’s publicist, Qween Jean became the first openly transgender person to receive a Tony Award.
