The South Korean musical “Perhaps Happy Ending,” about two robots finding connection, was the big winner at this year’s Tony Awards, taking home six prizes. The ceremony, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, celebrated the best in American theater and marked Broadway’s strong comeback after the pandemic.
Stars Cole Escola and Nicole Scherzinger also won their first Tonys. Scherzinger earned best actress in a musical for her role in “Sunset Boulevard,” while Escola was recognized for their performance in the dark comedy “Oh, Mary!” which reimagines Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.
Sarah Snook won best lead actress in a play for playing all 26 roles in “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” and Darren Criss took home best lead actor in a musical for “Perhaps Happy Ending.”
This season was Broadway’s most successful ever, drawing nearly 15 million attendees and earning almost $1.9 billion at the box office. The event featured performances from top stars and a special reunion of the original “Hamilton” cast celebrating the show’s tenth anniversary.
The evening also paid tribute to theater community members lost over the past year, with moving performances of classic songs. Some speeches touched on current political tensions in the U.S., though no specific names were mentioned.
Overall, the awards highlighted a vibrant and diverse Broadway season, with many urging audiences to support theater in any form.