June – And the Tony Goes To...

June is always one of the most exciting months on the Broadway calendar. The Tony Awards celebrate another incredible season and officially close one chapter before the next begins. This year's ceremony, hosted by P!NK, honored a record-breaking Broadway season and featured plenty of memorable performances and a few surprises.

The biggest winner of the night was Schmigadoon!, which took home the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical adaptation of the hit television series also won Best Book and Best Original Score, confirming that its transition from screen to stage was a tremendous success.

The play categories were equally competitive. Liberation, Bess Wohl's powerful drama about the women's movement, earned Best Play, while the minimalist revival of Death of a Salesman dominated the play revivals, winning Best Revival of a Play along with several additional awards.

One of the happiest moments for me was seeing Ragtime receive the recognition it deserved. The revival won Best Revival of a Musical, and both Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy were honored for their outstanding leading performances. As someone who has been praising this production since seeing it, watching it succeed on Broadway's biggest night felt especially rewarding.

The acting awards featured an impressive group of winners. John Lithgow earned Best Leading Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Roald Dahl in Giant, while Lesley Manville won Best Leading Actress in a Play for Oedipus. Featured acting honors included Shoshana Bean and Ali Louis Bourzgui for The Lost Boys, while Cats: The Jellicle Ball continued its remarkable journey by winning awards for choreography, direction, and costume design.

Looking back at my own predictions, I certainly didn't get everything right. I expected Ragtime to be one of the season's strongest contenders, and I was thrilled to see it recognized so prominently. However Chess - one of my personal favorites of the season, left empty-handed, despite strong performances and enthusiastic audiences. That's the beauty of the Tony Awards. Critical acclaim, audience enthusiasm, and awards success don't always align.

Beyond the trophies, what I'll remember most about this season is its incredible variety. Broadway offered large-scale musicals, intimate dramas, daring revivals, and fresh new voices. Whether it was the emotional power of Ragtime, the originality of Schmigadoon!, or the unforgettable performances throughout the season, there was truly something for every theater lover.

Now the curtain falls on another Broadway season. New productions are already being announced, casting rumors have begun, and speculation for next year's Tony Awards is already underway.

The theater never stands still—and that's exactly why we keep coming back.

J.M.