Maybe Happy Ending, a South Korean musical adapted for Broadway about two robots who find connection, won big at Sunday’s Tony Awards, scooping up six prizes at the gala celebrating the best in American theater.
Stars of the season Cole Escola and Nicole Scherzinger also won their first Tonys, on a night that celebrated Broadway’s revival after a years-long pandemic slump.
Cynthia Erivo — the Oscar-nominated Wicked star who herself boasts a Tony — hosted the ceremony at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall, honoring this year’s buzzy, diverse competitive slate.
It was Broadway’s most financially lucrative year ever, she told the crowd.
“Broadway is officially back — provided we don’t run out of cast members from ‘Succession,’” she joked, referring to the decorated TV dramedy about a family’s media empire.
Sarah Snook — who scored an Emmy for her role in Succession — won the Tony for best leading actress in a play, taking on all 26 roles in the stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
A host of new shows and stars drew 14.7 million people to Broadway performances this season, grossing $1.89 billion at the box office.
Some of showbiz’s biggest names graced New York’s stages, including George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Snook’s Succession co-stars Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong.
“Please go to the theater, whether it’s a Broadway show or a school play,” said Michael Arden, who won a Tony for best direction of a musical for Maybe Happy Ending.
Darren Criss of Glee fame — already an Emmy winner for portraying killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story — won the Tony for lead actor in that musical.
“I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse, exquisite Broadway season this year,” he told the audience as he accepted his award.
Scherzinger bested a packed field, including the legendary Audra McDonald — the performer with the most Tonys in history — for best actress in a musical for her role as faded star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, which also won for best revival of a musical.
“If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up,” said an emotional Scherzinger, who once fronted the pop girl group The Pussycat Dolls.
“Just keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever. This is a testament that love always wins.” AFP