Posted: 6/9/25 at 2:33am
The horrible LED content was so jarring! Like, if you’re going to simulate sets flying in, then do it at the pace that a flyman would do them! Coupled with the sound issues, I just can’t understand the direction of this show.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 3:44am
The best and worst moments from the 2025 Tony Awards
https://wapo.st/3SJJipA
Posted: 6/9/25 at 3:59am
While I’ve felt mixed about the whole hat incident with Nicole, I’m glad she won. The performance of the season.
Audra is a legend and utterly brilliant but this is not her role. I wish she had done Desiree after all. She’d be picking up for 7th tonight.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 4:02am
I know I'm going back a few pages here, but I can't believe RWHC didn't perform the title song. Doesn't it get a mid show standing ovation every night? This show needed to pull out all the stops and deliver an unforgettable performance to survive--what were they thinking? The song they chose did nothing for them. What a waste and an absolutely mindboggling decision by the show's producers.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 4:53am
BroadwayGirl107 said: "I know I'm going back a few pages here, but I can't believe RWHC didn't perform the title song. Doesn't it get a mid show standing ovation every night? This show needed to pull out all the stops and deliver an unforgettable performance to survive--what were they thinking? The song they chose did nothing for them. What a waste and an absolutely mindboggling decision by the show's producers."
I agree. I’ve been rooting for this show from the start and think there are several numbers (including some solos/duets) that would have been more helpful than this transitional book sequence. And in that primo spot!
Posted: 6/9/25 at 5:27am
I strongly disliked the interruptions of the speeches and the fact that almost every winner briefly panicked when they saw how few seconds were left. The bit about the prerecorded cutoff song was harmless enough but then when they actually did it, yuck. It felt incredibly disrespectful to an acclaimed actress like Kara Young to be treated like an unwanted interloper while she’s saying the theater should be a safe space.
It contributed to the rushed feeling of the show. And then they frequently couldn’t get the sound right or make common sense decisions about camera work. For a TV show that’s supposed to be an advertisement for Broadway, it often failed at that basic task.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 5:42am
BJR said: "While I’ve felt mixed about the whole hat incident with Nicole, I’m glad she won. The performance of the season.
Audra is a legend and utterly brilliant but this is not her role. I wish she had done Desiree after all. She’d be picking up for 7th tonight."
No this is exactly her role. Meanwhile people cheering for an open Trumper shows how low the double standard can go.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 5:50am
I don’t know if she IS an open Trumper but in any case I don’t think she is likely a ‘Trumper’ at all. Worst case she votes the way Christians often do, and I don’t think that Trump has anything to do with it. And she has always been an open support of LGBT people.
But this has nothing to do with her performance. ‘How low can you go?’ How low can someone go to try and cancel and destroy someone because of an instagram like.
The funny thing about this whole thing is by making the Tonys so political and then Nicole STILL winning it has an embarrassing effect for Audra and her fans where it means Nicole’s win was a clear message that she gave the performance of the season and Audra didn’t.
Nicole winning means either two things in the minds of Tony voters 1. That her performance was SO GOOD it beat Audra in Gypsy and survived multiple social media firestorms 2. Audra’s performance isn’t as good as we are led to believe.
Either option must hurt, but I much prefer the narrative of #1. Audra was great and Nicole was great and yes Nicole was THAT good she could beat Audra in Gypsy.
It now makes Nicole’s Tony one of the hardest fought, greatest deserving and historic moments in Tony history.
Updated On: 6/9/25 at 05:50 AM
Posted: 6/9/25 at 6:22am
So where was that Cats annoucement lol
Posted: 6/9/25 at 6:23am
Let’s be honest—we all knew it was going to come down to Nicole and Audra.
Personally, I loved Megan. She made me laugh so hard, and her comedic timing was spot on. But ultimately, what voters want in a Tony can vary.
Nicole—no question—is a vocal powerhouse. Her performance in Sunset was vocally phenomenal. That said, I didn’t feel as connected to her acting, though I don’t think that’s entirely on her. It felt like a directorial choice—lots of blank stares, breaking the fourth wall, and very little interaction between characters. It didn’t feel like acting so much as an artistic interpretation.
As for Audra, she’s a legend, but this just didn’t feel like her part. I didn’t think she brought anything new to Gypsy. Even her performance during the ceremony felt over-the-top—almost like she was playing to the cameras more than the audience. I found myself watching Audra, not Mama Rose.
Now, what truly made me smile: “Maybe Happy Ending.” I remember seeing it months after it opened. I wasn’t excited going in—a show about robots didn’t exactly draw me in. But it turned out to be such a sweet, original, heart-tugging, and magical night at the theater. I walked out genuinely charmed. When I saw it, the cast literally told us, “Tell your friends, tell your friends!” because they were worried it might close early. And now look—they won a Tony! So well deserved.
Funny side note: I paid $120 for my seat back then—12 rows back. Today, that same seat goes for $400.
Oh, and remember during the opening monologue when Cynthia said this was Broadway’s most financially successful year? Maybe that’s because ticket prices are becoming wildly unaffordable for the average theatergoer. Just saying.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 6:55am
The band drowned out the lyrics in most of the group songs. I don't know what I'd have made of these numbers if I hadn't heard them elsewhere. Audra and Nicole showed off the strengths of their polarizing performances. Nearly everyone else was overwhelmed by tempos and microphones. I'm glad more late night shows are spotlighting musicals. I'll watch other clips of Death Becomes Her, Mincemeat and Dead Outlaw before revisiting these.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:02am
I enjoyed the broadcasts. Erivo was better than I thought she'd be.
But the performances? Not a single one had me considering buying tix for shows I haven't already seen. DBH felt old and tacky - do people really think that was Hilty the whole time? MHE seemed gimmicky. And Floyd Collins? Hard pass. I love Groff, but that was exactly what I'd expect, and since I don't like jukebox musicals nor bio musicals, more money in my bank account.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:14am
DBH felt old and tacky - do people really think that was Hilty the whole time?
In the actual show it's directed to be very clear that the Liza dancer isn't Hilty, adds to the camp element. And if I remember correctly last night the double ran back on stage when the number was over to bow with everyone.
I like Binau's point that we can choose to just take Nicole's win as a sign that her performance was so loved that it withstood some challenges, without taking anything away from Audra as a performer. As many people have said: Audra has six. She'll be fine. Good for her, and good for Nicole
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:16am
kingslim said: "So Audra acted the hell out of the role but her voice did suitthe score or just what we are use too. And Nicole sang beautifully but couldn’t act to save her life. I’m loss and over it lol"
I thought Audra overacted to compensate for the fact that the score was not a good fit for her. And sometimes less is more.
Updated On: 6/9/25 at 07:16 AM
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:19am
And from Playbill, the shows that went home empty handed:
John Proctor is the Villain was the most nominated play (in seven categories) but didn't win any categories, and Dead Outlaw was the second most-nominated musical, also with seven nominations, but did not take home any statuettes.
Similar fates befell Floyd Collins; Just in Time; Good Night, and Good Luck; Gypsy; Real Women Have Curves; SMASH; and BOOP! The Musical. And though it's slightly less surprising because they had already closed by the time nominations were out and voters were voting, also ending the night empty-handed were The Hills of California, English, and Swept Away.
(Oops, didn't copy far enough!)
There's also a handful of shows that were only up for awards in a single category, but lost out. That bunch includes A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, Swept Away, Romeo + Juliet, Our Town, The Roommate, and Pirates! The Penzance Musical.
Updated On: 6/9/25 at 07:19 AM
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:33am
The grosses show that these producers have been making pretty lousy decisions the whole time.
BroadwayGirl107 said: "I know I'm going back a few pages here, but I can't believe RWHC didn't perform the title song. Doesn't it get a mid show standing ovation every night? This show needed to pull out all the stops and deliver an unforgettable performance to survive--what were they thinking? The song they chose did nothing for them. What a waste and an absolutely mindboggling decision by the show's producers."
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:46am
Idiot said: "Pretty much everything I cared about winning did... a happy but rare event! The sound designers for the telecast need to be put on the wall, though. Did they get the gig this morning?"
Maybe the broadcast was being used for educational purposes & it was all student interns?
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:57am
MemorableUserName said: "bjh2114 said: "Wasn't she out of the matinee today?"
No, there's video of the curtain call since it was Thaxton's last performance. She was there, crying with flowers (and covered in blood) as Tom Francis gave a goodbye speech."
Were there actual tears that time, or just more fake crying ?
Posted: 6/9/25 at 7:59am
chernjam said: "caitlinette said: "I’m neutral on Nicole‘s win, just honestly a bit surprised that she would still win after aligning herself with beliefs that are the antithesis of so many in the theater community."
Amazing how people continue to peddle this crap that had been put to bed months ago"
But it hasn’t been put to bed. We also we saw. We saw it multiple times. We know that she is “pro-life”. We know that she supports RFK. We know that she is friends with a serial r^pist. We know these things and people continue to celebrate her.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:04am
poisonivy2 said: "PipingHotPiccolo said: "gibsons2 said: "binau said: "Nicole survives accusations of MAGA, Audra in Gypsy, the Patti drama. It’s an unambiguous message that Nicole won and gave one of the greatest performances of all time."
I started crying when Nicole mentioned her Ukrainian heritage. Proud of her and out common ancestry today!"
I didnt know she was of Ukrainian heritage--makes her cavorting with the fascists even more outrageous, huh?
And, no, I wont get over it. I'm not protesting outside the St James, I'm not particularly focused on it, but when discussing this woman, I think its perfectly valid to remind ourselves of who she has freely affiliated with in the past.
Maybe shes changed her ways, maybe shes just kept her views quiet given the community she now wants to be a part of, maybe shes too ignorant to realize who RFK, Russel Brand, and their ilk truly are--fascist apologists at best, but really just horrible horrible people-- or maybe the whole thing was an AI generated hoax. I dont know but I'm not going to stay quiet about the way the worst people in the world are becoming socially acceptable."
"This woman"? That's so misogynistic."
She’s a woman. There is nothing misogynistic about that.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:17am
iluvtheatertrash said: "chernjam said: "caitlinette said: "I’m neutral on Nicole‘s win, just honestly a bit surprised that she would still win after aligning herself with beliefs that are the antithesis of so many in the theater community."
Amazing how people continue to peddle this crap that had been put to bed months ago"
But it hasn’t been put to bed. We also we saw. We saw it multiple times. We know that she is “pro-life”. We know that she supports RFK. We know that she is friends with a serial r^pist. We know these things and people continue to celebrate her."
All I know is she gave one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen, has given us ‘new ways to dream’ and has pushed the boundaries in terms of vocal acting and performance that yes right now in this moment even Audra wasn’t able to compete with even in the greatest of all time role star vehicle. THAT is what is being celebrated. This is the Tony Awards that is celebrating excellence in theatre not anything else.
When will people get a life and stop with this madness.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:22am
Rewatching some of the performances this morning and I actually think Buena Vista Social Club came off the best of the bunch. It actually showed off its two wins beautifully - Natalie Venetia Belcon and that choreo - and didn’t feel rushed. The dancing is exceptional and it sounds like a great time. They sold me a ticket, for sure.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:26am
Kad said: "For such a strong season, I thought the show was oddly off the entire time. Cynthia acquittedherself well, but none of the performances seemed to fully gel and those LED screens were awful. It all felt rushed and pushed. I can’t quite put my finger on it."
This was the consensus of the group I watched with. Our final take was that for whatever reason, the show felt less cohesive and flowing than in previous years.
Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:27am
This is the most “really? THAT song to sell tickets?” I’ve ever felt at the Tony’s.
A strong season of new work and I felt every show selected a segment to undersell it.
Hamilton walked away clearly with a new batch of excited ticket buyers
But Hamilton doesn’t need to survive the way these other shows do.
That should be the big note for next year. Sell your show! Make us go “Wow! Absolutely that!”
Why would Maybe Happy Ending choose that albeit lovely little song when “The Rainy Day We Met” showcases the characters and tonality of the show so much better?
The winners were the best part of the night
Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:51am
I went through all 19 pages. Wow! Jonathan Groff gave such a dynamic performance! Nicole was amazing! It's lovely that Maybe Happy Ending got a lot of Tony love. I remember when people on BWW were unsure that it would survive. My preference for Leading Actress In A Musical was Jasmine Rogers. I cannot wait to see her in Boop on June 21st.
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