It's a historic & 'Happy' night for Asians & Asian-Americans at the Tonys!

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 12:07am

''Maybe Happy Ending,'' a show that began in South Korea, won 6 Tonys, including Best Musical. Will Aronson, an American composer/writer and Hue Park, a South Korean lyricist/writer, picked up the prizes for Best Book and Best Score. Plus, its other Tonys included director Michael Arden, set designer Dane Laffrey and video designer George Reeve. And its star, Darren Criss, becomes the first Asian-American man (of East/Southeast Asian ancestry) to win Leading Actor in a Musical (his mom is Filipino). He's also the first Asian-American man to win TWO Tonys for acting AND producing.

Nicole Scherzinger, who identifies as Hawaiian, Ukrainian and Filipino, won Leading Actress in a Musical for ''Sunset Blvd,'' making her the first woman of Asian ancestry to win this category since Lea Salonga (''Miss Saigon'' ) in 1991 - 34 years ago! (Salonga also introduced ''Happy'' on the telecast!)

Filipino musician Marco Paguia won for his Orchestrations to ''Buena Vista Social Club.'' Paguia, the show's musical director, and his band already have been given a special Tony.

On the play side, Francis Jue won Best Featured Actor for David Henry Hwang's ''Yellow Face.'' He is the first Asian-American to win in this category since B.D. Wong (for Hwang's ''M. Butterfly'' ) in 1988. That's 37 years ago! Congrats to Jue, who played the father in the 1st N.Y. production of ''Yellow Face'' in 2007 at the Public and won an Obie for it. ... I hoped that Hwang's play would win Play Revival, too, and that Jue and Conrad Ricamora (''Oh, Mary!'' ) would've tied. And tho' Helen J. Shen wasn't nominated, her ''Happy'' co-star, Criss, gave her quite a shoutout. What an amazing night!

Updated On: 6/9/25 at 12:07 AM

[Markie27]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 2:33am

Though I was rooting for Queen Audra, I’m still happy that both Best Performance by an Actor AND Actress in a leading Role in a musical were both of Filipino decent. Legendary Lea Salonga was so happy and proud!  I didn’t know Marco Paguia is Filipino!  There are now 5! Tony winners of Filipino decent - Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon), Clint Ramos (Eclipsed, Costume Design), Marco Paguia (Buena Vista Social Club, orchestrations), Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending) and Nicole Schezinger (Sunset Blvd.)!  

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 11:50am

Nice to see Entertainment Weekly & Time notice the Asian representation at the 2025 Tony Awards!

From Entertainment Weekly: The Best and the Worst Moments from the 2025 Tonys by Maureen Lee Lenker

BEST: ASIAN-AMERICANS GET A LONG OVERDUE SPOTLIGHT

''Historically, Broadway has not been the most welcoming space for performers of color, and Asian-American performers in particular have been given short shrift (or had to endure yellow-face stereotypes for decades in everything from 'The King and I' to 'Miss Saigon' ). But the 78th annual Tony Awards finally put the spotlight on the Asian-American community with three historic wins: Nicole Scherzinger became the second Asian woman to win Best Actress in a musical (the first was Lea Salonga for 'Miss Saigon' in 1991); Francis Jue became the second Asian man to win in his [Featured Actor in a Play] category; and Darren Criss made history as the first Asian-American actor to win Best Actor in a Musical. It’s shamefully overdue, but better late than never — especially with performers of this ilk.''

From Time: The Most Memorable Moments of the 2025 Tony Awards by Melissa Locker

BEST MEMENTO

''When Francis Jue picked up the top prize for his performance as a featured actor in 'Yellow Face,' he was wearing a tuxedo that had been handed down to him by the late actor Alvin Ing. "He had it made for himself for the opening of 'Pacific Overtures' on Broadway in 1976, and when he gave it to me 20 years ago, he told me he wanted me to wear it when I accepted my Tony Award," Jue said. “I'm only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful, deserving Asian artists who came before me and never got the opportunities that I've had.”

Updated On: 6/9/25 at 11:50 AM

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 2:54pm

I can't put into words how thrilled I am for Francis Jue. He is one of the absolute treasures of the Bay Area. I counted 8 shows I've seen him in over the last 20 years from Cambodian Rock Band to King of the Yees to M. Butterfly to a compelling turn in the King and I at the defunct American Musical Theater of San Jose and his versatility never ceases to amaze. When he's on stage, you can't take your eyes off him afraid of missing what he will do next. So happy for him to get the recognition nationally he so richly deserves.

Updated On: 6/9/25 at 02:54 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 3:22pm

I think Jue's win was my happiest moment from the Tony's.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 3:35pm

I know a lot of people were predicting Conrad Ricamora to win, but I feel like Francis Jue's performance was the obvious pick to anyone that saw it.  I actually don't think his acting style has worked for me in the past (in Soft Power and Cambodian Rock Band), there's something about the way he delivers lines that can feel a little too self aware at times.  But I thought he was terrific as HYH and his performance really moved me, so I'm so happy for his win (though it's exciting that the two frontrunners for the award are both Asian-American!)

It was also very exciting to see Lea Salonga cheering on all the wins when they panned to her in the audience

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 3:49pm

Markie27 said: "Though I was rooting for Queen Audra, I’m still happy that both Best Performance by an Actor AND Actress in a leading Role in a musical were both of Filipino decent. Legendary LeaSalonga was so happy and proud! I didn’t know Marco Paguia is Filipino! There are now 5! Tony winners of Filipino decent - Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon), Clint Ramos (Eclipsed, CostumeDesign), Marco Paguia (Buena Vista Social Club, orchestrations), Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending) and Nicole Schezinger (Sunset Blvd.)!"

Yes it was great the camera showed Lea Salonga stand and applaud the winners at the end.

In the past 3 seasons we've had musicals like K-POP and Here Lies Love representing Asian-American community on Broadway. Both started in summer/fall season and unfortunately closed before Tonys. I was worried Maybe Happy Ending may have the same fate but glad that it persevered through the fall! Kudos to Maybe Happy Ending! I hope the show will recoup.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 3:52pm

Francis Jue is really beloved in the industry- he’s done great work for years, he’s served as an Equity councilor, he’s extremely active in the charitable parts of the community. It was an extremely well-deserved win. 

[CopleyScott17]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 4:36pm

Honestly, I had no idea that Criss is supposed to be playing an Asian robot in Maybe Happy Ending, until I saw someone online question which Asian actor would replace him when he departs the show later this year. Did they cast him because he's half Filipino? If you didn't know his background, I can't imagine you would identify him or his character as Asian in any way, and I can't imagine that it would -- or should -- matter in the least. 

 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 4:47pm

CopleyScott17 said: "Honestly, I had no idea that Criss is supposed to be playing an Asian robot in Maybe Happy Ending, until I saw someone online question which Asian actor would replace him when he departs the show later this year. Did they cast him because he's half Filipino?If you didn't know his background, I can't imagine you would identify him or his character as Asian in any way, and I can'timagine that it would -- or should -- matter in the least."

It's a show where I'd hope they keep casting Asian actors because there are few roles still that are exclusively Asian, but there's technically not anything in the script that denotes that they have to be Asian, except that it's set in South Korea.  But I suppose a helper robot could theoretically be any race.  But I do think it has more resonance with an Asian actor, especially with the character's relationship to James.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 6/11/25 at 2:07pm

Trumper is more a more prominent identity than Asian. 

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 6/11/25 at 2:11pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Trumper is more a more prominent identity than Asian."

You took a thread dedicated to positivity and made it about negativity. Because you are pathetic.