Saman ShafiqUSA TODAY
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It's time for Broadway's biggest night after the biggest year at the box office for New York's celebrated theater district.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, "celebrating excellence in theatre," are scheduled to take place this weekend with a star-studded gala in New York City. "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo will host this year's show as it returns to Radio City Music Hall in New York City, taking over emcee duties fromAriana DeBose, Tony Awards said in a news release.
The ceremony will feature appearances by major stars and performances from the biggest musicals of the year, including a special tribute featuring the original cast of "Hamilton" to celebrate the musical's 10th anniversary.
This year's Broadway season was ultra-competitive, unusually star-studded and routinely made headlines for itsastronomical ticket pricesandoutspoken political firebrands. "Maybe Happy Ending," "Death Becomes Her" and "Buena Vista Social Club" lead the nominations with 10 nods a piece, including best musical. The strange-but-true "Dead Outlaw" and World War II spy satire "Operation Mincemeat" rounded out the best musical category.
Cole Escola's madcap "Oh, Mary!" was a major force with five nods, including best play, best actor (Escola) and best featured actor (Conrad Ricamora). Theunlikely hit comedy, which tells a deranged alternative history of Mary Todd Lincoln, has attracted high-profile celebrity audience members including Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, and Steven Spielberg.
In anticipation for the big night, here's what to know about the event, including who is performing, and how to watch it live.
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When are the 2025 Tony Awards?
The 78th Annual Tony Awards will be held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 8.
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How to watch 2025 Tony Awards red carpet
The 78th Annual Tony Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from 8-11 p.m. ET (5-8 p.m. PT) on Sunday, June 8. The show will also be available to stream on Paramount+.
Prior to the broadcast, Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry will host "The Tony Awards: Act One," a live pre-show with "exclusive content that is available to viewers for free on Pluto TV," CBS said in a news release. The pre-show will air from 6:40-8 p.m. ET (3:40-5 p.m. PT) on Sunday, June 8.
Watch 2025 Tony Awards on Paramount+
What are the 2025 Tony Awards?
The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, first held in 1947, celebrate excellence in theatre, according to the awards' website.
The awards have been named for "Antoinette Perry, an actress, director, producer, and the dynamic wartime leader of the American Theatre Wing," the website says. The first ever Tony Awards were held over dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947.
Who will perform at the 2025 Tony Awards?
The 78th Annual Tony Awards will feature performances "from the casts of some of this season’s most celebrated new musicals and revivals," according to CBS, including:
- “Buena Vista Social Club"
- “Dead Outlaw”
- “Death Becomes Her”
- “Floyd Collins”
- “Gypsy”
- “Maybe Happy Ending”
- “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical”
- “Pirates! The Penzance Musical”
- “Sunset Blvd.”
- “Just in Time”
- “Real Women Have Curves"
A special performance featuring the original cast of “Hamilton” will also be held to celebrate the show’s 10th anniversary. Among those performing in this landmark performance are Carleigh Bettiol, Andrew Chappelle, Ariana DeBose, Jonathan Groff, Stephanie Klemons, Morgan Marcell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Javier Muñoz and Austin Smith, among others.
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Contributing: Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
