Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Jun 13, 2025
Table of Contents
Hollywood Insider – ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ – 2025 Tony Awards
‘Maybe Happy Ending’ sweeps the awards, Nicole Scherzinger clinches her first Tony.
The 2025 Tony Awards were more than just a celebration of talent—they were a reminder of what makes Broadway magical. Amid the current cultural spotlight on film and television, it was refreshing to see Broadway take center stage and remind audiences of why it holds such a special place in the hearts of so many.
The 78th Tony Awards brought robot love stories and emotional tributes. Nothing short of a night full of originality, purpose, and a deep love for the theater world.
‘Maybe Happy Ending’: The Big Winner
‘Maybe Happy Ending’, a musical about two robots falling in love, giving the feel of a Pixar movie, took the stage as the evening’s biggest winner.
It didn’t just take home the top prize of best musical; it swept five Tonys, including Darren Criss’s first Tony Award for leading the show and best director for Michael Arden.
The production’s unique premise—a futuristic love story between sentient machines—pushed audiences to think differently about emotion and connection, much like Disney’s Pixar film ‘WALL-E’, which also found heart and humanity in the most unlikely places.
The writers, Hue Park and Will Aronson, earned recognition for both best original score and best book of a musical, pivoting into a full-fledge theatrical experience.
Darren Criss stars as Oliver, a Helperbot living in South Korea who has been declared outdated.
Alongside Helen J Shen’s character Claire, the story follows their unexpected connection as they navigate the complexities of love and companionship.
Criss’s performance was just full of vulnerability and charm.
Nicole Scherzinger’s First Tony and ‘Sunset Blvd’ Revival
Nicole Scherzinger also celebrated her first Tony Award win, capturing best featured actress in a musical for her role as Norma Desmond in ‘Sunset Blvd’.
Her victory was especially notable given the stiff competition from six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald.
In her acceptance speech, Scherzinger reflected on her personal journey: “Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong. But you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home, at last.”
‘Sunset Blvd’ itself was awarded best revival of a musical, with Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-back, haunting reinterpretation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic earning praise for its original perspective.
This year’s Tony Awards featured several close-call races, including best play.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ family drama ‘Purpose’ edged out contenders like Cole Escola’s ‘Oh, Mary!’ and ‘John Proctor Is the Villain’, which starred Sadie Sink.
Sadie Sink started her acting journey on stage, starring as Annie in the musical and portraying a young Elizabeth II in the Broadway production of the historical play ‘The Audience’.
Her film debut came in the 2016 sports drama ‘Chuck,’ where she played Kimberly, the daughter of a boxer portrayed by Liev Schreiber. She later gained wider recognition with her role in the Netflix hit series ‘Stranger Things,’ which recently released updates for its final season.
Additionally, she has been confirmed to appear in the upcoming, yet still far-away, 2026 ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ with fans speculating she will take on the role of the new MJ.
Despite missing the best play award, Escola triumphed by winning best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play.
Their portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln as a quirky cabaret hopeful charmed the audience and critics alike.
Escola also picked up the Tony for best director of a play, shared with Sam Pinkleton. In a memorable moment, Escola, dressed as Bernadette Peters, humorously thanked the other nominees—including George Clooney—highlighting the camaraderie of Broadway’s tight-knit community:
“It’s an honor to be in your company. And more than that, it’s been a sincere pleasure spending time with you over these warm salads at all these luncheons.”
Sarah Snook wasn’t one to shy away either, winning best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for her one-woman show ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.
The ‘Succession’ star’s transformation into 26 different characters was a tour de force, marking her Broadway debut after success with the same production in London’s West End.
“This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway,” Snook said, emphasizing the significance of this milestone.
The night also saw ‘Eureka Day’, a sharp dark comedy about vaccinations, took the Tony for best revival of a play.
Kara Young made history as the first Black performer to win two consecutive Tonys, this year earning best featured actress in a play for her role as Aziza in ‘Purpose’.
Having been nominated four years in a row, Young’s win signaled a breakthrough moment for representation on Broadway.
Meanwhile, Natalia Venetia Belcon won best featured actress in a musical for portraying the iconic Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in ‘Buena Vista Social Club’, which picked up four awards overall, including best musical nomination.
The evening’s host, Cynthia Erivo, opened the ceremony with a powerful tribute to ‘Sunset Blvd’, blending gospel melodies with a backstage homage.
If you know anything about Erivo, you know she not only stars as Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ the movie (which just released its new trailer for ‘Wicked: For Good’) but has long been passionate about Broadway, dedicating much of her early career to the stage. Like Ariana Grande, she began her journey performing live before transitioning to film.
A Tony winner herself for ‘A Color Purple’, Erivo combined humor with heartfelt moments, teasing nominees including George Clooney and playfully gifting Oprah Winfrey a surprise under her seat.
Erivo’s ability to balance reverence with levity kept the ceremony lively, especially when she cut off overly long speeches with a song.
She is one of Broadway’s many queens and will always carry that legacy with pride.
Broadway’s Notable Absences
Though some star-studded Broadway productions like ‘Othello’, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, and ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ with Kieran Culkin, didn’t receive nominations, the telecast still delivered standout moments.
‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ Shines Behind the Scenes
Although it didn’t claim center stage in the major performance categories, ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ swept the technical arena.
The production took home Tonys for Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design of a Play — proving just how essential behind-the-scenes craftsmanship is to a show’s overall impact.
It also earned a Special Tony Award for its jaw-dropping illusions and groundbreaking technical wizardry, solidifying its place as one of the most visually ambitious productions of the year.
With six nods, this stage adaptation isn’t just upgrading the Netflix hit series — it goes even further, almost like a prequel, showing the characters’ lives before everything strange happened.
The story explores the lives of young Hopper and Joyce Byers, but its core centers around Victor Creel, who eventually becomes the chilling Vecna (or One). The play dives into his backstory and sets the stage — literally — for the darkness that later consumes Hawkins.
Louis McCartney’s physical performance as Henry Creel stood out as a show-stealer. His ability to channel menace, vulnerability, and transformation — all without leaning on special effects — was a masterclass in stage presence.
Critics and audiences alike have called him a breakout star, and his performance signals a bright future ahead.
In a production built on shadows, McCartney’s work is nothing short of unforgettable.
Costume Design and Advocacy Recognized
Costume designer Paul Tazewell took home a Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical for his work on ‘Death Becomes Her’, adding to an already stellar résumé that includes an Oscar win earlier this year for ‘Wicked’. His ability to blend visual storytelling with emotional depth continues to define some of Broadway and Hollywood’s most iconic looks.
The night also honored advocacy, with Tony-winning actor Celia Keenan-Bolger receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Award for her work on behalf of LGBTQ+ youth. In her emotional speech, she paid tribute to the late Gavin Creel — a beloved actor, activist, and Broadway mainstay whose unexpected passing in September 2024 shook the theater world.
Creel, who had kept his cancer diagnosis private until shortly before his death, was more than a gifted performer — he was a radiant force within the community. Known for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering spirit, he wasn’t just respected for his talent — he was deeply, universally loved. His loss was sudden, and its impact rippled far beyond the stage.
In honoring him, Keenan-Bolger spotlighted the Gavin Creel Fellowship — a program created in his memory that awards $25,000 grants annually to emerging theater artists. The fellowship is more than a tribute; it’s a living extension of Gavin’s legacy — one rooted in lifting others up. A Tony winner himself, Creel was passionately committed to mentoring the next generation and championing inclusion, empathy, and artistry in every space he entered.
His legacy endures not only in the roles he embodied, but in the lives he changed. The Broadway community will forever carry the imprint of his warmth, brilliance, and unshakable belief in the power of theater to heal, to connect, and to transform.
Lifetime Achievement and Presenters
A highlight of the night was the lifetime achievement award presented to four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein.
Known for groundbreaking works like ‘Torch Song Trilogy’, which opened doors for gay culture on stage, and writing hits such as ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ and ‘Kinky Boots’, Fierstein’s emotional speech brought the audience to its feet. “Don’t make Mommy cry,” he joked through tears, humbled by the recognition of his career’s impact.
It’s interesting to see how some stars shine both on Broadway and in film. Take Erivo and Gyllenhaal, for example—both have achieved remarkable success in the worlds of musical theater and Cinema.
Both Broadway musicals and Cinema will always be vital parts of the entertainment industry. Each has a unique way of making people feel deeply, inspiring a desire for more in life, and offering an escape from reality that we all sometimes need.
I like to think of the Tony Awards as a love letter—not just to the musicals and loudly inspiring voices, but to the audiences who experience that magical, in-person escape from everyday life.
Whether it’s through a one-woman show playing 26 characters or a musical about robots yearning to love, Broadway is proving its relevance by evolving.
If this ceremony was any indication, the future of the stage is more inclusive, daring, and imaginative than ever.
By Emma Gladstone
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
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