Start spreading the news: Theater’s biggest night is happening this evening (Sunday, June 8, 2025) in the Big Apple.
The 78th Tony Awards will showcase this season’s best theatrical moments, from revivals to new works, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. Let’s catch up on all the drama and how to stream the event live as the curtain rises at Radio City Music Hall.
Who is nominated?
Three musicals are tied for most Tony nominations this year.
Buena Vista Social Club is inspired by real life events and tells the story of the four musicians in Havana, Cuba, who continue to play music despite a turbulent political climate.
The Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending tells the futuristic story of two lonely abandoned helper bots who manage to find connection despite isolation.
TikTok sound-bite sensation Death Becomes Her is based on the 1992 Robert Zemeckis movie of the same name.
Meanwhile, two plays boast seven nominations each.
Kimberly Belflower’s play John Proctor Is the Villain takes a fresh look at Arthur Miller’s classic play The Crucible and the historic Salem witch trials.
Jez Butterworth’s The Hills of California centers on the estranged Webb sisters who reunite to care for their aging mother and are forced to face past family secrets and traumas.
Cole Escola’s comedy Oh, Mary!, a farcical portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln, boasts five nominations.
On the musical revival sides of things, it is a tight race between Sunset Blvd and Gypsy. Many critics believe the winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical category is between Nicole Scherzinger and Audra McDonald.
You can see the full list of nominees here.
Who is hosting?
Movie Elphaba herself Cynthia Erivo will host the festivities this year. She has her very own Tony for her work as Celie in the 2016 revival of The Color Purple. Fans are eager to see the conclusion of Wicked later this year, so maybe this will tide them over.
Brian Stokes Mitchell’s smooth voice will help keep things moving as he is serving as the offstage announcer.
Who is presenting?
Many theater greats will help present awards. These include Aaron Tveit, Adam Lambert, Allison Janney, Ariana DeBose, Danielle Brooks, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Lea Michele, Lea Salonga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, and Sarah Paulson to name a few.
Who is performing?
It’s tradition (cue Fiddler on the Roof ) for nominated musicals and revivals to perform at the ceremony.
This means that beyond the ones already mentioned, you can expect performances from Dead Outlaw, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Floyd Collins, Gypsy, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Sunset Blvd, Just In Time, and Real Women Have Curves.
Beyond the present, Broadway loves to celebrate its past successes.
It’s almost as if history has its eyes on the industry. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Christopher Jackson, Jonathan Groff, Ariana DeBose, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, and many other original cast members will reunite to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hamilton’s Broadway debut at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. This special performance is not to be missed.
What special Tony Award moments can audiences expect?
Two new special awards have already been announced. The musicians in the band of Buena Vista Social Club will receive special awards as will the technical effects of Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Harvey Fierstein will be presented the 2025 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. His impressive resume includes work as an actor and writer on projects ranging from La Cage aux Folles to Newsies.
The 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will be presented to Celia Keenan-Bolger for her offstage advocacy work. She has championed many important causes, such as hunger, same-sex-marriage rights, and arts education. She also works as an end-of-life doula, helping the late Broadway star Gavin Creel transition peacefully at the end of his life.
How can I watch or stream the 2025 Tony Awards?
Traditional cable subscribers can catch every kick ball change on the CBS broadcast network beginning at 8 p.m. If you have an over-the-air antenna, you can also watch it for free without cable.
If streaming is more your style, the ceremony is also available on Paramount+, which also allows you to stream it on a computer or via its mobile apps. Several other live-TV streaming services also carry CBS, such as:
YouTube TV
Hulu + Live TV
DirecTV Stream
Just make sure to double check regional availability.
If you just can’t get enough Broadway action, tune into Pluto TV early for the pre-show “The Tony Awards: Act One,” hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry, which begins at 6:40-8:00 p.m. ET.
