The Curtain Rises Again: Tony Award Winners Forge New Paths on Broadway and Beyond
One year ago, the 78th Annual Tony Awards lit up Radio City Music Hall, celebrating a season of unparalleled theatrical brilliance. Now, as the Broadway landscape continues to evolve, we’re taking a closer look at what’s next for the shows and stars who took home the coveted trophies in June 2025. From groundbreaking new musicals to powerful revivals and historic acting triumphs, these winners are proving their staying power, captivating audiences and critics alike.
“Maybe Happy Ending” Charts a Course for National Acclaim
The night’s biggest winner, Best Musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” continues its heartwarming run at the Belasco Theatre, enchanting audiences with its unique tale of Helper-Bots. Directed by Tony winner Michael Arden, the production recently announced a significant cast change, with original Broadway leads Darren Criss and Helen J Shen set to play their final performances on May 17, 2026, and February 15, 2026, respectively. Zachary Noah Piser and Hannah Kevitt will step into the roles of Oliver and Claire on Broadway starting May 19, 2026. But the magic isn’t confined to New York! “Maybe Happy Ending” is gearing up for a multi-year North American tour, launching in Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in Fall 2026, with over 30 cities already on the schedule. This expansion ensures that more fans across the country can experience this “Best of the Year” musical.
“Purpose” Makes History and Moves On
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Pulitzer Prize-winning “Purpose” earned the Tony for Best Play and saw Kara Young make history as the first Black performer to win back-to-back Tony Awards. After an acclaimed run at the Helen Hayes Theater, the production concluded its Broadway engagement on August 31, 2025. However, Young’s star continues to rise. She recently starred Off-Broadway in Rajiv Joseph’s “Gruesome Playground Injuries” from November to December 2025 and is slated to join the Broadway revival of David Auburn’s “Proof” alongside Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle, with performances beginning March 31, 2026. Young will also appear in the upcoming thriller film “Is God Is,” set for theatrical release on May 15, 2026. Additionally, she’s set to star with Kerry Washington in “The Whoopi Monologues” as part of Lincoln Center Theater’s 2025-26 season, starting July 2026.
“Sunset Boulevard” Shines Bright Before Its Farewell
Jamie Lloyd’s minimalist, critically lauded revival of “Sunset Boulevard” took home Best Musical Revival, with Nicole Scherzinger’s electrifying performance as Norma Desmond earning her a well-deserved Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. The production extended its run multiple times due to overwhelming demand, playing its final Broadway performance on July 20, 2025, at the St. James Theatre. Scherzinger’s post-Broadway schedule is packed; she made her highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut on October 8, 2025, and will appear in the upcoming film “Girl Group.” Most exciting for pop fans, Scherzinger will reunite with The Pussycat Dolls for their “PCD FOREVER” global tour, kicking off in June 2026.
Other Notable Winners: Tours, Publications, and New Horizons
Jonathan Spector’s timely satire “Eureka Day,” the Best Play Revival winner, concluded its Broadway run on February 16, 2025, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. However, regional productions are bringing this acclaimed comedy to new audiences, with City Theatre in Pittsburgh staging it from March 7-29, 2026, and Theater J in Washington D.C. from March 11 to April 5, 2026.
The hilarious and inventive “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical,” which earned Jak Malone a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, is also going global. Following its successful Broadway run at the Golden Theatre, the show will launch a world tour in February 2026 from Manchester, UK, and a North American tour beginning September 29, 2026, with dates announced for Chicago, Boston, and more.
David Henry Hwang’s “Yellow Face,” celebrated with Francis Jue’s win for Best Featured Actor in a Play, saw a new “Broadway Edition” of its script published on November 11, 2025, by Theatre Communications Group, featuring revisions from its 2024 Broadway revival. A live capture of the Broadway production also aired on PBS’ Great Performances in May 2025. [cite: 5, 9, 20, 22, 2TITLE: The Reign Continues: A Look at Last Year’s Tony Winners and Their Thriving Broadway Journeys
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The Curtain Rises Again: Tony Award Winners Forge New Paths on Broadway and Beyond
One year ago, the 78th Annual Tony Awards lit up Radio City Music Hall, celebrating a season of unparalleled theatrical brilliance. Now, as the Broadway landscape continues to evolve, we’re taking a closer look at what’s next for the shows and stars who took home the coveted trophies in June 2025. From groundbreaking new musicals to powerful revivals and historic acting triumphs, these winners are proving their staying power, captivating audiences and critics alike.
“Maybe Happy Ending” Charts a Course for National Acclaim
The night’s biggest winner, Best Musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” continues its heartwarming run at the Belasco Theatre, enchanting audiences with its unique tale of Helper-Bots. Directed by Tony winner Michael Arden, the production recently announced a significant cast change, with original Broadway leads Darren Criss and Helen J Shen set to play their final performances on May 17, 2026, and February 15, 2026, respectively. Zachary Noah Piser and Hannah Kevitt will step into the roles of Oliver and Claire on Broadway starting May 19, 2026. But the magic isn’t confined to New York! “Maybe Happy Ending” is gearing up for a multi-year North American tour, launching in Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in Fall 2026, with over 30 cities already on the schedule. This expansion ensures that more fans across the country can experience this “Best of the Year” musical. [cite: 1, 3, 7, 15, 28, 41]
“Purpose” Makes History and Moves On
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Pulitzer Prize-winning “Purpose” earned the Tony for Best Play and saw Kara Young make history as the first Black performer to win back-to-back Tony Awards. After an acclaimed run at the Helen Hayes Theater, the production concluded its Broadway engagement on August 31, 2025. [cite: 6] However, Young’s star continues to rise. She recently starred Off-Broadway in Rajiv Joseph’s “Gruesome Playground Injuries” from November to December 2025 [cite: 12, 36] and is slated to join the Broadway revival of David Auburn’s “Proof” alongside Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle, with performances beginning March 31, 2026. [cite: 12] Young will also appear in the upcoming thriller film “Is God Is,” set for theatrical release on May 15, 2026. [cite: 12, 44] Additionally, she’s set to star with Kerry Washington in “The Whoopi Monologues” as part of Lincoln Center Theater’s 2025-26 season, starting July 2026. [cite: 33, 39]
“Sunset Boulevard” Shines Bright Before Its Farewell
Jamie Lloyd’s minimalist, critically lauded revival of “Sunset Boulevard” took home Best Musical Revival, with Nicole Scherzinger’s electrifying performance as Norma Desmond earning her a well-deserved Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. [cite: 2, 4, 5, 6, 32, 40] The production extended its run multiple times due to overwhelming demand, playing its final Broadway performance on July 20, 2025, at the St. James Theatre. [cite: 8, 32, 38, 49] Scherzinger’s post-Broadway schedule is packed; she made her highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut on October 8, 2025 [cite: 47], and will appear in the upcoming film “Girl Group.” [cite: 14] Most exciting for pop fans, Scherzinger will reunite with The Pussycat Dolls for their “PCD FOREVER” global tour, kicking off in June 2026. [cite: 45]
Other Notable Winners: Tours, Publications, and New Horizons
Jonathan Spector’s timely satire “Eureka Day,” the Best Play Revival winner, concluded its Broadway run on February 16, 2025, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. [cite: 13, 48] However, regional productions are bringing this acclaimed comedy to new audiences, with City Theatre in Pittsburgh staging it from March 7-29, 2026 [cite: 23], and Theater J in Washington D.C. from March 11 to April 5, 2026. [cite: 46]
The hilarious and inventive “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical,” which earned Jak Malone a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, is also going global. Following its successful Broadway run at the Golden Theatre, the show will launch a world tour in February 2026 from Manchester, UK, and a North American tour beginning September 29, 2026, with dates announced for Chicago, Boston, and more. [cite: 2, 10, 19, 21, 34]
David Henry Hwang’s “Yellow Face,” celebrated with Francis Jue’s win for Best Featured Actor in a Play, saw a new “Broadway Edition” of its script published on November 11, 2025, by Theatre Communications Group, featuring revisions from its 2024 Broadway revival. A live capture of the Broadway production also aired on PBS’ Great Performances in May 2025. [cite: 5, 9, 20, 22, 2
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