Her songs have traveled through Broadway without her taking the stage
Each June, Broadway pauses to take stock of itself — to ask which stories moved us, which performances lingered, and which craftspeople shaped the invisible architecture of a live night in the theater. The 79th Tony Awards gathered that reckoning at Radio City Music Hall, with pop star Pink stepping into the role of host for the first time, her presence a reminder that the borders between popular culture and the stage have always been more porous than they appear. From 'The Lost Boys' to a revived 'Ragtime,' the evening honored not just individual achievement but the collective human impulse to gather in the dark and watch something true unfold.
- The race for Best Musical was unusually crowded, with 'The Lost Boys,' 'Schmigadoon!,' 'Titaníque,' and 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' all pressing their case for Broadway's highest honor.
- Legendary names — Nathan Lane, John Lithgow, Lesley Manville, Kelli O'Hara — turned the acting categories into a collision of careers, raising the stakes for every envelope opened.
- Pink's hosting debut introduced a note of cultural friction: a pop icon who has never stood on a Broadway stage now presiding over the night that defines it, her legitimacy borrowed from songs that traveled there without her.
- The ceremony was split across platforms — pre-show awards streaming free on Pluto TV from 3:35 p.m., the main broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+ at 5 p.m. — meaning the evening's momentum built in stages before its primetime crescendo.
- Behind the marquee names, the technical and design categories revealed the true density of the season, with Linda Cho nominated twice and lighting and sound designers quietly contending for recognition of work most audiences feel but never see.
Radio City Music Hall opened its doors Sunday night to the 79th Tony Awards, a ceremony that measured the breadth of Broadway's past season while introducing an unlikely master of ceremonies: Pink, a pop star whose connection to the stage runs through other people's musicals — her songs woven into 'Moulin Rouge!' and '& Juliet' — rather than any performance of her own.
The competition for Best Musical centered on 'The Lost Boys,' which arrived as the season's dominant force, challenged by 'Schmigadoon!,' 'Titaníque,' and the charmingly titled 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).' The revival category brought its own intensity, with 'Ragtime' and 'The Rocky Horror Show' among those seeking recognition, while the play field was anchored by a production of 'Death of a Salesman' competing against 'Giant,' 'Liberation,' and others.
The acting races assembled some of the most recognizable names in American theater. Nathan Lane and John Lithgow — alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Mark Strong — competed for leading actor in a play, while Rose Byrne, Carrie Coon, and Kelli O'Hara contested the corresponding actress category. The musical categories were equally rich, with Joshua Henry and Brandon Uranowitz both representing 'Ragtime,' and Sara Chase of 'Schmigadoon!' facing Stephanie Hsu and others in the actress race.
Behind the performances, the technical nominations told a quieter story of craft. Costume designer Linda Cho earned two nominations — for both 'Ragtime' and 'Schmigadoon!' — while lighting and sound designers across the field competed for recognition of work that audiences absorb without always naming. Direction and choreography nominations underscored the creative architecture holding each production together, from Michael Arden's work on 'The Lost Boys' to Lear deBessonet's vision for 'Ragtime.'
The broadcast unfolded in two movements: a pre-show, 'The Tony Awards: Act One,' hosted by Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess and streamed free on Pluto TV from 3:35 p.m., delivered the technical and supporting awards before the main ceremony took over on CBS and Paramount+ at 5 p.m. By the time Pink stepped to the podium, Broadway had already begun deciding who among its own it most wanted to remember.
Radio City Music Hall filled with Broadway's finest on Sunday night for the 79th Tony Awards, a ceremony that brought together the year's most celebrated theatrical achievements under the hosting eye of pop star Pink, making her debut at the podium despite never having performed on a Broadway stage herself. Her songs have traveled through the musicals "Moulin Rouge!" and "& Juliet," giving her a connection to the world she was stepping into for the first time.
The evening belonged to several productions that had dominated the conversation leading up to the broadcast. "The Lost Boys" emerged as a major force across multiple categories, competing for best musical alongside "Schmigadoon!," "Titaníque," and "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)." In the revival category, "Ragtime" and "The Rocky Horror Show" battled for recognition, with "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" also in contention. The play categories saw "Death of a Salesman" positioned as a heavyweight, competing against "Giant," "Liberation," "Becky Shaw," and "Every Brilliant Thing."
The acting races drew some of Broadway's most recognizable names into the spotlight. Nathan Lane and John Lithgow faced off in the leading actor in a play category, joined by Daniel Radcliffe, Mark Strong, and Will Harrison. The leading actress category featured Rose Byrne, Carrie Coon, Susannah Flood, Lesley Manville, and Kelli O'Hara. In the musical categories, Joshua Henry and Brandon Uranowitz both competed for "Ragtime," while Nicholas Christopher, Luke Evans, Sam Tutty, and others rounded out a competitive field. For actresses in musicals, Sara Chase from "Schmigadoon!" competed alongside Stephanie Hsu, Caissie Levy, Marla Mindelle, and Christiani Pitts.
The technical categories reflected the depth of theatrical craft on display. Scenic design nominees included work from Hildegard Bechtler, Takeshi Kata, David Korins, Chloe Lamford, and David Rockwell for plays, while musicals saw competition from designers working on "The Rocky Horror Show," "Two Strangers," "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," "The Lost Boys," and "Schmigadoon!" Costume design saw Linda Cho nominated twice, for both "Ragtime" and "Schmigadoon!," underscoring the visual ambition of both productions. Lighting and sound design categories showcased the intricate technical work that supports every moment on stage, from Jack Knowles' work on "Death of a Salesman" to Adam Honoré and Donald Holder's collaboration on "Ragtime."
Direction and choreography nominations highlighted the creative vision shaping these productions. Michael Arden directed "The Lost Boys," while Lear deBessonet took on "Ragtime," Christopher Gattelli helmed "Schmigadoon!," and other accomplished directors competed across the play categories. Choreography saw Christopher Gattelli nominated again for "Schmigadoon!," alongside Ellenore Scott for "Ragtime," Ani Taj for "The Rocky Horror Show," and collaborative teams working on "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" and "The Lost Boys."
The broadcast itself unfolded across multiple platforms and time slots. The main ceremony aired live beginning at 5 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+, but the evening's awards actually began earlier with "The Tony Awards: Act One," a pre-show presentation that streamed free on Pluto TV starting at 3:35 p.m. That portion was hosted by Tony nominee Laura Benanti and actor Tituss Burgess, allowing viewers to catch the first round of awards before the primetime broadcast took over. The structure meant that by the time Pink took the stage for the main event, some of Broadway's technical and supporting categories had already been decided, building momentum toward the evening's marquee awards.
Citações Notáveis
Pink's songs have been featured in the musicals "Moulin Rouge!" and "& Juliet," connecting her to Broadway despite never performing there herself— Los Angeles Times
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
What made Pink the right choice to host, given she's never actually been on Broadway?
Her songs have lived in Broadway shows—they've been part of "Moulin Rouge!" and "& Juliet." So there's a real connection there, even if she hasn't performed on the stage herself. It's a different kind of Broadway credibility.
Looking at the nominees, does one show seem to be running away with this?
"The Lost Boys" has real momentum—it's competing in best musical, and you see it scattered across directing, choreography, design categories. "Ragtime" is similarly strong in the revival space. But "Schmigadoon!" and "Death of a Salesman" are serious contenders too. It's not a runaway year.
Nathan Lane and John Lithgow in the same category—that's a lot of Broadway history in one race.
Both of them have been fixtures on Broadway for decades. Lithgow's in "Giant," Lane's in "Death of a Salesman." It's the kind of matchup that reminds you how deep the talent pool is, even at the highest level.
Linda Cho got two costume design nominations. Is that unusual?
Not unheard of, but it speaks to the scale of her work this year. She dressed both "Ragtime" and "Schmigadoon!"—two very different visual worlds. That kind of recognition across multiple productions is rare.
The pre-show streaming free on Pluto TV—does that change how people experience the Tonys?
It democratizes the evening. You're not waiting until 5 p.m. for the main broadcast. The technical awards and supporting categories get their moment earlier, and people can tune in without a cable subscription. It spreads the celebration out.