NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Twenty-nine shows on Broadway got nominations this season, but not all will walk away with a trophy 鈥� and the box office attention they usually bring.
Here are some key things to know as Broadway's biggest night approaches, including how to watch, who is poised to make history, what old favorite gets to take a victory lap and how you can see from the comfort of your couch.
When are the Tony Awards?
The Tonys will be broadcast to both coasts on Sunday, June 8, from 8-11 p.m. Eastern/5-8 p.m. Pacific, live from Radio City Music Hall.
How can I watch them?
On CBS and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Who's hosting the Tony Awards?
Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner (and three-time Oscar nominee) Cynthia Erivo, the will be making her debut hosting the Tonys. She won the lead actress in a musical Tony in 2016 for and will have just released her new album, 鈥淚 Forgive You.鈥�
A pre-show will be broadcast on Pluto TV from 6:40-8 p.m. Eastern/3:40-5 p.m. Pacific, where some Tonys will be handed out. Darren Criss and Ren茅e Elise Goldsberry will host that telecast. Viewers can access it on their smart TV, streaming device, mobile app or online by going to and clicking on the 鈥淟ive Music鈥� channel, found within the Entertainment category on the service.
Who can we expect to see?
Presenters include Aaron Tveit, Adam Lambert, Alex Winter, Allison Janney, Ariana DeBose, Ben Stiller, Carrie Preston, Charli D鈥橝melio, Danielle Brooks, Jean Smart, Jesse Eisenberg, Keanu Reeves, Kelli O鈥橦ara, Kristin Chenoweth, Lea Salonga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michelle Williams, Oprah, Rachel Bay Jones, Ren茅e Elise Goldsberry, Samuel L. Jackson, Sara Bareilles and Sarah Paulson.
How many awards are there?
A total of 26 competitive categories, from lead and featured actors to scenic, costume and lighting design. Some technical award handouts may be pre-taped and winners won't appear on the live show, only cut down into edited bits sandwiched into the telecast.
What are the top nominees?
There are three of them: 鈥淏uena Vista Social Club,鈥� which takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders鈥� 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary; based on the 1992 cult classic film; and 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending,鈥� a rom-com musical about a pair of androids. Each has a leading 10 nominations.
Who is vying for best new play and musical?
For new musicals, it's 鈥淏uena Vista Social Club,鈥� 鈥淒ead Outlaw,鈥� 鈥淒eath Becomes Her,鈥� 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending鈥� and 鈥淥peration Mincemeat: A New Musical.鈥�
For new plays, it's 鈥淭he Hills of California,鈥� 鈥淛ohn Proctor Is the Villain,鈥� 鈥淥h, Mary!鈥� and 鈥淧urpose.鈥�
Many of the races are unusually tight this year, the product of a Broadway heaving with shows after having largely rebounded from the pandemic.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 seen one nominated show that I haven鈥檛 been wowed by. Everything brings something,鈥� says Lowe Cunningham, lead producer of 鈥淒eath Becomes Her鈥� and also a Tony voter.
鈥淗ow dare the Broadway community come together with such excellent work,鈥� she jokes. 鈥淚 needed everything else to be much worse, and I don鈥檛 appreciate it.鈥�
Can history be made?
the most recognized performer in the theater awards鈥� history, could possibly extend her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 鈥淕ypsy.鈥� She will push the record for a performer to most wins with seven if she prevails on Tony night.
And Kara Young 鈥� the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony Award in four consecutive years 鈥� could become the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively should she win for her role in the play 鈥淧urpose.鈥�
Other possible firsts: 鈥� could becomes the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 鈥淵ellow Face.鈥� And and her co-star Tala Ashe are vying to become the first female actors of Iranian descent to win a Tony.
A special guest
Normally, shows open for several years don't get any Tony telecast attention but is no normal show. The original cast will celebrate the show's 10th anniversary on Broadway with a performance featuring creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and actors Goldsberry, Ariana DeBose, Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Javier Mu帽oz, Okieriete Onaodowan and Phillipa Soo.
What will producers hope to avoid?
Any repeat of last year, when Jay-Z鈥檚 electrifying reunion with on what appeared to be a live duet of 鈥淓mpire State of Mind鈥� was actually The appearance by the rapper in support of Keys鈥� musical 鈥淗ell鈥檚 Kitchen鈥� turned out to be a piece of Hollywood trickery, undercutting the Broadway community's full-throated embrace of live singing and dancing.
Broadway's big season
The health of Broadway 鈥� once very much in doubt during the pandemic lockdown 鈥� is now very good, at least in terms of box office. The 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, the highest-grossing season in recorded history, overtaking the pre-pandemic previous high of $1.8 billion during the 2018-2019 season.
In terms of attendance, Broadway welcomed nearly 14.7 million ticket buyers, the second best attended season on record, behind only 2018-2019. But sky-high ticket prices have led to fears that Broadway is getting financially out of touch.
A revival of 鈥淥thello鈥� with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal broke the record for top-grossing play in Broadway history, with a gross of $2,818,297 for eight performances, fueled by some seats going for as high as $921.
How can you get in the mood?
Even if you haven't been able to get to Broadway this season, you can still see one of the shows. The night before the Tonys, 鈥淕ood Night, and Good Luck鈥� 鈥� starring and co-written by Clooney, a Tony acting nominee 鈥� will stream across CNN properties.
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For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit .
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
