At Radio City Music Hall, the 2026 Tony Awards delivered a night of major wins, uneven performances, and a broadcast that mixed strong moments with awkward misfires. The top prize, Best Musical, went to “Schmigadoon,” the Lorne Michaels-produced stage adaptation of the canceled Apple TV+ comedy about a married couple trapped inside an old-fashioned musical. The win was especially important because the show had been struggling with soft ticket sales in recent weeks, and the Tony boost could help its box office as summer begins.
The production numbers, however, were hit or miss. “Schmigadoon” followed its victory with a performance of its title song that came across as sleepy and overly cute. “The Lost Boys,” one of the more expensive new musicals, brought energy but was unable to fully show off its biggest visual advantage: aerial stunts. “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” stood out as one of the night’s best performances, turning Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic into a lively Harlem ballroom competition. Even so, its Best Musical Revival loss was seen as a disappointment. “Ragtime,” which did win Best Revival, presented a muted opening number, though its stars Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy won Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical.
Other musical performances drew mixed reactions. Luke Evans and the cast of “The Rocky Horror Show” energized the crowd with “Sweet Transvestite” and “The Time Warp.” By contrast, smaller productions such as “Titanique” and “Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)” were said to have been lost in the scale of Radio City’s stage. The reunion of the original “The Book of Mormon” cast marked the show’s 15th anniversary, but it also highlighted how the performers have aged out of the roles.
The telecast featured several tribute moments that did not land as intended. To mark the 50th anniversary of “A Chorus Line,” Rachel Zegler sang “What I Did For Love,” but the performance felt too somber for the occasion. The broadcast also included a free-speech themed skit that drew criticism for its confusing writing. Pink, who hosted despite never appearing on Broadway, opened the show with a self-aware monologue and a strong opening medley reworking “Lady Marmalade” into “Leading Lady Marmalade,” which included cast members from many nominated productions.
In the play categories, some winners were already commercially secure. “Liberation” won Best Play after closing in the winter, while “Death of a Salesman” took Best Revival and multiple other awards, including honors for Laurie Metcalf and the director. John Lithgow won Best Actor for “Giant,” 53 years after his first Tony win. Lesley Manville earned her first Tony for “Oedipus,” and Alden Ehrenreich was recognized for “Becky Shaw.”
Overall, the night underscored Broadway’s uneven season: a few triumphant productions, several underperforming shows hoping for a post-Tony boost, and a ceremony that succeeded at times but often stumbled in execution.
