George Clooney, Cole Escola, Sarah Snook. Betty Boop, Glengarry Glen Ross, John Proctor.
Those names and many more a set to be said many times over Sunday night.
With the 78th Tony Awards just 24 hours away, who are the frontrunners? Who are the underdogs? Who has no chance of survival?
For Sure Winning Something
“Oh Mary!” made waves this year thanks to star Cole Escola’s writing and acting. They’re broad range and upfront comedy is fully on display. Meanwhile, “John Proctor Is The Villain” may not be as outlandish but it does bring “The Crucible” to a modern setting, giving “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink a role she’s able to dominate.
It also helps that both plays are originals, much like “Purpose” – a drama following a Black family in Chicago dealing with their own secrets. “Maybe Happy Ending” is a shoe-in, though, as it and “Buena Vista Social Club” and “Death Becomes Her” each have ten nominations. And “Sunset Blvd.” Obviously.
Tight Race
Sarah Snook deserves her win. She played two dozen characters – 24! – in “The Portrait of Dorian Gray.” Not only that, she did it well. She’s against “Purpose” actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Sink so it’s up in the air who can take home the prize. Meanwhile, revival “Eureka Day” isn’t up for a lot of awards yet it could easily lose out to “Yellow Face” and “Romeo + Juliet” in its slim category.
Megan Hilty, Audra McDonald and Nicole Scherzinger are going head to head in the Best Performance category – an already packed section with other heavy hitters. Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan and Darren Criss, too, must deal with a lot of competition in their category. Acting is a real toss up this year.
Longshots
Who knew a musical about Betty Boop would be so good? “BOOP: The Musical” took Broadway by storm by bringing the 30’s flapper character to modern day with style. Plus, star Jasmine Amy Rogers is being lauded for her portrayal of a cartoon that was previously nothing more than big eyes and a high pitched voice.
While Daniel Dae Kim may be one of the few nominations that “Yellow Face” has, that doesn’t detract from the play’s prominence. Then again, Kim is up against Escola who was a tour de force in their role.
How to Watch the 78th Tony Awards
The Tonys will take place on Sunday, June 8th at 8 PM on CBS. The festivities will be at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Actor and singer Darren Criss will host a pre-show alongside “Hamilton” actress Renee Elise Goldsberry called “The Tony Awards: Act One.” That show begins at 6:40 p.m. EST on free streaming app Pluto TV. Find it in the “Live Music” subsection under “Entertainment.”
Viewers can find The 78th Tony Awards on their local CBS affiliate. Online viewers can stream it with a Paramount+ subscription.
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2025 Tony Award Predictions: Who Can Win? Who Will Win?