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2025 Tony Awards: Latino Representation Hits Broadway Spotlight
The 78th Tony Awards lit up Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 8, 2025, celebrating all that makes Broadway shine. Hosted by Cynthia Erivo for the first time, the event honored the best in American theater, with a live broadcast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
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Latino Talent at the Forefront
One of the night’s standout shows was Buena Vista Social Club, a musical steeped in Cuban history and music, which snagged four Tony Awards. Natalie Venetia Belcon captured the Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her heartfelt portrayal of legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo. Belcon, a seasoned Trinidadian-American performer on Broadway, had already garnered praise during the show’s off-Broadway stint, winning a Lucille Lortel Award and earning a Drama Desk nomination.
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“Buena Vista Social Club” also triumphed in the categories of Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and Best Sound Design. Cuban-American Patricia Delgado and Argentine-American Justin Peck took home the Tony for choreography, bringing Afro-Cuban movement to the Broadway stage with emotional resonance and elegance.
The musical, presented entirely in Spanish, was praised for its authenticity and musical sophistication, reflecting styles like son, danzón, and bolero. Based on the landmark 1997 album and the Oscar-nominated 1999 documentary, the production captured the spirit of Havana from the 1950s to the 1990s.
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Mexico shone brightly at the Tony Awards thanks to Joy Huerta from Jesse & Joy, who became the first Mexican woman to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score for her work on Real Women Have Curves. While she didn’t take home the trophy, her nomination was celebrated as a significant milestone for Latin music on Broadway.
Big Winners of the Night
Darren Criss, whose heritage is Filipino and European, snagged two Tonys for Maybe Happy Ending: Best Actor in a Musical and Best Musical, the latter as one of the show’s producers. The musical, adapted from a South Korean one-act, tells the heartwarming story of two helper robots who find love in a futuristic Seoul. It was the big winner of the night, raking in six Tonys including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book.
Nicole Scherzinger won Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Sunset Blvd., a reprise of the 1995 Tony-winning production. The show also snagged Best Revival of a Musical, reaffirming its status as a Broadway staple.
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Other major winners included The Picture of Dorian Gray and Oh, Mary!, both picking up two Tonys, while Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Purpose earned three each. Kara Young made history by becoming the first Black actress to win back-to-back Tonys in any category, taking Best Featured Actress in a Play for Purpose.
Paul Tazewell took home the Tony for Best Costume Design in a Musical for Death Becomes Her, capping off an outstanding year where he also snagged an Oscar for Wicked. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, he touched on the challenges of his identity and celebrated a year loaded with accolades.
Cynthia Erivo and Sara Bareilles delivered a touching rendition of “Tomorrow” from Annie during the In Memoriam segment, paying tribute to the late composer Charles Strouse, alongside other icons like James Earl Jones and Quincy Jones.
The 2025 Tony Awards were more than a celebration of theater; they were a reflection of the growing diversity on Broadway.
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