TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Schmigadoon! emerged as the biggest winner at the 79th Tony Awards, taking home the Best Musical prize as Broadway celebrated a season marked by nostalgia, revivals, and musical tributes to some of theater's most enduring productions.
As reported by Encore Magazine, the musical parody, adapted from the television series of the same name, led a strong field of nominees that included The Lost Boys, Titanique, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). The awards ceremony, held on June 7, also recognized Liberation by playwright Bess Wohl as Best Play.
The annual celebration highlighted Broadway's continuing fascination with its own history. Ragtime was among the night's biggest winners, earning four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical as well as acting honors. Meanwhile, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman collected six awards, the highest total of any production this season.
Other notable winners included The Lost Boys, which secured four awards, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which won three, including Best Choreography and Best Costume Design in a Musical.
Hosted by singer Pink, the ceremony featured performances from all nominated musicals, along with anniversary tributes to A Chorus Line, Chicago, and The Book of Mormon. Broadway stars, actors, and theater veterans gathered at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the achievements of the 2025-26 season.
One of the evening's most memorable moments came when Schmigadoon! claimed the top prize. Producer Lorne Michaels praised the show's celebration of traditional musical theater, while producer Christine Schwarzman jokingly thanked Apple TV for canceling the television series, saying the decision ultimately allowed the stage adaptation to happen.
According to AP News, the ceremony also featured a number of emotional acceptance speeches from first-time winners. Joshua Henry won Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Ragtime, finally securing a Tony after four previous nominations. During his speech, he thanked his family as well as his first voice teacher, drawing one of the loudest reactions of the night.
Caissie Levy, who won Best Actress in a Musical for Ragtime, also delivered one of the ceremony's most talked-about speeches. In addition to thanking her family, she paid tribute to the babysitters who helped make it possible for her to balance a Broadway career with motherhood.
The Best Play award went to Liberation, a drama exploring the legacy of second-wave feminism. Playwright Bess Wohl noted during her acceptance speech that she became the first American woman to win the category since Wendy Wasserstein in 1989, urging women and girls to continue speaking their truth.
Among the acting honors, John Lithgow won Best Actor in a Play for Giant, while Lesley Manville earned Best Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut in Oedipus.
The evening also featured appearances from former Tony hosts, celebrated Broadway performers, and special anniversary reunions, including a performance by members of the original cast of The Book of Mormon.
With Schmigadoon! crowned Best Musical and Liberation taking Best Play, the 2026 Tony Awards closed another Broadway season by honoring both the traditions of theater and the artists continuing to reshape its future.
Read: Complete List of 2026 Tony Award Winners
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