The 2024-2025 theatre season has officially come to a close, and the Tony Award winners have been revealed, much to the excitement of theatre lovers everywhere. The ceremony, a glamorous affair held annually in early summer, celebrates the best and brightest of Broadway's recent productions, offering a perfect blend of heart-stopping performances and jaw-dropping artistry. This year’s lineup was no exception, with a diverse array of shows capturing audiences’ imaginations and earning their places in theatrical history. Whether you’re planning a group trip to bask in the magic of the stage or simply looking for inspiration for your next dazzling night out, as some of this season’s most talked-about shows, these Tony-nominated and winning productions are sure to impress at every curtain call.
Let’s get into it.
Cuban Culture in Buena Vista Social Club
One of the most-nominated shows this season was Buena Vista Social Club, a musical inspired by the Grammy-winning album and subsequent Wim Wenders documentary chronicling the making of the album. The musical transports audiences to the vibrant streets of Havana, weaving the pulsating rhythms of Afro-Cuban music with a story of resilience and cultural identity. Set against the backdrop of the 1950s to the 1990s, the story follows four talented musicians navigating the tumultuous changes brought by the Cuban Revolution.
Among its 10 nominations were Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Book, and Best Costume, Lighting, and Scenic Design. But judging by the awards it took home on Tony night, where the show truly shined was in song and dance—winning Best Orchestrations, Best Choreography, and a Special Tony recognizing the onstage band. It also took home Best Sound and Best Featured Actress for Natalie Venetia Belcon, rounding out an impressive haul.
The show masterfully blends English narratives with Spanish music, embracing genres like son, danzón, and bolero to bring a full Afro-Cuban soundscape to the Broadway stage. The Tony Award winning orchestrations are by Marco Paguia, who also serves as music director and pianist for the onstage band. Cuban artist David Oquendo leads the ensemble on guitar and vocals, infusing the performance with deep cultural authenticity and musical expertise drawn from his roots in Havana’s vibrant music scene.
Dance plays a pivotal role in capturing the vibrant essence of Cuban culture in Buena Vista Social Club, with choreography by husband-wife duo Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, both acclaimed ballet dancers. Their work seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary Afro-Cuban dance styles, creating a rich, expressive language of movement. The choreography features spirited salsa turns, grounded rumba rhythms, and the graceful elegance of danzón—all meticulously designed to mirror the pulse and nuance of Havana’s musical landscape.
With its infectious rhythms, soulful storytelling, and foot-stomping flair, Buena Vista Social Club turns Broadway into a Havana block party you won’t want to leave. Check out a video preview of the show and book tickets here.
The Origins of The Upside Down in Stranger Things: The First Shadow
When the design team behind the new play Stranger Things: The First Shadow heard the phrase “the magic of theatre,” they took it literally, conjuring a breathtaking theatrical experience that was honored with a Special Tony for illusions and technical effects.
Based on the global Netflix phenomenon, the Broadway play transports audiences to Hawkins in 1959, exploring the town's everyday concerns before the eerie transformations take hold, with young Jim Hopper dealing with car troubles and Joyce Maldonado eager to graduate. The play delves into themes of nostalgia, change, and the inescapable influence of our pasts as it introduces new figures and hints at the ominous shadows that will later haunt the characters we know and love. Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the Netflix series, though. This new play is an origin story and will make sense all on its own.
Creating the Upside Down (the mysterious parallel dimension in the television series) was no easy feat. Producer Sonia Friedman told the New York Times, “I say this without exaggeration or hyperbole: It’s the most technical and challenging physical production that’s probably ever been onstage.” And it sure wowed Tony voters. In addition to the Special Tony honors, the show took home awards for Best Scenic, Lighting, and Sound Design, making it the most-winning play this season. See more photos from the show and book tickets here.
The Simple (Award-Winning) Charm of Maybe Happy Ending
Because Broadway specializes in stories that sing, Best Musical is widely considered Tony’s top honor. This year that honor went to the charming, jewel-box musical Maybe Happy Ending.
Maybe Happy Ending isn’t a big, spectacular musical, but its small, tender story and heartfelt music captured the hearts of critics, audiences, and Tony voters alike. Of the 10 nominations it received, it won six awards. Along with Best Musical, the show was recognized for its direction by Michael Arden (who previously won in 2023 for his direction on the musical Parade), book and score to co-writers Will Aronson and Hue Park (in their Broadway debut), scenic design for Dane Laffrey and George Reeve (video designer), and the performance of its lead actor, Darren Criss.
The musical follows two obsolete Helperbot robots (Criss and newcomer Helen J Shen) in Seoul, who embark on an unexpected journey of friendship and love that challenges their understanding of what it means to truly live. In the rush and clamour of the modern digital world, the musical hits a soft spot with themes of companionship, the search for meaning, and the surprising depths of connection and love that can develop even in the most unexpected circumstances.
Criss and Shen performed the sweet tune “Never Fly Away” at the Tony Awards, showcasing the simple and quirky charm of Maybe Happy Ending. Learn more about the show here.