The 2025 Tony Awards lit up screens across the world on Sunday - but it was the drama behind the scenes that really set tongues wagging.
The 2025 Tony Awards lit up screens across the world on Sunday - but it was the drama behind the scenes that really set tongues wagging.
On a night where Nicole Scherzinger and Darren Criss won Broadway theatre's biggest awards, snubbed best actor nominee George Clooney was seen having a deep chat with Tony-winning producer Oprah Winfrey.
The 64-year-old Oscar winner - who returned to his signature silver locks - looked somber during the intense chat as Oprah clutched onto his hand and put on an animated display.
Winfrey's best friend of 49 years - CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King - was seen intently listening by her side.
George was also seen cracking up laughing while chatting with Succession alum Sarah Snook during a commercial break.
The Australian 37-year-old went on to win the best actress Tony for her Broadway debut in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
The 2025 Tony Awards lit up screens across the world on Sunday - but it was the drama behind the scenes that really set tongues wagging - George Clooney was seen having an intense chat with Oprah and Gayle King
The trio later struck a pose during a pause in their chat
Clooney and his second wife Amal later hit up the green room, presented by luxury cruise line Cunard, where they bumped into two-time Tony winner Bryan Cranston clad in a Dunhill tuxedo.
Backstage, the 69-year-old Breaking Bad alum got very close with Allison Janney, his onscreen leading lady in the upcoming film Everything's Going to Be Great.
Bryan and Allison were there to hand out the Tonys for best director of a play to Oh, Mary's Sam Pinkleton and best director of a musical to Maybe Happy Ending's Michael Arden.
Elsewhere, Keanu Reeves and Glenn Close enjoyed a Dangerous Liaisons reunion 37 years after starring in the iconic 1988 Stephen Frears film that later inspired Cruel Intentions.
The pair looked in great spirits as they chatted in the green room, with the 78-year-old Sunset Boulevard alum looking chic in black with Brilliant Earth earrings.
The 60-year-old John Wick alum looked dapper as ever in a black Brunello Cucinelli tux as he posed beside his Bill and Ted castmate Alex Winter ahead of the pair's Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.
Appropriate alum Sarah Paulson struck a classic prom pose with Hacks star Jean Smart since her girlfriend Holland Taylor did not attend the awards ceremony.
The Tony-winning actresses were there to present the prize for best actor in a play to Oh, Mary! star Cole Escola.
The non-binary 38-year-old let out a gasp backstage after beating out Clooney, Jon Michael Hill, Daniel Dae Kim, Harry Lennix, and Louis McCartney for the win.
Cole exchanged words with Tony Awards host Cynthia Erivo, who memorably starred as Elphaba Thropp in Wicked: Part I last year.
George was also seen cracking up laughing while chatting with Succession alum Sarah Snook (R) during a commercial break
The Australian 37-year-old (L) went on to win the best actress Tony for her Broadway debut in The Picture of Dorian Gray
Clooney and his second wife Amal (L) later hit up the green room, presented by luxury cruise line Cunard, where they bumped into two-time Tony winner Bryan Cranston (M) clad in a Dunhill tuxedo
Backstage, the 69-year-old Breaking Bad alum (R) got very close with Allison Janney (L), his onscreen leading lady in the upcoming film Everything's Going to Be Great
Bryan and Allison were there to hand out the Tonys for best director of a play to Oh, Mary's Sam Pinkleton and best director of a musical to Maybe Happy Ending's Michael Arden
Elsewhere, Keanu Reeves and Glenn Close enjoyed a Dangerous Liaisons reunion 37 years after starring in the iconic 1988 Stephen Frears film that later inspired Cruel Intentions
The pair looked in great spirits as they chatted in the green room, with the 78-year-old Sunset Boulevard alum looking chic in black with Brilliant Earth earrings
The 60-year-old John Wick alum looked dapper as ever in a black Brunello Cucinelli tux as he posed beside his Bill and Ted castmate Alex Winter (R) ahead of the pair's Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot
Keanu and Alex chatted up Succession creator Ben Stiller (L), who presented the Tony Award for best play to Purpose
Appropriate alum Sarah Paulson (L) struck a classic prom pose with Hacks star Jean Smart (R) since her girlfriend Holland Taylor did not attend the awards ceremony
The Tony-winning actresses were there to present the prize for best actor in a play to Oh, Mary! star Cole Escola
The British 38-year-old beamed with delight while chatting with Paulson backstage while wearing another of her many costume changes.
Cynthia got very close backstage with Twisters actor Anthony Ramos, who got his big break on Broadway in the original cast of Hamilton.
Speaking of which, the original Hamilton cast reunited onstage to perform a medley of numbers in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Alexander Hamilton musical biopic.
Hamilton creator-star Lin-Manuel Miranda posed backstage with his tongue out and he also caught up with Clooney.
Jonathan Groff - who also starred in Hamilton - took a relaxed backstage snap with showgirls from his Bobby Darin musical Just in Time after their performance.
John Proctor Is the Villain thespian Sadie Sink looked pleasantly surprised to see Queen of Versailles thespian Kristin Chenoweth standing across her in the green room.
The 56-year-old Wicked alum chatted up Dear Evan Hansen alum Rachel Bay Jones before they presented the Tony for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical to Buena Vista Social Club star Natalie Venetia Belcon.
The non-binary 38-year-old let out a gasp backstage after beating out Clooney, Jon Michael Hill, Daniel Dae Kim, Harry Lennix, and Louis McCartney for the win
Cole exchanged words with Tony Awards host Cynthia Erivo (L), who memorably starred as Elphaba Thropp in Wicked: Part I last year
The British 38-year-old (R) beamed with delight while chatting with Paulson backstage while wearing another of her many costume changes
Cynthia got very close backstage with Twisters actor Anthony Ramos (R), who got his big break on Broadway in the original cast of Hamilton
Speaking of which, the original Hamilton cast reunited onstage to perform a medley of numbers in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Alexander Hamilton musical biopic
Hamilton creator-star Lin-Manuel Miranda posed backstage with his tongue out and he also caught up with Clooney
Jonathan Groff - who also starred in Hamilton - took a relaxed backstage snap with showgirls from his Bobby Darin musical Just in Time after their performance
John Proctor Is the Villain thespian Sadie Sink (L) looked pleasantly surprised to see Queen of Versailles thespian Kristin Chenoweth (R) standing across her in the green room.
The 56-year-old Wicked alum (R) chatted up Dear Evan Hansen alum Rachel Bay Jones (L) before they presented the Tony for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical to Buena Vista Social Club star Natalie Venetia Belcon
Stranger Things' Sadie took the plunge in a mint-green silk gown as she beamed while posing with on/off Oh, Mary! replacement Titus Burgess (L)
Mother Play thespian Celia Keenan-Bolger (L) appeared to be mid-song while interacting with Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein (M) and Waitress alum Sara Bareilles (R)
Stranger Things' Sadie took the plunge in a mint-green silk gown as she beamed while posing with on/off Oh, Mary! replacement Titus Burgess.
Mother Play thespian Celia Keenan-Bolger appeared to be mid-song while interacting with Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein and Waitress alum Sara Bareilles.
Our Town alum Katie Holmes let out a big grin while enjoying the antics backstage at the Tony Awards.
Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson supported his wife of 44 years - LaTanya Richardson Jackson - who was nominated for best actress in a leading role in a play for her role as Claudine Jasper in Purpose.
During a commercial break, The Roommate alum Mia Farrow came over to greet Sunset Boulevard diva Nicole Scherzinger in her seat.
Backstage, the 46-year-old Pussycat Doll alum placed a hand on Love Hurts actress Ariana DeBose's shoulder while she was busy snacking on a bagel.
Nicole could not keep her cool around Oprah after triumphantly winning the Tony for best leading actress in a musical for her role as Norma Desmond.
Our Town alum Katie Holmes let out a big grin while enjoying the antics backstage at the Tony Awards
Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson supported his wife of 44 years - LaTanya Richardson Jackson - who was nominated for best actress in a leading role in a play for her role as Claudine Jasper in Purpose
During a commercial break, The Roommate alum Mia Farrow (R) came over to greet Sunset Boulevard diva Nicole Scherzinger (L) in her seat
Backstage, the 46-year-old Pussycat Doll alum placed a hand on Love Hurts actress Ariana DeBose's shoulder while she was busy snacking on a bagel
Nicole could not keep her cool around Oprah after triumphantly winning the Tony for best leading actress in a musical for her role as Norma Desmond
Scherzinger smooched her fiancé Thom Evans
None of the ladies could keep their hands off Maybe Happy Ending producer-star Darren Criss including All In: Comedy About Love alum Renée Elise Goldsberry (L)
The 38-year-old Glee alum - who took home two Tony Awards - also got extra close with Ariana and Cynthia backstage
Pop star Adam Lambert (L) and Moana alum Auli'i Cravalho (R) hung out in the green room on break from co-starring in their Broadway revival of Cabaret currently running at the August Wilson Theatre
Buena Vista Social Club thespian Natalie Venetia Belcon (L) held hands with Purpose thespian Kara Young (R) in the press room after they both won Tony Awards
Eureka Day producer Jonathan Spector (L) and Purpose producer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (R) congratulated each other after winning Tonys for best revival if a play and best play
None of the ladies could keep their hands off Maybe Happy Ending producer-star Darren Criss including All In: Comedy About Love alum Renée Elise Goldsberry.
The 38-year-old Glee alum - who took home two Tony Awards - also got extra close with Ariana and Cynthia backstage.
Pop star Adam Lambert and Moana alum Auli'i Cravalho hung out in the green room on break from co-starring in their Broadway revival of Cabaret currently running at the August Wilson Theatre.
Buena Vista Social Club thespian Natalie Venetia Belcon held hands with Purpose thespian Kara Young in the press room after they both won Tony Awards.
Eureka Day producer Jonathan Spector and Purpose producer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins congratulated each other after winning Tonys for best revival if a play and best play.
Best Musical
Buena Vista Social Club
Dead Outlaw
Death Becomes Her
Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Best Revival of a Play
Eureka Day — Author: Jonathan Spector - WINNER
Romeo + Juliet
Thornton Wilder's Our Town
Yellow Face — Author: David Henry Hwang
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
George Clooney — Good Night, And Good Luck
Cole Escola — Oh, Mary! - WINNER
Jon Michael Hill — Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim — Yellow Face
Harry Lennix — Purpose
Louis McCartney — Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Darren Criss — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER
Andrew Durand — Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis — Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff — Just In Time
James Monroe Iglehart — A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan — Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Glenn Davis — Purpose
Gabriel Ebert — John Proctor Is The Villain
Francis Jue — Yellow Face - WINNER
Bob Odenkirk — Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora — Oh, Mary!
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas —SMASH
Jeb Brown — Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein — Gypsy
Jak Malone — Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical - WINNER
Taylor Trensch — Floyd Collins
Best Direction of a Play
Knud Adams — English
Sam Mendes — The Hills Of California
Sam Pinkleton — Oh, Mary! - WINNER
Danya Taymor — John Proctor Is The Villain
Kip Williams — The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Best Book of a Musical
Buena Vista Social Club — Marco Ramirez
Dead Outlaw — Itamar Moses
Death Becomes Her — Marco Pennette
Maybe Happy Ending — Will Aronson and Hue Park - WINNER
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Marsha Ginsberg — English
Rob Howell — The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman — The Picture of Dorian Gray
Miriam Buether and 59 — Stranger Things: The First Shadow - WINNER
Scott Pask — Good Night, and Good Luck
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo — Good Night, And Good Luck
Marg Horwell — The Picture of Dorian Gray - WINNER
Rob Howell — The Hills Of California
Holly Pierson — Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel — Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers — The Hills Of California
Jon Clark — Stranger Things: The First Shadow - WINNER
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali — Good Night, And Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski — John Proctor Is The Villain
Nick Schlieper — The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti — Stranger Things: The First Shadow - WINNER
Palmer Hefferan — John Proctor Is The Villain
Daniel Kluger — Good Night, And Good Luck
Nick Powell — The Hills Of California
Clemence Williams — The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse — SMASH
Camille A. Brown — Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli — Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell — BOOP! The Musical
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER
Best Play
English — Author: Sanaz Toossi
The Hills of California — Author: Jez Butterworth
John Proctor Is The Villain — Author: Kimberly Belflower
Oh, Mary! — Author: Cole Escola
Purpose — Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - WINNER
Best Revival of a Musical
Floyd Collins — Book/Additional Lyrics: Tina Landau; Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel
Gypsy
Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Sunset Blvd. - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Laura Donnelly — The Hills Of California
Mia Farrow — The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson — Purpose
Sadie Sink — John Proctor Is The Villain
Sarah Snook — The Picture Of Dorian Gray - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Megan Hilty — Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald — Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers — BOOP! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger — Sunset Blvd. - WINNER
Jennifer Simard — Death Becomes Her
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Tala Ashe — English
Jessica Hecht — Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat — English
Fina Strazza — John Proctor Is The Villain
Kara Young — Purpose - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Natalie Venetia Belcon — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER
Julia Knitel — Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence — Just In Time
Justina Machado — Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods — Gypsy
Best Direction of a Musical
Saheem Ali — Buena Vista Social Club
Michael Arden — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER
David Cromer — Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli — Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd — Sunset Blvd.
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Dead Outlaw — Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her — Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
Maybe Happy Ending —Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park - WINNER
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical — Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez
Best Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber — Just in Time
Will Aronson — Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin — Floyd Collins
Marco Paguia — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber — Sunset Blvd.
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck — Swept Away
Dane Laffrey and George Reeve — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER
Arnulfo Maldonado — Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane — Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane — Just In Time
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite — Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes — BOOP! The Musical
Clint Ramos — Maybe Happy Ending
Paul Tazewell — Death Becomes Her - WINNER
Catherine Zuber — Just In Time
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Jack Knowles — Sunset Blvd. - WINNER
Tyler Micoleau — Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun — Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton — Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend — Death Becomes Her
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER
Adam Fisher — Sunset Blvd.
Peter Hylenski — Just In Time
Peter Hylenski — Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier — Floyd Collins