The 79th Tony Awards kicked off at Radio City Music Hall with Pink hosting the main ceremony and Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess handling preshow duties. This year's celebration comes amid what the Times' Helen Shaw calls "shrinkflation" in Broadway, with just 11 musicals opening compared to 21 the previous season.

Despite fewer productions, the field shows strong competition. "Schmigadoon!" and "The Lost Boys" lead nominations with 12 each, while "Ragtime" revival follows closely with 11. Productions increasingly rely on celebrity casting and co-producer backing to drive ticket sales, reflecting Broadway's strategic response to post-pandemic recovery challenges.

Early winners include Cinco Paul for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for "Schmigadoon!" Dane Laffrey took Best Scenic Design for "The Lost Boys," while Qween Jean won Best Costume Design for "Cats: The Jellicle Ball." Special honors went to Mary-Mitchell Campbell with the Isabelle Stevenson Award.

The ceremony broadcasts live on CBS and streams via Paramount+, featuring performances from Best Musical nominees plus tributes to "A Chorus Line" and "Rent." With Hollywood names increasingly bankrolling shows, this year's awards highlight how Broadway is leveraging star power to rebuild its audience base.