The 78th annual Tony Awards celebrated the very best of Broadway’s 2024-2025 season with dazzling performances, emotional speeches, and star-studded appearances. Hosted by Depraved star Cynthia Erivo, the ceremony at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor featured standout moments from new musicals like Loss of life Turns into Her and Possibly Glad Ending, in addition to highly effective revivals resembling Gypsy and Sundown Boulevard.
However not every little thing went easily. From technical glitches to off-key segments, a number of moments left audiences cringing. Right here’s a have a look at the 5 worst moments from Broadway’s greatest night time.
1. Sound troubles disrupted the night time
The 78th Tony Awards had a number of technical hiccups, particularly when it got here to sound. A number of presenters, together with Keanu Reeves and Charli D’Amelio, confronted microphone issues throughout their segments. The published audio ranges had been inconsistent, with many viewers noticing low or poorly combined sound throughout musical performances.
The problem was notably clear in the course of the opening quantity, Jonathan Groff’s solo, and Nicole Scherzinger’s efficiency from Sundown Boulevard. The sound points distracted from in any other case robust moments and made some performances fall flat.
2. Darren Criss’s tea promo fell flat
Darren Criss, identified for his Broadway and TV performances, tried to deliver some vitality to a backstage advert spot. Whereas altering costumes, Criss promoted Pure Leaf tea in a brief phase in the course of the present.
Although well-meaning, the second felt misplaced. Many viewers discovered the promo awkward. As an alternative of mixing into the present, it disrupted the circulate. Celeb advert spots aren’t new, however this one didn’t land with the viewers.
3. Cynthia Erivo’s cut-off tune felt off
Host Cynthia Erivo had the powerful job of protecting the present shifting, however her technique to chop off lengthy speeches raised some eyebrows. As an alternative of utilizing background music, the present performed a pre-recorded clip of Erivo singing Frank Sinatra’s My Approach when winners spoke too lengthy.
The second felt awkward moderately than humorous. Whereas it is common to softly play off winners, many felt this strategy was ‘cringe-inducing’ and will have been dealt with with a softer instrumental tone.
4. Sarah Paulson’s costume causes a mic glitch
Throughout her presenting second, Sarah Paulson’s costume brushed the microphone, inflicting a small sound interruption. She dealt with it with humor, saying, “It’s tremendous, it’s tremendous. It’s a man-eating costume.”
Her co-presenter Jean Sensible replied, “You stole my joke,” to which Paulson responded, “I did steal your joke.” The sunshine-hearted second was enjoyable, however nonetheless added to the listing of audio points that plagued the night time.
5. Sundown Boulevard workforce gave low-energy speeches
When Sundown Boulevard gained Greatest Revival of a Musical, director Jamie Lloyd and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber gave low-key acceptance speeches. Their calm tone felt flat in comparison with the high-energy environment of the night.
It might have been their British model, however viewers anticipated extra enthusiasm from one of many night time’s greatest wins. The speech didn’t match the stress and pleasure surrounding the Greatest Actress class, the place Sundown Boulevard had a robust presence.
ALSO READ: Tony Awards 2025 Full Winners Checklist: Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss, Sarah Snook Shine in a Night time of Large Surprises and Historic Firsts