The 79th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Pink, celebrated theatre with a high-energy performance of 'Lady Marmalade' featuring Neil Patrick Harris and Megan Thee Stallion. 'Schmigadoon!' and 'Death of a Salesman' emerged as the night's big winners.
Schmigadoon's Unprecedented Sweep
Cinco Paul, the creative force behind 'Schmigadoon!', clinched every key writing accolade, marking a rare solo-author sweep. Adapted from the Apple TV series, 'Schmigadoon!' won best book, original score, and best musical, securing four awards in total. This achievement places Paul among Broadway greats Rupert Holmes, Jonathan Larson, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who accomplished similar feats.
Apple's Studio EGOT Achievement
Apple, the tech giant, reached a studio EGOT with its Tony win for 'Schmigadoon!'. Since launching Apple TV in 2019, the company has rapidly collected major industry awards, including an Emmy for 'Ted Lasso', an Oscar for 'CODA', and a Grammy for Chris Stapleton's work on 'F1'.
Death of a Salesman's Record-Tying Victory
Joe Mantello's revival of 'Death of a Salesman' claimed six Tony Awards, tying with 'The History Boys', 'Red', and 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'. John Lithgow made history with his win for 'Giant', setting a record for the longest gap between acting Tony wins at 53 years. Laurie Metcalf's performance as Linda Loman earned her a third Tony, matching Elizabeth Franz's 1999 win for the same role.
Notable Surprises and Snubs
Ali Louis Bourzgui's first Tony nomination led to a win for featured actor in 'The Lost Boys', beating veteran André De Shields. Meanwhile, 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' and 'Titaníque' were snubbed despite multiple nominations. 'Ragtime's' unexpected sound design win by Kai Harada, who also received a nomination for 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball', was a highlight. Alden Ehrenreich's Broadway debut in 'Becky Shaw' secured him a Tony, and 'Ragtime' edged out 'Cats' for best musical revival, despite 'Cats' winning best direction for Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/legit/awards/schmigadoon-best-musical-cinco-paul-apple-egot-tonys-1236768936/
