Podcast Summary: MickeyJoTheatre – "Mickey-Jo's Reaction to the Tony Awards | Thoughts on the 2025 Ceremony Celebrating Broadway Theatre"

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of MickeyJoTheatre, host Mickey-Jo delves deep into his passionate analysis of the 2025 Tony Awards. As a prominent voice in theatre criticism with a substantial following on his YouTube channel, Mickey-Jo offers both personal insights and professional evaluations of the evening's highlights, performances, and outcomes.

Overall Impressions

Mickey-Jo begins by expressing his lifelong fascination with the Tony Awards, highlighting his dedication despite occasional challenges, such as watching the ceremony late in the UK or struggling to stream it live. Watching the event live in New York City for the first time was a significant milestone for him.

Mickey-Jo [00:00]: "I am particularly obsessed with the Tony Awards... Long before I paid attention to the Olivier Awards, even though I am from the UK, the Tony Awards are something I was always fascinated by."

He praises the ceremony for celebrating a "triumphant season," noting the innovation, diversity, and brilliance of the nominated works. Despite the overall success, Mickey-Jo acknowledges that there are still aspects worth discussing and dissecting.

Mickey-Jo [00:35]: "The work that this year was so exciting, so innovative, so original, so diverse, so brilliant that it was hard to begrudge any of the winners from any category."

Key Wins and Surprises

Best Play: "Purpose"

Mickey-Jo discusses "Purpose" winning Best Play, aligning with his predictions and the play's momentum, having also secured the Pulitzer Prize.

Mickey-Jo [08:15]: "Purpose won for Best Play when I'd kind of been predicting that... it's not a total surprise because it just won the Pulitzer Prize."

However, he points out an intriguing statistic: Phylicia Rashad, the director of "Purpose," was not nominated for Best Director, a rarity when both a play and its director win the Pulitzer.

Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger

One of the episode's focal points is the Best Leading Actress in a Musical category, where Nicole Scherzinger triumphed for her role as Norma Desmond in the revival of "Sunset Boulevard."

Mickey-Jo [15:30]: "Nicole Scherzinger won out in the end and she won the Tony Award for playing Norma Desmond in the revival of Sunset Boulevard..."

He reflects on the intense competition, particularly between Scherzinger and Audra McDonald, and shares his surprise at the outcome despite anticipating Scherzinger's win.

Mickey-Jo [13:45]: "I kind of was still anticipating that Nicole, in spite of everything, was going to win this category. But like I said, shook nonetheless."

Best Musical: "Happy Ending"

"Happy Ending" clinched the Best Musical award, showcasing its journey from a struggling start to a successful run bolstered by effective marketing and strong reviews.

Mickey-Jo [22:10]: "Happy Ending is my favorite musical on Broadway right now... it's become this wonderful, original, delightful little show that could... very well swept."

Diversity and Historic Wins

Mickey-Jo applauds the ceremony's commitment to diversity, highlighting multiple historic wins for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAHPI) actors. He also celebrates Cole Escola becoming the first non-binary actor to win Best Leading Actor in a Play.

Mickey-Jo [31:50]: "There are multiple records broken in terms of historic wins for AA and HPI actors... and Cola Scola becoming the first non-binary actor to win in the best leading actor in a play category."

He advocates for the introduction of genderless acting categories, drawing parallels with successful implementations like the Watson Stage Awards in the UK.

Mickey-Jo [32:30]: "Non binary actors have now won in almost all of the available categories... Maybe it's just time to introduce genderless acting categories at the Tonys."

Notable Winners and Personal Highlights

Jack Malone

Mickey-Jo shares a heartfelt moment about his friend Jack Malone winning a Tony Award, praising his talent and impactful speech.

Mickey-Jo [40:50]: "My favorite award win, I think the one that moved me the most was seeing my friend Jack Malone winning a Tony Award."

Cynthia Erivo as Host

He commends Cynthia Erivo for her exceptional hosting skills, noting her poise, eloquence, and humorous moments.

Mickey-Jo [37:20]: "Cynthia Erivo did a great job. She is so, so poised, she is so eloquent and well spoken that she is a great host."

Darren Criss

Mickey-Jo highlights Darren Criss's dual win as Best Leading Actor in a Musical and his role as a producer, bringing him closer to an EGOT.

Mickey-Jo [38:45]: "Darren Criss was also a great winner of the night... he became a two-time Tony Award winner in about 15 minutes last night."

Paul Tazewell and Kara Young

He celebrates Paul Tazewell for his stunning costume design win for "Death Becomes Her" and Kara Young for her consecutive nominations and wins.

Mickey-Jo [41:30]: "Paul Tazewell won this year for Death Becomes Her stunning costume design... Kara Young has some brilliant stats here because she has been on Broadway in so many consecutive seasons."

Memorable Performances

Opening Number

The opening number, penned by Shaman, Whitman, and Pasek & Paul, set a quintessential Broadway tone with its energetic and gospel-infused chorus.

Mickey-Jo [44:00]: "It's nice to hear them coming together and writing for the Tony Awards. I thought it was a well-written opening."

In Memoriam

The homage to departed theatre figures was beautifully performed by Sara Bareilles and Cynthia Erivo, specifically honoring Charles Strauss.

Mickey-Jo [46:15]: "In Memoriam was beautifully sung by Sara Bareilles and Cynthia Erivo... a lovely tribute to Charles Strauss."

Hamilton Medley

A standout performance was the Hamilton medley featuring returning original Broadway cast members, celebrating the show's 10th anniversary.

Mickey-Jo [48:30]: "The best number of the night. The medley from Hamilton... celebrating the show's legacy and that milestone."

Buena Vista Social Club

He praises Buena Vista Social Club for their sensational performance, emphasizing the choreography and musical excellence.

Mickey-Jo [52:00]: "One of the best performances I thought was given by Buena Vista Social Club... the band is sensational and that music is just so good."

Impact on Broadway and Future Prospects

Mickey-Jo analyzes how the Tony Awards will influence various Broadway shows, anticipating box office boosts for winners like "Happy Ending" and "Buena Vista Social Club," while expressing concern for shows like "Smash" and "Boop" that may struggle despite nominations.

Mickey-Jo [58:20]: "I think it's going to be harder to get tickets to maybe Happy Ending... whereas shows like Smash and Boop might face closing notices despite their efforts."

He remains hopeful that successes will translate into sustained runs and potential transfers to the West End, fostering a thriving theatre ecosystem.

Mickey-Jo [64:10]: "I hope for nothing but success for all of these shows... Your support can make a significant difference."

Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Wrapping up, Mickey-Jo encourages listeners to support Broadway by booking tickets and engaging with their favorite shows. He invites his audience to share their thoughts on the Tony Awards in the comments and teases upcoming theatre-related content.

Mickey-Jo [70:00]: "If you're holding out, if you're waiting to book tickets to go and see any of the ones that I just mentioned, please do so now. They need your support."

He concludes with gratitude towards his listeners and a signature sign-off.

Mickey-Jo [72:00]: "Thank you so much for listening. I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey day."

Conclusion

Mickey-Jo's comprehensive analysis of the 2025 Tony Awards offers a blend of personal anecdotes, critical evaluations, and forward-looking insights into the Broadway landscape. His passion for theatre shines through as he celebrates the evening's successes, acknowledges areas of contention, and underscores the importance of supporting the theatrical arts.

For more in-depth reviews and theatre discussions, subscribe to MickeyJoTheatre on YouTube and stay tuned for upcoming episodes.