Nicole Scherzinger And Darren Criss Win Big At The 2025 Tony Awards
They are joining the elite company of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who have won awards at the prestigious awards ceremony.
NICOLE SCHERZINGER, DARREN CRISS: Courtesy of @nicolescherzinger, @darrencriss
NICOLE SCHERZINGER: Courtesy of @nicolescherzinger
Filipino-Americans Nicole Scherzinger and Darren Criss took home two of the biggest prizes at the 78th Tony Awards, held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York on Monday (June 9 PH Time), and hosted by Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.
Scherzinger, former lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her portrayal as Norma Desmond in the acclaimed revival Sunset Boulevard.
Based on the 1950 film of the same name, the musical adaptation was first staged in 1991. Like the film, the musical tells the story of Norma, a faded silent film star living in seclusion on Sunset Boulevard. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis enters her life, she sees him as her ticket back to the big screen.
Meanwhile, Criss, known for portraying Blaine Anderson on the hit musical comedy-drama Glee, won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Oliver in Maybe Happy Ending.
Adapted from the original South Korean-language musical in 2016, the 2024 Broadway staging is set in near-futuristic Seoul, it follows two outdated HelperBots, Oliver (Criss) and Claire (Helen J. Shen), as they form a heartfelt connection while navigating loneliness in a world that has largely forgotten them.
Alongside Scherzinger and Criss, Filipino-American music director and pianist Marco Paguia won the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for his work on the Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club.
Established in 1947, the Tony Awards, officially known as the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, celebrate outstanding achievements in live Broadway productions and are considered the highest honors in American theater. Held every June in New York City, the awards recognize excellence across a range of categories, including performances, design, direction, and more.
Notably, Lea Salonga made history as the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award and the first Asian to win Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon in 1991.
