’Tis the season to be jolly, spend time with loved ones, and reflect on the old Rent adage “How do you measure, measure a year?” It could be in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee — or for us theater fans, maybe it’s in Playbills or in Broadway cast-album streams. As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back at some of the most memorable moments to measure the last 525,600 minutes.
Another Year of Wicked Changing Us “For Good”
If anyone thought we’d be oversaturated with two consecutive years of Wicked-mania, they would be wrong. Fans rejoicified as the world was once again doused in green and pink in preparation for the movie release of Wicked: For Good. Premiering just 364 days after the release of Wicked: Part One, the second film installment offered the thrillifying conclusion of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship story. Though it was emotional to say goodbye to everyone’s favorite pair of Oz witches, the movie and press tour quickly sparked social media memes and discourse that will keep us sustained for a long time — like Michelle Yeoh flipping Madame Morrible’s initials to reveal “Wicked Witch” and Elphaba sporting a chunky knit cardigan for “As Long as You’re Mine.” Wicked: For Good’s opening weekend broke plenty of box office records, including the biggest global release for a Broadway musical adaptation. As for the original stage musical, the Broadway production marked its own milestone this year, with Lencia Kebede becoming the first Black actor to play Elphaba on Broadway full-time. Hear more from Kebede in our exclusive interview with her and Allie Trimm.
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#HamilTEN
There’s nothing like summer in the city, especially when Hamilton is raising a glass to its 10th anniversary. Though the musical’s official anniversary was August 6, Broadway and New York City were celebrating all year long.
As he is wont to do, Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the celebrations at the top of the year by sharing never-before-seen clips and behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of Hamilton via #Hamiltuesday on his Instagram. The New York Yankees even celebrated the milestone with the release of a special edition, cobranded hat, and a Hamilton night when the Schuyler sisters sang “God Bless America” and Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry tossed the ceremonial first pitch.
In May, there was the return of Ham4Ham, the outdoor concert series that originated back in 2015 while hopefuls waited in the show’s ticket lottery line. The casts of Buena Vista Social Club, Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, and more took the stage on the Richard Rodgers Theatre sidewalk.
There was nonstop excitement about the original cast reuniting for a special 10th anniversary performance at the 2025 Tony Awards. Viewers were treated to a medley of fan favorites, including “My Shot,” “The Schuyler Sisters,” “Wait for It,” and “Yorktown.” Of the experience, Miranda said, “I always dreamed we’d all get back in the room together. I never dreamed how much more fun it would be with nothing to prove and everything to celebrate.”
A new TikTok trend emerged at the top of August, with content creators reenacting “Best of Wives, Best of Women” from Alexander Hamilton’s point of view as he talks with Eliza. Miranda even got in on the action as he performed the scene with his own wax figure in the role of Eliza. @_ashbyflorence_, the original TikTok trend creator, even got to meet Miranda at the New York City premiere of Hamilton’s live recording ahead of its release in movie theatres September 5. Though the Emmy-winning recording of Hamilton was released on Disney+ in July 2020, this new theatrical version featured a special prologue with cast and creative team interviews. In true Miranda fashion, he surprised theatergoers at their #Hamilfilm viewings.
We Were Willing to Wait for Leslie Odom Jr.’s Return
Leslie Odom Jr. once again made everyone want to be in the room where it happens. The original Aaron Burr (sir) returned to Hamilton September 9 to reprise his Tony-winning performance, and concluded his limited run November 26. “Returning to Hamilton is a deeply meaningful homecoming,” said Odom in a statement. “I’m so grateful for the chance to step back into the room — especially during this anniversary moment — and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever changed my life and the lives of so many.” Fans flocked to see his return, with Hamilton’s weekly box office numbers rising over $1 million during his engagement. Watch below to see the audience’s standing ovation for his entrance at his first performance.
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History Is Happening in Manhattan
The 78th Tony Awards ceremony was a history-making night, with Asian American actors winning across three acting categories. Darren Criss won Best Performance by an Actor in Lead Role in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, making him the first Asian American actor to ever win in that category. In the Best Performance by an Actress in Lead Role in a Musical category, Nicole Scherzinger took home the statue for her performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset BLVD. Francis Jue’s performance in Yellow Face earned him the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play.
Two Awards Are Better Than One
Surely Paul Tazewell will be measuring this year in winning history-making awards. He kicked off the year by becoming the first Black male costume designer to ever win the Best Costume Design Oscar for his work on Wicked: Part One. Later on, in June, his work on Death Becomes Her earned him his second Best Costume Design for a Musical Tony Award. By winning both an Academy Award and Tony Award in the same year, Tazewell joins Irene Sharaff as the only two costume designers to achieve the feat. Sharaff won the 1952 Oscar for her designs of An American in Paris and the 1952 Tony for her work on The King & I. Longtime Broadway devotees know Tazewell’s costume designs from his extensive résumé in theater, including his eight Tony nominations for shows such as Ain’t Too Proud, In the Heights, and Suffs. His first Tony win was for Hamilton in 2016.
Cynthia Erivo Brings the Magic as Tony Awards Host
Tony winner Cynthia Erivo certainly had a busy 2025. In June, she set down her Elphaba hat and broom to host the Tony Awards for the first time. Not only was it delightful to see Erivo return to her Broadway roots, but viewers loved seeing her live hosting abilities. She offered comedic moments, like gifting Oprah Winfrey a toy car while exclaiming “You get a car!” and teasing Jonathan Groff about his propensity to inadvertently spit on the audience while singing. She, naturally, blew the roof off with her powerhouse vocals during the opening number, her In Memoriam duet with Sara Bareilles, and Dreamgirls-fueled grand finale.
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And That’s What You Missed on Glee!
The members of William McKinley High School of the Performing Arts’ New Directions glee club are making their musical dreams come true! As of December, five Glee actors are currently performing on New York stages: Tony winner Alex Newell (Unique Adams) as Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, Tony winner Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson) as Oliver in Maybe Happy Ending, Tony winner Jonathan Groff (Jesse St. James) as Bobby Darin in Just in Time, Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) as William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Lea Michele (Rachel Berry) as Florence Vassy in Chess.
Glee alums have also been taking the Tony Awards by storm in the past few years. Criss’s win in June marks the third consecutive year that a Glee actor has won an acting Tony. In 2024, Groff won for his performance as Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along, and in 2023, Newell won for their performance as Lulu in Shucked.
Just Two Friends, Two Good Friends, Two Best Friends Back on Broadway
Broadway’s original Elphaba and Glinda returned to the Main Stem in new musicals this year. Idina Menzel starred in Redwood, which opened on February 13 and played 127 performances at the Nederlander Theatre, where Menzel performed in the original cast of Rent. The musical, coconceived by Menzel and director Tina Landau, and with a score written by Landau and Kate Diaz, follows Menzel’s Jesse, who finds solace among the California redwoods after a devastating loss. Kristin Chenoweth is starring in The Queen of Versailles until December 21. With music by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Lindsay Ferrentino, and direction by Michael Arden, the musical is based on the 2012 documentary of the same name, centering on couple Jackie and David Siegel as they build a mansion in Florida during the 2008 recession.
The First Lady of the Palladium, Rachel Zegler!
As crowds gathered in New York City’s Theatre District to catch Tony nominee Tom Francis march down 44th Street for the second-act opener of the Jamie Lloyd–directed revival of Sunset BLVD., a similar swarm of spectators began assembling for Lloyd’s Evita in London. The West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, starring Rachel Zegler in her West End debut, began performances June 14 at the Palladium Theatre. For the musical’s most well-known song, “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” Zegler took to the balcony of the Palladium, providing outdoor audiences with a live performance, which was also simultaneously broadcast inside the theatre.
Capeside High School Reunion on Broadway
The cast of Dawson’s Creek came together for a very special reunion on September 22. Their reunion was for a one-night-only charity event in partnership with F Cancer to support cast member James Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2024. Cast members Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, Busy Phillips, and others took the Richard Rodgers Theatre stage for a live reading of the ‘90s teen drama series’ pilot episode. Since Van Der Beek wasn’t able to attend, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in as Dawson, with fellow Hamilton Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry narrating the evening. Van Der Beek did make an appearance via video, revealing that Broadway character Phantom was a key inspiration for his performance as Dawson. He then introduced Norm Lewis to perform The Phantom of the Opera’s “Music of the Night.”
Legends of Broadway Become Cover Stars
If you’ve ever wished you could see a legendary performance in real time, New York magazine answered with their annual “Yesteryear” issue. Twenty-nine Broadway stars revisited their most memorable roles through an interview and photo shoot, and every single one had us wishing time travel was real. While each one is worthy of mention, we cherished seeing Barbra Streisand’s star power radiate in a sumptuous cape as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, the regal André de Shields in his original 1975 costume as the titular character of The Wiz, Idina Menzel belting “Take Me or Leave Me” as Maureen from Rent (also in her original costume), and 100 year-old Dick Van Dyke, who originally declined the photo shoot, seamlessly slipping back into his effervescent showmanship in front of the camera. See the full list here.
In Memoriam
The end of the year offers a moment to honor those who have passed on. There are many artists who have impacted us and the art form who died this year, including William Finn, Gene Hackman, Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, Charles Strouse, and Tom Stoppard, just to name a few.
Two-time Tony winner William Finn died April 7. The composer-lyricist was most well-known for his Tony-winning works Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman died February 27. Though he became a giant in Hollywood with roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, he also had a long history in the theater. He originated roles in six Broadway plays, including A Rainy Day in Newark, Any Wednesday, and Poor Richard.
Known for her indelible screen credits, including Annie Hall, The First Wives Club, and Something’s Gotta Give, Oscar winner Diane Keaton’s roots were in the theater. She made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of Hair, and was Tony-nominated for her performance in Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam. She died October 11.
Robert Redford, who won an Oscar for Best Direction in 1981, was also well-known for his acting in Oscar-nominated movies like All the President’s Men and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He began his career on the Broadway stage, making his debut in the 1959 play Tall Kid, and went on to perform in five more plays, including Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. He passed away September 16.
Tony-winning playwright Sir Tom Stoppard died November 29. Stoppard boasts a long list of notable theatrical works, including The Coast of Utopia, Leopoldstadt, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. With his Best Play Tony win for Leopoldstadt in 2023, Stoppard became the most Tony Award–winning playwright in history, with five awards for Best Play. He also won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Shakespeare in Love.
Another beloved musical theater composer passed away on May 15. Tony winner Charles Strouse was the mind behind classic Broadway musicals Annie and Bye, Bye Birdie.
We lift up all of those who passed away this year, thankful for their service and dedication to our industry.
