June 08, 2026
“Schmigadoon!” won the Tony Award for best musical on Sunday, while more socially driven works dominated other top categories, with “Liberation” taking best play, “Ragtime” best musical revival and John Lithgow best leading actor for “Giant.”
Based on a television series, “Schmigadoon!” is a send-up of Golden Age Broadway shows, following a modern couple drawn into a musical theatre fantasy world.
“Liberation,” a drama examining the legacy of the 1970s women’s liberation movement, added to its 2026 Pulitzer Prize for drama, as author Bess Wohl became the fourth woman to win the Tony Award for best play and the first since 2009.
“Ragtime” prevailed over “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” reviving a sweeping story that intertwines Black, immigrant and upper-class white lives, exploring race, class and the promise of the American Dream at the dawn of the 20th century. Caissie Levy and Joshua Henry won best lead actress and actor for their roles in the show.
