Celebrating Breakthroughs: First-Time Tony Award Winners Reflect on Their Triumphs

The 78th Tony Awards held on Sunday evening brought a wave of excitement as several Broadway performers received their first-ever Tony Awards. Among these honorees were seasoned stage actors like Natalie Venetia Belcon and fresh faces such as Cole Escola. These seven recipients shared heartfelt reflections on their wins during speeches at the ceremony and in the press room.

Sarah Snook, already acclaimed for her Emmy-winning role in “Succession,” earned a Tony for her remarkable portrayal of all 26 characters in the theatrical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” This victory adds to her accolades alongside an Olivier Award she received in 2024 for the same role in London’s West End, shortly after welcoming her first child.

Cole Escola, known for their alternative cabaret performances, wrote and stars in the comedic production “Oh, Mary!” They made history as the first nonbinary performer to receive a Tony in their category. The show, which they developed over more than ten years, features them as a tipsy, cabaret-aspiring Mary Todd Lincoln. This award marks Escola’s Broadway debut.

Nicole Scherzinger, formerly the lead vocalist of the Pussycat Dolls, delivered a stirring rendition of “As If We Never Said Goodbye” during the ceremony before accepting her first Tony. She was recognized for her role as Norma Desmond, the faded silent film star, in the revival of “Sunset Boulevard.” Like Snook, Scherzinger also won an Olivier Award in 2024 for her performance in London.