Darren Criss has won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, becoming the third consecutive Glee alum to earn Broadway’s top honor. This victory follows the recent wins by Jonathan Groff (Merrily We Roll Along, 2024) and Alex Newell (Shucked, 2023), solidifying Glee’s unexpected legacy on the Broadway stage.
Criss accepted his award during the 2025 Tony Awards ceremony, marking a highlight in a year that has once again validated the impact of Ryan Murphy’s Glee, the musical TV series that ran from 2009 to 2015 on Fox.
The show’s alumni continue to flourish. Lea Michele, who played Rachel Berry, was present at the event and will return to Broadway this fall in the revival of Chess at the Shubert Theatre, alongside Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher. With music by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice, and direction by Michael Mayer, the production may position Michele for her own real-life Tony—echoing her character’s fictional triumph in Glee’s finale.
Murphy’s Broadway influence extends beyond Glee alumni. He has backed acclaimed productions like The Boys in the Band, which won Best Revival of a Play in 2019, and The Prom, which he adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and James Corden. Murphy has also guided talents such as Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange, both of whom went on to win Tony Awards for their stage work.
With three back-to-back wins and Michele poised for a strong comeback, the question remains: can Glee make it four in a row at the 2026 Tony Awards?
