After Nicole Scherzinger's and Darren Criss 'Tony wins last year, Broadway steps back

Stephanie Hsu earns her first Tony nomination for her role in The "Rocky Horror Show."

The 2026 Tony nominations are out and we are reminded that the "Great White Way" has a more darker meaning. For AANHPI Broadway artists, the results are a bittersweet reminder of the long climb toward true equity.

While we’re seeing undeniable brilliance from AANHPI artists, the numbers still feel like a slow drip in a desert of underrepresentation. While 2026 brings celebrated nominees like Stephanie Hsu for her role in The Rocky Horror Show, the historical context reveals a pattern of "one step forward, two steps back".

Following Nicole Scherzinger’s powerhouse win last year for Sunset Boulevard—a moment that felt like a breakthrough for Pacific Islander visibility—many hoped 2026 would be the year the floodgates finally opened. Instead, we’re looking at a handful of standout artists carrying the torch for a community that remains largely sidelined in lead roles.

Tony nominee Uzo Aduba and Tony winner and Filipino American Darren Criss announced the nominations for the biggest awards.

Leading the charge is Stephanie Hsu, whose nod for Best Actress in a Musical for

The Rocky Horror Show proves she’s the real deal. But let’s be real: why is it still news when one of ours leads a marquee production? 

We also see the technical masters like Kimie Nishikawa, Ani Taj, and the prolific Kai Harada (pulling double duty for Ragtime and Cats) showing that our vision is what makes these shows run.

In addition, AANHPI fnominees among Creative & Design, include:

• Hue Park: Nominated for Best Original Score for Maybe Happy Ending (co-written with Will Aronson).

• Linda Cho: Earned dual nominations for Best Costume Design of a Musical for both Ragtime and Schmigadoon!

• Kai Harada: Earned dual nominations for Best Sound Design of a Musical for both Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Ragtime.

• Ruey Horng Sun: Nominated for Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Floyd Collins (shared with Scott Zielinski).

The history of AANHPI presence at the Tonys is marked by rare, isolated breakthroughs followed by long periods of invisibility. For decades, the community was largely shut out of leading roles, with wins often confined to specific, culturally coded productions.

History of exclusion

It wasn't until 1981 for the first Asian artist, Willa Kim, to win a Tony (Best Costume Design). In the acting categories, BD Wong made history in 1988 as the first Asian actor to win for M. Butterfly.

One of the most glaring historical snubs wasn't just a lack of nominations, but the 1990 controversy surrounding Miss Saigon, where the lead role of a Eurasian character was cast with a white actor in yellowface. This incident sparked decades of activism regarding the theft of AANHPI roles.

Statistics show that for years, Asian representation hovered at a dismal 2–5% of all Broadway roles. Often, spikes in representation were tied to a single production, like the 2015 revival of The King and I, which accounted for nearly half of all Asian actors employed that season.

The short-lived breakthroughs?

We though there was a breakthrough when Lea Salonga won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical in 1991 for her role as Kim in the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon.

But it wasn't long before the taste of that win faded and Broadway returned to the same old habits and inbred  blindness and AAPI artists had to settle for revivals of The King and I for work.

Nicole Scherzinger, a Filipino American, won a Tony last year for her performance in Sunset Blvd.

Recent productions of  the musical about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos, Here Lies Love, and the off-Broadway KPOP provided work but were short-lived.

Last year felt like a sea change, or so we thought. Filipino American Nicole Scherzinger’s win for Best Actress in a Musical for Sunset Boulevard was a landmark moment for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander representation. 

Alongside Darren Criss (the first Asian American to win Best Lead Actor in a Musical for Maybe Happy Ending) and Marco Paguia, the 2025 ceremony saw the highest number of AAPI acting wins in history.

However, the glow of that victory was quickly dimmed by the "white-washing" controversy that followed. 

When Criss briefly stepped away from Maybe Happy Ending—a show set in South Korea with a predominantly Asian cast—he was replaced by a white actor. To many in the community, this felt like an "affront" and a "slap in the face," signaling that even after historic wins, AANHPI roles are still viewed as interchangeable.

A curtain rising?

With the hope that AANHPI representationfd on Broadway and Off-Broadway will only get stronger, currently, there are a few productions that feature Asian American leads:

• Maybe Happy Ending: A standout of the current season that continues to draw attention, this musical is set in a futuristic Seoul and features a predominantly Asian cast, led by Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss. It’s a rare example of a Broadway show where the core narrative and casting are deeply rooted in Asian artistry.

• Schmigadoon!: This Broadway adaptation of the hit series has earned 12 Tony nominations for 2026 and features Ann Harada, reprising her role as Florence Menlove.

• Henry VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts: Off-Broadway at The Public Theater, NAATCO (National Asian American Theatre Company) is presenting an all-Asian American ensemble featuring veterans like Mia Katigbak and James Yaegashi.

View from the edge

The history of AANHPI presence at the Tonys is marked by rare, isolated breakthroughs followed by long periods of invisibility. For decades, the community was largely shut out of leading roles, with wins often confined to specific, culturally coded productions.

FYI: The 79th Annual Tony Awards will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 8:00–11:00 PM ET/5:00–8:00 PM PT. You can watch it on TV via the CBS Television Network or stream it live and on-demand on Paramount+

The community's fight today isn't just for a trophy; it’s against a system where AANHPI talent is celebrated only when it's exceptional, while mediocre representation remains the baseline for others. One win doesn't fix a century of being sidelined — it only highlights how much more room there is at the table.

The momentum for AANHPI talent on Broadway isn't just about award season — it’s about the work being staged right now and in the coming months, rom classic revivals of The Flower Drum Song, The King and I and Miss Saigon to futuristic Seoul in Maybe Happy Ending.

The talent is there — it always has been. But as we look toward the June 7 ceremony at Radio City, the question remains: when will Broadway’s casting offices and boardrooms finally catch up to the reality of the talent pool? One Scherzinger win or a few technical nods isn't the finish line; it’s a prompt to keep pushing until our stories aren't just "notable mentions," but the main event.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Filipino Americans make history winning top Tony awards for musicals

Nicole Scherzinger gave an emotional speech while accepting her Tony.

Broadway might never see another evening like Sunday's Tony Awards where history was made when three Filipino Americans won Tony awards, Broadway's equivalent to the Oscars.

It was a big night at Radio City Music Hall for Asian American performers but especially for Filipino Amerians. 

Filipino Amercans Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger, each won their first-ever Tony Awards for their performances in the musicals Maybe Happy Ending and Sunset B.vd, respectively. Criss won Best Lead Actor in a Musical, while Scherzinger won Best Lead Actress in a Musical. 

Additionally, another Filipino American, Marco Paguia, won Best Orchestrations for Buena Vista Social Club.

Scherzinger, 46, won for her performance of fading Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., a revival based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wilder.

"Growing up I always felt like I didn't belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last," she sobbed while accepting the award.

"I'm so honored to be recognized alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category. I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl's dream come true. So proud to represent."

        FYI: Record number of Asian American Tony nominees

She also thanked her family, including her mom, stating she 'had me at 18 and gave everything up for me.'

Nicole wrapped up her inspiring speech, sharing, 'If there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong, or your time hasn't come, don't give up.'

'"ust keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.'

'This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you," concluded Scherzinger, who started her musical journey as a member of the all-women Pussycat Dolls.

Darren Criss is the first Asian American man to win a lead role Tony.

In the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category, Criss beat out Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just in Time, Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.

In his acceptance his Tony, Criss gave a shout out to his costar. "I share this with one of the best leading actresses is in a Broadway msical the season, Helen J. Shen,' he said. "I am so proud of you and your Broadway debut is for the books. This is where you belong."

Criss and Shen performed a number from their musical after being introduced by Broadway legend Lea Salonga, the first Asian woman to win a Best Actress in a Musical Tony for her role in the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon.

"The real hero for this remarkable journey is my wife, Mia," he continued, "who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this and to allow this crazy upheaval in our life to make this logistically possible, and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three so that I could raise a singing robot at the theater eight times a week."

"I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse exquisite Broadway season this year," Criss told the star-studded audience.

It was a big night for Maybe Happy Ending which wound up with six Tony's including Best Musical and Best Direction for a Musical for director Michael Arden.

The musical's South Korean lyricist Hue Park and American composer Will Aronson took home the Tony for best original score and best book of a musical.

In addition to the Tony for Best Orchestration, Marco Paguia also won a second Tony as a musician for the Buena Vista Social Club. Besides being the show's music direcor and conductor, he is also on stage playing piano.

Another Asian American winning an award Sunday was Francis Jue, a Broaddway veteran who accepted a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play in Yellowface, a timely revival about representation for Asian Americansin the performing arts written by David Henry Hwang. The play also earned a Tony nomination for lead actor Daniel Dae Kim.

Unknown to most of the audience, another Filipino American, Tatiana Cordoba, sang and danced Sunday in her lead role as Ana Garcia, the Mexican American teenager seeking to break away from a life as a garment worker in the musical Real Women Have Curves.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

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Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss and Daniel Dae Kim lead record number of AANHPI Tony nominees

On the verge of history, from left, Darren Criss, Daniel Dae Kim and Nicole Scherzinger.

This year could be the watershed moment artists of Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent have been waiting for with a record number of AANHPI nominated for Tony awards, announced May 1 by Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce.

Filipino Americans Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss and Conrad Ricamora were nominated for their roles in their respective musicals. Korean American Daniel Dae Kim became the first Asian American to be nominateed for his lead dramatic role.

If Scherzinger, Criss or Kim win in their categories, it will be the first time an Asian American artist has won a Tony for a lead role in over 30 years. The last time an Asian American won a Tony in a lead role was 1991 when Lea Salonga won for her history-making role in Miss Saigon.

The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League announced the nominees for the 78th Annual Tony Awards, celebrating excellence in Broadway theatre for the 2024–2025 season. The nominations, revealed by Tony winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce, reflect both artistic range and growing cultural diversity on the Great White Way.

        FYI: Complete list of 2025 Tony nominees.

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger earned a nomination in Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Her role as an aging actress in Sunset Blvd. garnered rave reviews and has made her as one of the favorites to win in this category. She has already won an Oliver Award, Great Britain's equivalent to the Tony, for the role in the same category, Scherzinger is a strong contender in this category.

“I have worked many, many years to build up to this moment, and it’s changed my life,” said Scherzinger.

Darren Criss, a past Emmy and Golden Globe winner is a double nominee for his show Maybe Happy Ending. Criss, who got his breakout role in TV's musical drama Glee, got nods for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and as one of the show's producers, he could possibly win another Tony for Best Musical. 

Maybe Happy Ending, based on a South Korean TV drama,  earned 10 nominations,  including one for Filipino American Clint Ramos for Best Costume Design of a Musical. With so many nominations, some critics were surprised that Helen Shen was overlooked as a lead actress.

Daniel Dae Kim, best known for his television roles in Lost and Hawaii Five-O, has been an outspoken advocate for more AANHPI representation in the performing arts, was nominated for his first Broadway role in David Henry Hwang's revival ofYellow Face, which questions the role of race in media and politics. Kim's nomination for Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Play was the first for an Asian actor.

Yellow Face also won a nomination in the Best Featured in a Play Actor category for Francis Jue, Kim's costar, who played the main character when the play debuted on Broadway 20 years earlier.

Filipino American actor Conrad Ricamora -- who most people will recognize for his role in the TV drama, Murder She Wrote -- will also compete against Jue in the Best Performance by an Best Featured Actor in a Play category for his portrayal of Abe Lincoln in Oh, Mary!

Middle easter performer,Tala Ashe, who most people know for her role in the soap opera As the World Turns, garnered a nomination in the Best Featured Actress in a Play category for her role in English. She'll be joined by her costar Marjan Neshat in the same category. Playwright Sanaz Toossi became the first Iranian-American to be nominated in this category. 

Surprisingly, Broadway favorite Salonga wasn't nominated for her performance in Old Friends, a revue of Stephen Sondheim songs that also starred fellow veteran stage artist Bernadette Peters. In fact, despite its sentimental star power, Old Friends didn't garner a single nomination.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City next month. Hosted by Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, the Tony Awards will broadcas live to both coasts on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (8 – 11 PM ET/5 – 8 PM PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the US.*

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

TGIF Feature: Eva Noblezada up for Tony award

HADESTOWN

Eva Nblezada was nominated for a Tony for her portrayal of Eurydice in the musical Hadestown.

It's a big week for Eva Noblezada, 23, who lwas nominated for a Tony award Tuesday (April 30), The following night, her first movie, Yellow Rose, premiered at the Los Angeles Asian American Film Festival's opening night.

This is the Filipina American's second Tony nomination in three years. She was nominated as Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her role in Hadestown, a musical retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus.

She was also nominated for a Tony in 2017 for her role as Kim in a revival of Miss Saigon.

In all, Hadestown led all Broadway productions with 14 nominations. Her role of Eurydice was easy for Noblezada to connect to. "I love the fact that (our director) Rachel Chavkin didn’t want me to play the victim," says Noblezada. "She has to be strong. I want to represent the modern woman."

Other nominees for best musical actress include: Stephanie J. Block ("The Cher Show"), Caitlin Kinnunen ("The Prom"), Beth Leavel ("The Prom"), and Kelli O’Hara ("Kiss Me, Kate").

Two other Filipino Americans who received nominations for this year's Tony Awards, are Robert Brill for set designs in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, and Clint Ramos for his costume designs in Torch Song. 

The winners are to be announced on June 9 at the 73rd annual Tony Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by James Corden, and broadcast on CBS starting at 8 p.m. EST.

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