Darren Criss Secures a Hat-trick at the Tonys, but Can ‘Chess’ Bring Home the Quartet?

Darren Criss has clinched a Tony Award for his mesmerizing lead role in Maybe Happy Ending, marking the third consecutive victory for a Glee alum on Broadway’s most glamorous night. This year, he joins the illustrious ranks of Jonathan Groff, who seized his own Tony last year for Merrily We Roll Along and earned another nomination this season for Just in Time, and Alex Newell, who took home the award for best-featured actor in a musical for Shucked in 2023.

Criss’s acceptance speech during the glitzy Sunday night ceremony was a triumph not just for him but also for the legacy of Ryan Murphy’s iconic Fox musical series, which captivated audiences from 2009 to 2015. The success of Glee stars on Broadway fuels Out Magazine to document the glorious journeys of the 12 Glee veterans who have graced Tony history, some even before their television stardom. Murphy, celebrated for his extraordinary knack for identifying and nurturing talent, bestowed opportunities that have often led his ensemble to earning plaudits and trophies alike.

This winning troupe includes Murphy muse Sarah Paulson, who acclaimed an impressive array of accolades including an Emmy, SAG Award, Golden Globe, and an array of critics’ awards for her work in Murphy’s productions. She ventured onto the stage to score a Tony for Appropriate, competing alongside another Murphy collaborator, Jessica Lange. Their collaboration on Long Day’s Journey into Night yielded Lange a Tony in 2016, amidst their seven total nominations for the play’s revival produced by Murphy.

Broadway patrons could barely contain their excitement when Murphy unveiled a resplendent production of The Boys in the Band at New York’s Booth Theatre to celebrate the play’s semicentennial. The cast, including Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, and Andrew Rannells, among others, delivered a performance so compelling that it swept the Tony for best revival of a play.

The buzz around Broadway was electric simultaneously with the arrival of The Prom, which grooved its way into the hearts of theatergoers. Penned by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Beguelin, the show tackled the noble cause of inclusivity as it narrated the tale of a courageous high school student from conservative Indiana seeking to bring her girlfriend to prom. Her thwarted dream propelled Broadway luminaries into action, championing her right to celebrate her love openly. Murphy’s silver screen adaptation shone bright with stars like Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, and more, while his screen rendition of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart featured an all-star lineup including Bomer, Groff, and Mark Ruffalo, amongst others.

Returning to the current Glee carnival, as Criss reveled in his recognition, fellow Glee star Lea Michele watched from the audience alongside Aaron Tveit once a potential Finn on Glee and Nicholas Christopher. This talented trio is set to dazzle audiences in the upcoming revival of Chess, featuring music by patriarchs of pop, ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with Tim Rice. The narrative will unfold under the creative vision of Danny Strong, known for Dopesick, and director Michael Mayer.

Eyes are eagerly set on the upcoming Tony season as Michele feasts her sights on the grand stage, poised to transform into a contender for the beloved award. If her performance in the Chess revival steals the show, Glee could be basking in Tony glories four years in a row—a delightful overlap with her on-screen persona Rachel Berry’s dream fulfillment finale, winning a Tony for her Broadway performance in the fictional Jane Austen Sings.