P!nk Opens Tony Awards With 170-Performer Number as Host Gig Fuels Broadway Buzz

Q: Will a radical reinvention or a timeless classic win Best Revival?

A radical reinvention appears slightly more likely to win Best Revival of a Musical, with **“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”** holding a narrow edge over the more traditional **“Ragtime.”** The race is widely described as one of the closest of the night, but much of the expert commentary favors “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” because it does more than restage a familiar title. Critics and awards watchers have praised its transformation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical into a Harlem ballroom-inspired production rooted in queer culture, calling it inventive, euphoric and a model of what a revival can be. Several prediction roundups explicitly note that Tony voters often reward boundary-pushing revivals over more standard prestige productions. That said, **“Ragtime”** remains a formidable contender and may still prevail. It has strong nomination support, broad respect as a major American musical, and a timely social message that many observers say resonates powerfully this season. Some forecasters, including Variety, have leaned toward “Ragtime,” showing there is no consensus. Still, the balance of the available evidence points slightly toward the bolder choice. Combined odds and several critic and reader picks place **“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”** in front, even if only by a modest margin. So if the question is whether voters will choose a radical reinvention or a timeless classic, the best read heading into the ceremony is: **the radical reinvention has the edge.**

3 articles · Updated · Vulture · Jun 8

170 performers filled the Tony Awards opener as P!nk led “Leading Lady Marmalade,” a Broadway rewrite built to celebrate the 2025-26 season and answer doubts about her as host.
Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick said they kept rewriting until ceremony day, reshuffling lyrics and cameos as cast availability changed and late additions joined.
P!nk took the job partly to connect with her theater-loving daughter Willow and to honor a community she grew up admiring, the writers said, shaping the number into an inclusive season recap.
The performance, staged across the Theater District and packed with nominee name-checks, added to speculation about a Broadway debut, though P!nk told collaborators family life makes the schedule difficult for now.