Tony Awards 2026: Broadway Plays It Safe, Kennedy Center Lawsuit Tossed

The 2026 Tony Awards reflected a cautious Broadway season, with critics debating whether the lineup offered 'liberal comfort food' rather than risk-taking theater. Vulture predicted winners while ArtsJournal's For What It's Worth defended the season. Four new musicals aim to revitalize the form. Separately, a judge dismissed the Kennedy Center's lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd, who declined to perform at its holiday show amid ongoing leadership and financial turmoil. Obituaries: Anthony Stewart Head (72), star of Buffy and Ted Lasso, and MOBO founder Kanya King, celebrated for reshaping Black British culture with 'kindness and warmth.' The French Open debuted a ballet choreographed by Benjamin Millepied. ArtsJournal's Doug writes on the Trump administration's denial of student loans to arts programs, arguing that measuring education solely by earnings impoverishes social value.