Since 1947, the Tony Awards have recognized an array of remarkable shows with the coveted title of Best Play. From timeless classics like Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman to modern-day masters such as Alan Bennett’s The History Boys and Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse. Through their captivating narratives and spellbinding performances, the plays remind us why the Tonys have a knack for recognizing the timeless magic that leaves audiences longing for an encore.
The most recent winner was Stereophonic, which won at the 2024 Tonys.
Scroll through the gallery to take a look back at all the Best Play winners.
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STEREOPHONIC, 2024
From left to right: Ben Platt, Will Brill and Sarah Pigeon in “Stereophonic”
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LEOPOLDSTADT, 2023
The cast of the Tom Stoppard play ‘Leopoldstadt’
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THE INHERITANCE, 2021
‘The Inheritance’ cast, with John Benjamin Hickey second from left
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THE INHERITANCE, 2021
Lois Smith, Samuel H.Levin in the The Inheritance.
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THE FERRYMAN, 2019
Considine in The Ferryman.
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HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, 2018
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at New York’s Lyric Theatre.
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OSLO, 2017
Oslo By J.T. Rogers at Lincoln Center Theater, Vivian Beaumont, Broadway Premiere.
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THE HUMANS, 2016
(L-R) Actors Cassie Beck, Jayne Houdyshell, Reed Birney, Arian Moayed Sarah Steele and Lauren Klein attend The Humans Off-Broadway opening night curtain call at Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold & Miriam Steinberg Center.
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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, 2015
Cast members during curtain call at The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time Broadway Opening Night at The Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
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ALL THE WAY, 2014
Bryan Cranston as “Lyndon Johnson” takes his Opening Night curtain call for All The Way at The Neil Simon Theater.
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VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, 2013
Genevieve Angelson, Billy Magnussen, Sigourney Weaver, David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Nielsen & Shalita Grant during the Broadway Opening Night Performance of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the Golden Theatre.
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CLYBOURNE PARK, 2012
Actors Damon Gupton, Sarah Goldberg, Jeremy Shamos, Christina Kirk, Crystal A. Dickinson, Frank Wood and Brendan Griffin participate in the Clybourne Park final Broadway curtain call at Walter Kerr Theatre.
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WARHORSE, 2011
Children’s author Michael Morpurgo, photographed at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where the Broadway production of his book War Horse is showing.
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RED, 2010
Eddie Redmayne and Alfred Molina take a bow on the opening night of the Broadway production of Red at the John Golden Theatre.
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GOD OF CARNAGE, 2009
Marcia Gay Harden & Hope Davis & James Gandolfini & Jeff Daniels during the Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for God Of Carnage at The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City.
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AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, 2008
Actress Deanna Dunagan (C) and The cast take The Opening Night Curtain Call for The Steppenwolf Theater Company’s August: Osage County on Broadway at The Imperial Theater.
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THE COAST OF UTOPIA, 2007
Playbill for The Coast Of Utopia, by Tom Stoppard.
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THE HISTORY BOYS, 2006
Richard Griffiths (as Hector) in a production of The History Boys by Alan Bennett.
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DOUBT, 2005
(L to R) Actors Adriane Lenox, Brian F. O’Byrne, Cherry Jones and Heather Goldenhersh perform during the curtain call of Doubt at the Walter Kerr Theater.
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I AM MY OWN WIFE, 2004
Actor Jefferson Mays appears at the curtain call of I Am My Own Wife.“
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TAKE ME OUT, 2003
Take Me Out cast during the curtain call on Opening Night on Broadway at The Walter Kerr Theatre.
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THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?, 2002
playbill for The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? by Edward Albee.
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PROOF, 2001
Playbill for Proof, by David Auburn
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COPENHAGEN, 2000
Playbill for Copenhagen, by Michael Frayn.
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SIDE MAN, 1999
Christian Slater, John Golden Theater, New York, 1998-99 (photo by Carol Rosegg)
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ART, 1998
Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber, Royale Theater, New York.
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THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, 1997
Terry Beaver, Cynthia Nixon, Celia Weston & Carole Shelley.
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MASTER CLASS, 1996
Playbill for Master Class, by Terrence McNally.
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LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!, 1995
Playbill for Love! Valour! Compassion!, by Terrence McNally.
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ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA, 1994
Playbill for Angels in America: Perestroika, by Tony Kushner.
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ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES, 1993
Ellen McLaughlin and Stephen Spinella, Broadway show.
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DANCING AT LUGHNASA, 1992
Jennifer Van Dyck and John Wesley Shipp, Plymouth Theatre, New York.
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LOST IN YONKERS, 1991
Danny Gerard, Mark Blum, Jamie Marsh and Irene Worth, Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York.
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THE GRAPES OF WRATH, 1990
Gary Sinise and Terry Kinney, Cort Theater, New York.
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THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, 1989
David Hyde Pierce and Christine Lahti, Plymouth Theater, New York.
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M.BUTTERFLY, 1988
Playbill for M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang.
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FENCES, 1987
Mary Alice, Ray Aranha and James Earl Jones, 46th Street Theater, New York.
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I’M NOT RARRAPORT, 1986
Cleavon Little, Jace Alexander and Harold Gould.
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BILOXI BLUES, 1985
(L-R) Director Gene Saks, Matthew Broderick and playwright Neil Simon.
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THE REAL THING, 1984
Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, Plymouth Theater, New York.
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TORCH SONG TRILOGY, 1983
Harvey Fierstein, Court Miller and Estelle Getty, Little Theatre, New York.
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THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, 1982
Roger Rees promotional image for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
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AMADEUS, 1981
Playbill of Amadeus by Peter Shaffer.
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CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, 1980
Phyllis Frelich and John Rubinstein, Longacre Theater, New York.
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THE ELEPHANT MAN, 1979
Philip Anglim and Kevin Conroy, Booth Theater, New York.
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DA, 1978
Lester Rawlins, David Leary and Barnard Hughes, Morosco Theater, New York.
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THE SHADOW BOX, 1977
Laurence Luckinbill, Patricia Elliott andMandy Patinkin, Morosco and Lunt-Fontanne Theaters, New York
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TRAVESTIES, 1976
Meg Wynn Owen, Tim Curry, John Bott, James Booth, Beth Morris, John Wood Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York.
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EQUUS, 1975
Anthony Hopkins, Peter Firth, Everett McGill, Plymouth and Helen Hayes Theaters, New York.
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THE RIVER NIGER, 1974
Playbill of The River Niger by Joseph A. Walker.
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THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, 1973
Bernie McInerney & Forrest Tucker, Booth Theatre, New York.
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STICKS AND STONES, 1972
Playbill of ‘Sticks and Stones’
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SLEUTH, 1971
Keith Baxter and Anthony Quayle, Music Box Theatre, New York.
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BORSTAL BOY, 1970
Playbill for Borstal Boy, by Frank McMahon
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THE GREAT WHITE HOPE, 1969
James Earl Jones as Jack Jefferson at the Alvin Theatre, New York.
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ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, 1968
Playbill for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard.
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THE HOMECOMING, 1967
Carolyn Jones; center: John Church, Music Box Theatre, New York.
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MARAT/SADE, 1966
Playbill for Marat/Sade, by Peter Weiss.
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THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, 1965
Irene Dailey, Martin Sheen, Jack Albertson, Royale Theatre, New York.
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LUTHER, 1964
The lead part of the Martin Luther is played by Albert Finney in Luther by John Osbourne.
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WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? 1963
Uta Hagen, Arthur Hill, Melinda Dillon & George Grizzard, Billy Rose Theatre.
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A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, 1962
Paul Scofield, Thomas Gomez & George Rose, Anta Theatre, New York.
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BECKET, 1961
Laurence Olivier, Hudson Theatre, New York/
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THE MIRACLE WORKER,1960
Anne Bancroft & Patty Duke, Playhouse Theatre.
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J.B. 1959
Playbill for J.B. by Archibald MacLeish
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SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO, 1958
Ralph Bellamy, Cort Theatre, New York.
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LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, 1957
Fredric March & Florence Eldridge, Helen Hayes Theater, New York.
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THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, 1956
Gusti Huber, Susan Strasberg & Jack Gilford, Cort Theater, New York.
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THE DESPERATE HOURS, 1955
Patricia Peardon, Karl Malden, Paul Newman, George Grizzard & Ethel Barrymore, Theatre, New York.
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THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON, 1954
The playbill for The Teahouse of the August Moon, John Patrick.
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THE CRUCIBLE, 1953
Arthur Kennedy & Madeleine Sherwood, Martin Beck Theater, New York.
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THE FOURPOSTER, 1952
Romney Brent & Sylvia Sidney, John Golden Theater, New York.
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THE ROSE TATTOO, 1951
Playbill for The Rose Tattoo, by Tennessee Williams.
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THE COCKTAIL PARTY, 1950
Playbill for The Cocktail Party, by T.S. Eliot
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DEATH OF A SALESMAN, 1949
Mildred Dunnock, Lee J. Cobb, Arthur Kennedy & Cameron Mitchell, Morosco Theatre, New York.
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MISTER ROBERTS, 1948
Jocelyn Brando, David Wayne and Henry Fonda.
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ALL MY SONS, 1947
Ed Begley and Arthur Kennedy, Coronet Theater, New York.
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