The Reigning Kings Of Broadway And West End: Who Is The Best Leading Actor In A Musical Right Now?
The landscape of musical theatre is constantly shifting, but the spotlight always finds its way to the truly exceptional performers. As of December 23, 2025, the title of "best leading actor in a musical" is a fiercely debated one, defined by a combination of critical acclaim, audience adoration, and the industry's most prestigious awards. The most definitive measure of current excellence comes from the 2025 Tony Awards on Broadway and the 2025 Olivier Awards in the West End, which have crowned the newest kings of the stage.
This article dives deep into the actors who have recently conquered these major awards, showcasing the talent, roles, and productions that have cemented their status as the finest performers in musical theatre today. From groundbreaking revivals to innovative new works, these artists are setting the standard for vocal power, dramatic depth, and magnetic stage presence.
The 2025 Award-Winning Leading Actors: Broadway and West End Crowns
The 2025 awards season delivered some truly spectacular and, in some cases, historic wins, providing a clear, fresh answer to the question of who is the best leading actor in a musical. These actors delivered performances that critics called career-defining and audiences found unforgettable.
Darren Criss: The 2025 Tony Award Winner
The biggest news on Broadway in 2025 was the triumph of Darren Criss, who took home the coveted Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. His win for the role of Oliver in the musical *Maybe Happy Ending* at the Belasco Theatre was a landmark moment, cementing his transition from television star to a certified theatrical powerhouse.
- Award Won: 2025 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.
- Winning Role/Show: Oliver in *Maybe Happy Ending*.
- Significance: Criss's victory was a major highlight, especially as he became the first Asian actor to win the Leading Actor in a Musical Tony Award. His performance was lauded for its emotional nuance and vocal precision in the new, futuristic musical.
- Competition: The field was incredibly strong, with nominees including Andrew Durand, Tom Francis, Jonathan Groff, James Monroe Iglehart, and Jeremy Jordan.
John Dagleish: The 2025 Olivier Award Champion
Across the Atlantic, the Olivier Awards 2025 celebrated the best of London's West End, with John Dagleish earning the Best Actor in a Musical award. Dagleish's transformative performance in the title role of *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* captivated audiences at the Ambassadors Theatre.
- Award Won: 2025 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
- Winning Role/Show: Benjamin Button in *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*.
- Career Context: This marked Dagleish's second Olivier Award, following his 2015 win for playing Ray Davies in *Sunny Afternoon*, demonstrating his consistent excellence on the London stage.
- The Production: *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* was praised for its innovative storytelling and Dagleish's ability to portray the character aging in reverse, a true test of a leading actor's range.
Topical Authority: The Recent Legacy-Defining Performances
To truly understand the "best" leading actors, it is essential to look at the recent past. The 2024 awards season featured performances that continue to define the gold standard for the art form, with actors who remain highly relevant and influential in the industry.
Jonathan Groff: The 2024 Tony Award Winner
The 2024 Tony Awards celebrated a landmark revival, with Jonathan Groff finally winning his first Tony for his work in the Stephen Sondheim masterpiece, *Merrily We Roll Along*. Groff's portrayal of the complicated and ambitious composer Franklin Shepard was hailed as a masterclass in dramatic musical theatre.
Groff, a veteran of both Broadway and screen (known for *Spring Awakening*, *Hamilton*, and *Mindhunter*), delivered a performance that critics deemed flawless, perfectly capturing the reverse chronology of the musical's narrative. His long-awaited win was one of the most celebrated moments of the 77th Annual Tony Awards, confirming his status as one of his generation's most important actors.
Tom Francis: The 2024 Olivier Award Breakout Star
The 2024 Olivier Awards saw the rise of Tom Francis, who secured the Best Actor in a Musical award for his performance as Joe Gillis in the Jamie Lloyd revival of *Sunset Boulevard*. Francis's raw, rock-infused take on the struggling screenwriter captivated London audiences, especially alongside his co-star, Nicole Scherzinger, who also won Best Actress.
The production's minimalist, high-concept staging put immense pressure on the two leads, and Francis rose to the challenge, delivering a performance that was both vocally and physically demanding. His win was a significant nod to a younger generation of West End talent, highlighting the power of a fresh interpretation of a classic role.
Brian d'Arcy James: The 2024 Drama Desk Honoree
Another noteworthy performance from the 2024 season was that of Brian d'Arcy James, who was honored by the critics with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical for his role in *Days of Wine and Roses*. The Drama Desk Awards, which honor Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions, have adopted a gender-neutral performance category, making this win a recognition of truly outstanding lead work.
D'Arcy James, a three-time Tony nominee known for his roles in *Shrek The Musical* and *Something Rotten!*, showcased his dramatic depth in the challenging role of an alcoholic in the new musical. His performance underscored the importance of dramatic acting within the musical theatre format, proving that the "best" actor is often the one who can seamlessly blend powerful singing with raw, emotional truth.
The Essential Entities of Musical Theatre Excellence
The best leading actors are often defined by the constellation of roles, collaborators, and awards that surround them. The current crop of winners and nominees provides a rich list of entities that define contemporary musical theatre excellence:
- Key Actors: Darren Criss, John Dagleish, Jonathan Groff, Tom Francis, Brian d'Arcy James, Jeremy Jordan, Andrew Durand, James Monroe Iglehart, Simon Lipkin, Jamie Muscato, Eddie Redmayne.
- Awarding Bodies: Tony Awards, Olivier Awards, Drama Desk Awards.
- Winning/Nominated Musicals (2024-2025): *Maybe Happy Ending*, *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*, *Merrily We Roll Along*, *Sunset Boulevard*, *Days of Wine and Roses*, *Water for Elephants*, *Oliver!*, *Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812*.
- Key Roles: Oliver (in *Maybe Happy Ending*), Benjamin Button, Franklin Shepard, Joe Gillis, Ray Davies.
- Composers/Creators: Stephen Sondheim, David Adjmi, Will Butler.
These entities—from the technical brilliance of Dagleish's reverse-aging performance to Criss's historic Tony win—demonstrate that the title of "best leading actor" is a dynamic and evolving honor. It requires not just a beautiful voice, but the dramatic intelligence to bring complex characters to life, whether in a classic revival or a brand-new work. The current leading men of Broadway and the West End are not just performers; they are the architects of the theatre's most powerful and memorable moments.
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