Sydney Theatre Company’s genre-defying theatrical event, The Picture of Dorian Gray, has taken home Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for Sarah Snook and Best Costume Design of a Play for Marg Horwell at the 78th Tony Awards in New York City.
The Tony Awards, the highest honour in American theatre, celebrate outstanding achievements across Broadway productions. This season, The Picture of Dorian Gray stood out as a visionary solo production, adapted and directed by Williams, and powered by Snook’s magnetic stage presence.
The production was honoured in the following categories:
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play – Sarah Snook
- Best Costume Design of a Play – Marg Horwell
- Best Direction of a Play – Kip Williams
- Best Scenic Design of a Play – Marg Horwell and David Bergman
- Best Lighting Design of a Play – Nick Schlieper
- Best Sound Design of a Play – Clemence Williams
In her acceptance speech for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, Snook said: “This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway… it is billed as a one person show, but I don’t feel alone on any night that I do this show,” she said.
“There are so may people on stage making it work, and so many people behind the stage making it work – in particular a huge thank you to [adapter and director] Kip Williams who is incredible to create this,” said Snook.
“Sarah Snook’s Tony Award win is a deeply deserved honour. Her performance has captivated audiences night after night, and this recognition is a celebration of her extraordinary artistry,” said Michael Cassel, producer of the Broadway production. “It is also a proud moment for our entire creative team, whose vision and talent have also been recognised tonight.”
“From its beginnings in Sydney to standing ovations on the West End and Broadway, the journey of this show has been nothing short of phenomenal. This accolade is not only a testament to the brilliance of everyone involved, but also to the courage of Sydney Theatre Company and Kip Williams, whose creative genius, ambition and innovation made this groundbreaking piece of theatre possible. I am so proud to be a part of Australian theatre being shared on the global stage.”
Sarah Snook, making her Broadway debut, leads the virtuosic solo adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s only novel, portraying 26 characters in a performance hailed as a “tour-de-force.”
“A triumph! The sensational Sarah Snook wows in this breathtaking marvel of a play. She’s more volcanic than Vesuvius. The audience is wholly consumed.” – New York Post
Snook is best known for her role as Shiv Roy in HBO’s Succession, for which she earned an Emmy, two Golden Globes and two Critics’ Choice Awards. Her Olivier Award-winning performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray captivated London audiences in a sold-out West End season.
Originally premiering at Sydney Theatre Company in 2020, The Picture of Dorian Gray extended its season twice due to demand and toured nationally to critical acclaim. The London season saw Snook named Best Actress at the 2024 Olivier Awards, with Marg Horwell also honoured for Best Costume Design.
The Broadway season is produced by Michael Cassel, Adam Kenwright, Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen, Daryl Roth, Amanda Lipitz and Henry Tisch, with Foresight Theatrical as General Manager, Aaron Lustbader as Executive Producer, and Michael Cassel Group as Worldwide Executive Producer.
Opening 27 March 2025 at New York’s Music Box Theatre, The Picture of Dorian Gray is currently playing to 29 June 2025. The production has already made history – breaking the box office record at the 104-year-old venue.
For more information about The Picture of Dorian Gray, visit: www.doriangrayplay.com for details.
Image: Sarah Snook stars in The Picture of Dorian Gray – photo by Marc Brenner