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
Image Credit: Julieta Cervantes 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
Image Credit: Matthew Murphy ‘The Inheritance’ cast, with John Benjamin Hickey second from left
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THE INHERITANCE, 2021
Image Credit: Matthew Murphy Lois Smith, Samuel H.Levin in the The Inheritance.
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THE FERRYMAN, 2019
Image Credit: Joan Marcus Considine in The Ferryman.
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HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, 2018
Image Credit: Manuel Harlan Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at New York’s Lyric Theatre.
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OSLO, 2017
Image Credit: T Charles Erickson Photography Oslo By J.T. Rogers at Lincoln Center Theater, Vivian Beaumont, Broadway Premiere.
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THE HUMANS, 2016
Image Credit: Paul Zimmerman/WireImage (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
Image Credit: Michael Stewart/WireImage 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
Image Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic 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
Image Credit: Walter McBride/Corbis via Getty Images 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
Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images 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
Image Credit: David Howells/Corbis via Getty Images 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
Image Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images 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
Image Credit: Walter McBride/Corbis via Getty Images 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
Image Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic 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
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for The Coast Of Utopia, by Tom Stoppard.
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THE HISTORY BOYS, 2006
Image Credit: robbie jack/Corbis via Getty Images Richard Griffiths (as Hector) in a production of The History Boys by Alan Bennett.
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DOUBT, 2005
Image Credit: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images (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
Image Credit: Peter Kramer/Getty Images Actor Jefferson Mays appears at the curtain call of I Am My Own Wife.“
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TAKE ME OUT, 2003
Image Credit: Bruce Glikas/Getty Images 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
Image Credit: Playbill playbill for The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? by Edward Albee.
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PROOF, 2001
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Proof, by David Auburn
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COPENHAGEN, 2000
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Copenhagen, by Michael Frayn.
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SIDE MAN, 1999
Image Credit: Carol Rosegg/Everett Christian Slater, John Golden Theater, New York, 1998-99 (photo by Carol Rosegg)
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ART, 1998
Image Credit: Carol Rosegg/Everett Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber, Royale Theater, New York.
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THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, 1997
Image Credit: Carol Rosegg/Everett Terry Beaver, Cynthia Nixon, Celia Weston & Carole Shelley.
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MASTER CLASS, 1996
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Master Class, by Terrence McNally.
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LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!, 1995
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Love! Valour! Compassion!, by Terrence McNally.
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ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA, 1994
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Angels in America: Perestroika, by Tony Kushner.
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ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES, 1993
Image Credit: Joan Marcus/Everett Collection Ellen McLaughlin and Stephen Spinella, Broadway show.
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DANCING AT LUGHNASA, 1992
Image Credit: Tom Lawlor Jennifer Van Dyck and John Wesley Shipp, Plymouth Theatre, New York.
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LOST IN YONKERS, 1991
Image Credit: Martha Swope/Everett Collection Danny Gerard, Mark Blum, Jamie Marsh and Irene Worth, Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York.
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THE GRAPES OF WRATH, 1990
Image Credit: Peter Cunningham/Everett Collection Gary Sinise and Terry Kinney, Cort Theater, New York.
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THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, 1989
Image Credit: Peter Cunningham/Everett David Hyde Pierce and Christine Lahti, Plymouth Theater, New York.
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M.BUTTERFLY, 1988
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang.
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FENCES, 1987
Image Credit: Ron Scherl/Everett Collection Mary Alice, Ray Aranha and James Earl Jones, 46th Street Theater, New York.
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I’M NOT RARRAPORT, 1986
Image Credit: Chris Bennion/Everett Cleavon Little, Jace Alexander and Harold Gould.
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BILOXI BLUES, 1985
Image Credit: Everett Collection (L-R) Director Gene Saks, Matthew Broderick and playwright Neil Simon.
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THE REAL THING, 1984
Image Credit: Everett Collection Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, Plymouth Theater, New York.
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TORCH SONG TRILOGY, 1983
Image Credit: Everett Collection Harvey Fierstein, Court Miller and Estelle Getty, Little Theatre, New York.
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THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, 1982
Image Credit: Everett Collection Roger Rees promotional image for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
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AMADEUS, 1981
Image Credit: Everett Collection Playbill of Amadeus by Peter Shaffer.
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CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, 1980
Image Credit: Everett Phyllis Frelich and John Rubinstein, Longacre Theater, New York.
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THE ELEPHANT MAN, 1979
Image Credit: Everett Collection Philip Anglim and Kevin Conroy, Booth Theater, New York.
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DA, 1978
Image Credit: Everett Collection Lester Rawlins, David Leary and Barnard Hughes, Morosco Theater, New York.
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THE SHADOW BOX, 1977
Image Credit: Everett Collection Laurence Luckinbill, Patricia Elliott andMandy Patinkin, Morosco and Lunt-Fontanne Theaters, New York
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TRAVESTIES, 1976
Image Credit: Everett Meg Wynn Owen, Tim Curry, John Bott, James Booth, Beth Morris, John Wood Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York.
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EQUUS, 1975
Image Credit: Everett Collection Anthony Hopkins, Peter Firth, Everett McGill, Plymouth and Helen Hayes Theaters, New York.
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THE RIVER NIGER, 1974
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill of The River Niger by Joseph A. Walker.
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THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, 1973
Image Credit: Everett Bernie McInerney & Forrest Tucker, Booth Theatre, New York.
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STICKS AND STONES, 1972
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill of ‘Sticks and Stones’
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SLEUTH, 1971
Image Credit: Everett Collection Keith Baxter and Anthony Quayle, Music Box Theatre, New York.
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BORSTAL BOY, 1970
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Borstal Boy, by Frank McMahon
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THE GREAT WHITE HOPE, 1969
Image Credit: Everett James Earl Jones as Jack Jefferson at the Alvin Theatre, New York.
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ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, 1968
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard.
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THE HOMECOMING, 1967
Image Credit: Everett Collection Carolyn Jones; center: John Church, Music Box Theatre, New York.
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MARAT/SADE, 1966
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for Marat/Sade, by Peter Weiss.
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THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, 1965
Image Credit: Everett Collection Irene Dailey, Martin Sheen, Jack Albertson, Royale Theatre, New York.
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LUTHER, 1964
Image Credit: Eric Harlow/Mirrorpix/Getty Images 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
Image Credit: Everett Collection Uta Hagen, Arthur Hill, Melinda Dillon & George Grizzard, Billy Rose Theatre.
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A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, 1962
Image Credit: Everett Collection Paul Scofield, Thomas Gomez & George Rose, Anta Theatre, New York.
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BECKET, 1961
Image Credit: Everett Collection Laurence Olivier, Hudson Theatre, New York/
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THE MIRACLE WORKER,1960
Image Credit: Everett Collection Anne Bancroft & Patty Duke, Playhouse Theatre.
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J.B. 1959
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for J.B. by Archibald MacLeish
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SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO, 1958
Image Credit: Everett Collection Ralph Bellamy, Cort Theatre, New York.
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LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, 1957
Image Credit: Everett Collection Fredric March & Florence Eldridge, Helen Hayes Theater, New York.
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THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, 1956
Image Credit: Everett Collection Gusti Huber, Susan Strasberg & Jack Gilford, Cort Theater, New York.
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THE DESPERATE HOURS, 1955
Image Credit: Everett Collection Patricia Peardon, Karl Malden, Paul Newman, George Grizzard & Ethel Barrymore, Theatre, New York.
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THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON, 1954
Image Credit: Playbill The playbill for The Teahouse of the August Moon, John Patrick.
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THE CRUCIBLE, 1953
Image Credit: Fred Fehl/Everett Collection Arthur Kennedy & Madeleine Sherwood, Martin Beck Theater, New York.
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THE FOURPOSTER, 1952
Image Credit: Everett Collection Romney Brent & Sylvia Sidney, John Golden Theater, New York.
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THE ROSE TATTOO, 1951
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for The Rose Tattoo, by Tennessee Williams.
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THE COCKTAIL PARTY, 1950
Image Credit: Playbill Playbill for The Cocktail Party, by T.S. Eliot
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DEATH OF A SALESMAN, 1949
Image Credit: Everett Collection Mildred Dunnock, Lee J. Cobb, Arthur Kennedy & Cameron Mitchell, Morosco Theatre, New York.
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MISTER ROBERTS, 1948
Image Credit: Everett Collection Jocelyn Brando, David Wayne and Henry Fonda.
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ALL MY SONS, 1947
Image Credit: Everett Collection Ed Begley and Arthur Kennedy, Coronet Theater, New York.
