Tony Awards 2026: Bess Wohl's Pulitzer-Prize-winning 'Liberation' is crowned best play
Key takeaways
- Bess Wohl’s “Liberation” has won the Tony Award for best new play — a validation not just of her work but of the discernment of Tony voters.
- A playful work of historical reclamation, it re-creates a women’s consciousness-raising group at an Ohio recreation center in the 1970s.
- The play closed in February, putting it at a disadvantage with Tony voters whose theatergoing typically kicks into high gear in the spring.
The cast of the Broadway production of “Liberation” by Bess Wohl, directed by Whitney White. (Little Fang) By Charles Mc Nulty Theater Critic Follow June 7, 2026 6:22 PM PT 3 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Bess Wohl’s “Liberation” has won the Tony Award for best new play — a validation not just of her work but of the discernment of Tony voters.
A playful work of historical reclamation, it re-creates a women’s consciousness-raising group at an Ohio recreation center in the 1970s. The play, which received the Pulitzer Prize this year, was hands down the best work I read or saw since last year’s Pulitzer and Tony winner, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Purpose.” (Both dramas are part of the Geffen Playhouse’s next season.)