Cole Escola Pays Tribute to Bernadette Peters in Custom Wiederhoeft Dress at Tony Awards 2025

Cole Escola collaborated with Wiederhoeft to honor one of Broadway’s leading ladies at the Tony Awards 2025. Held on Sunday in New York City, the red carpet event featured the actor in an elaborate silver-blue gown with a fitted bodice and a dramatic train, which was inspired by the dress Bernadette Peters wore at the 1999 Tonys to accept her Best Actress win for “Annie Get Your Gun.”

Escola’s dress featured off-shoulder draped sleeves, sheer paneling at the chest, and intricate beaded embroidery running down the center. The silhouette was form-fitting through the torso and hips before flaring out into a full skirt with an extended train.

To complete their look, the actor wore a curly wig in an updo, nodding to Peters’ signature hairstyle.

Escola received five nominations for their play “Oh, Mary!,” including Best Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play. Throughout the run of their Broadway hit, Escola has often worn over-the-top outfits with theatrical flair, including the vibrant, floral suit by Christopher John Rogers they wore at the 2025 Met Gala.

The actor has also caught the attention of designers since starring in “Oh Mary!”. Escola closed Presley Oldham’s first-ever runway show in New York City in 2024, sat front row at Christian Cowan’s fall 2025 show and cohosted Thom Browne’s spring 2025 dinner during New York Fashion Week.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards, Broadway’s most prestigious honors, took place on Sunday at New York City’s iconic Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by Tony and Emmy Award winner Cynthia Erivo, the ceremony recognized outstanding achievements in Broadway productions from the 2024–25 season, capping a record-breaking year that saw nearly $2 billion in gross ticket sales and the second-highest attendance in Broadway history, with approximately 14.7 million theatergoers.