Below, find out how this year's crop of Tony Award nominees found out the news and their feelings about scoring a nod for their work this season.
For a full list of nominees, And keep checking this page for further updates as they come in.
Peter Mumford, Best Lighting Design for a Play and Musical, The Ferryman and King Kong
"I am absolutely delighted and honoured to receive two Tony Award nominations for two very different pieces of theatre, both of which are very close to my heart.
"I鈥檝e been involved with The Ferryman since its inception in London and it鈥檚 been wonderful to be a part of the production鈥檚 success on Broadway. It has to be one of the best plays that I鈥檝e ever been privileged to design the lighting for.
"King Kong is an epic musical that I鈥檝e seen grow into its Broadway manifestation over several years of preparation, and I鈥檓 so happy that the production has come home to New York in such a dynamic form.
Thank you to the Tony Awards for these nominations, I very much appreciate them.鈥�
Derrick Baskin, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Ain't Too Proud
"It's been a career highlight playing living legend Otis Williams each night, while working alongside the most incredibly giving cast and crew. Now to be recognized by the American Theater Wing is an absolute honor."
Kenneth Lonergan, Best Revival of a Play, The Waverly Gallery
鈥淲orking with Elaine May was one of the great experiences of my life. It's thrilling to be nominated alongside all these amazing shows. I loved this production and I鈥檓 very grateful to Lila Neugebauer and the entire stupendous cast for everything they gave to tell a very difficult story.鈥�
Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar, Best Original Score, The Prom
鈥淲e have been writing musicals together for over 25 years. It is beyond thrilling to be a part of the theatre community, which we love so much, and an absolute honor to be amongst such talented fellow nominees. To be recognized in this way for an original musical, is simply overwhelming. If we could go back and tell those two college kids, who first met over greasy fries in a NYC diner, that they would be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score, their minds would be blown. We share this with our amazing The Prom family who bring this show to life every night.鈥�
Dominique Morisseau, Best Book of a Musical, Ain't Too Proud
"The one thing I鈥檝e always told my cast is that we鈥檙e storytellers first, and the mission is to serve the people we are telling stories about. So in this case, that鈥檚 Detroit, Otis Williams, and the legendary group The Temptations. So this recognition makes me feel like we鈥檙e doing our jobs. And I want to add an extra, 'Hell yeah! Go Detroit!'鈥�
Laura Donnelly, Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, The Ferryman
"I鈥檓 so thrilled and honoured to be nominated in the company of such talented women. Bringing The Ferryman to Broadway has been an incredible journey. The play means so much to me on a personal level and for it to have been recognised in this way brings me immense pride and joy. The Tony nomination is the icing on top of a very special cake.鈥�
Robert Horn, Best Book of a Musical, Tootsie
"Three computers, two televisions, and a mother in Los Angeles. A screaming mother. It wasn鈥檛 even over the phone, I literally heard her in Los Angeles! I was ecstatic, I was just thrilled and excited and humbled. This is just been the bucket list thing for me all my life. I鈥檓 a musical boy. I grew up loving musicals, and to actually reach this sort of pinnacle, it鈥檚 truly humbling. It鈥檚 really exciting, and that this team got recognized is just so fantastic. They鈥檝e become like my family, and you root for them! So I was just excited by all of it.
"You can鈥檛 imagine what it鈥檚 like to hear this collective experience, and especially now more than anything. Being able to write funny is cathartic for me. It鈥檚 incredible to sit there and hear 1,600 people laughing at one time. What I also love as a comedy writer is when the show is quiet, and when it sits and it鈥檚 still, and you can hear a pin drop. And that鈥檚 when you know are taking that ride with you."
Amber Gray, Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Hadestown
鈥淭hank you to the Broadway League and The American Theater Wing for the personal honor and all of the Hadestown love. I am so proud to be sharing this work of art, night after night, and am thrilled people are resonating with it. There are so many fellow artists I adore, some I consider family, nominated this year, and I can鈥檛 wait to go on this celebratory ride with them. Congrats to all.鈥�
Andy Grotelueschen, Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Tootsie
"What a crazy morning! I couldn't be prouder of this show, and I'm ecstatic that NYC audiences are enjoying it. And personally, I just called my mom in Iowa and she screamed."
Ali Stroker, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Oklahoma!
"We were watching the news, and then we only saw the first half of it. So my boyfriend jumped up and looked online.
"I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e stopped smiling all morning. You feel like a little kid again, and partially because that鈥檚 the first time you begin dreaming about something like this. And to arrive at a place in my life and my career where it鈥檚 happening and it鈥檚 real is just so special. I feel so honored. And to be nominated alongside Mary Testa, who is also in the show, who is a friend and a mentor. I view her as a Broadway legend, it鈥檚 just such an honor."
Robin De Jes煤s, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, The Boys in the Band
"I made breakfast for two of my best friends from back home who were with me. One鈥檚 my roommate, so she鈥檚 always with me. So, I was trying to make breakfast and they鈥檙e like, 鈥楻obin, stop making breakfast! Get over here, they鈥檙e announcing the nominees!鈥� Our computers weren鈥檛 streaming for some reason, so we were watching it on an iPhone and they made me stop cooking and we sat down together and when we heard the show get nominated, I just felt such relief and joy that it was remembered and acknowledged. Although I have to say, in my core, I kind of knew it would be. I felt like it would the show itself would just work out that way, but when they called my name specifically, the three of us were huddled in a corner sobbing. It was nice. If I鈥檓 being really honest, I think that this one right now for me makes me feel very seen by my own community in a way that鈥檚 a little deeper than being nominated for an award. I think we, as actors, we all go through life wanting to be seen and we鈥檙e in a business where you don鈥檛 always feel that way, so it鈥檚 on a鈥擨 don鈥檛 even know how to say this. It鈥檚 not so much about the award so much as it is the sense of community for me and the big old bear hug from my community."
Adam Cork, Best Sound Design of a Play, Ink
"I'm deeply honoured to be nominated for my work on Ink, hugely grateful to the MTC for inviting us to bring the show to New York, and I'm thrilled for my colleagues on the show who have also received nominations today. It's a collaborative piece we're all very proud of!"
Sergio Trujillo, Best Choreography, Ain't Too Proud
"I was feeding my 1-year-old his breakfast. I鈥檓 beyond thrilled and so incredibly honored to be part of the team, and more important, that the actual show was acknowledged in the way that it has been. And I鈥檓 very proud of the story we are telling and of the talent that鈥檚 up on that stage.
"I鈥檝e been involved for about three years. This is my third bio-musical, this is the one that I felt the most pressure on because their choreography comes with such hype, and they鈥檙e just legendary鈥擳he Temptations. So for me to figure out how to pay homage to them, and still have my own point of view and put my own stamp on it, that became my greatest challenge.
"The audience is the biggest barometer of any of this stuff. What we do is try to entertain and bring joy to the audience. And the music is timeless and what the journey of these men has been is absolutely inspiring. To be able to celebrate them and this period in music history is important, and really gratifying."
Rob Howell, Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design of a Play, The Ferryman
"I am thrilled about these nominations. It鈥檚 enough luck to get to move our show from London to Broadway, so these nine nominations seem embarrassingly greedy.
"Of course, I am learning very fast how to manage the embarrassment and celebrate today鈥檚 news."
Bradley King, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Hadestown
"My wife actually commutes to lower Manhattan by ferry. So after dropping my daughter off at pre-school, we were standing on the ferry dock, with one headphone each, watching the nominations on Facebook on her phone.
"Shock, which I鈥檓 still experiencing. Humility. Mostly just really excited for Ana茂s Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin, who are two of the most incredible women I鈥檝e had the pleasure or opportunity to work with. It鈥檚 been one of the smoother pieces I鈥檝e worked on because there鈥檚 so much richness in the material for me to play of off."
Alex Brightman, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Beetlejuice
"I woke up like literally five minutes before the thing and then I had to Google, 鈥榃here do they do the nominations and how can I watch them?鈥� and within two minutes鈥擨 mean literally, I felt like I was an old man鈥攆ound the Facebook live thing and as I turned it on, they started and I think we were like three categories in so I was thrilled. I know it goes in alphabetical order so I heard Brooks Ashmanskas, Derrick Baskin, and then when it came to my name, I was two-fifths in the air. It was very cool. I was alone and it was very nice to just be recognized in a way that not many people get to do, it鈥檚 very cool.
"This production is the sum of many parts so a ton of people have gone into what is Beetlejuice the show and what I鈥檓 doing as the character. It鈥檚 huge not just for me, at all, I mean it鈥檚 great. I鈥檓 thrilled to be a representative. But it is so much bigger than me, and I鈥檓 more than thrilled to share it with everybody. It means that I get to go hug my friends and thank them for being incredible scene partners that made me look good onstage with them. I鈥檓 excited for everybody, I鈥檓 psyched that we got eight nominations."
Ephraim Sykes, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Ain't Too Proud
鈥淭here鈥檚 no way to truly express how honored and humbled I am at this moment. Getting to portray David Ruffin in a Broadway show was already a dream I could never have dreamt, and now being recognized by The American Theatre Wing and sharing this moment with my brothers Derrick Baskin and Jeremy Pope!? I鈥檓 in tears! I just give all glory and honor to God and all of my love to my Ain鈥檛 Too Proud fam, friends, family, and the entire Broadway community!鈥�
Janet McTeer, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, Bernhardt/Hamlet
"I鈥檓 so happy! I woke up in Maine to find an exploding cellphone. I didn鈥檛 know they were being announced today and also since we closed in November I had presumed everyone would have forgotten! I鈥檓 thrilled for [playwright[ Theresa [Rebeck] and [director] Moritz [von Stuelpnagel] and all the cast, the entire production team, as it鈥檚 a testament to them and congratulations to Toni[-Leslie James] for her costume nomination! And I鈥檓 sure the great Sarah Bernhardt is smiling somewhere. I鈥檓 going to have a blueberry muffin and go and walk the dog by the ocean to celebrate. What fun! So thrilled."
Mart Crowley, Best Revival of a Play, The Boys in the Band
鈥淣ever in a million years did I imagine that I would be a Tony nominee at this point in my career. Everything about this production has been an unexpected delight and to be honored with a nomination is beyond my wildest dreams. I can鈥檛 thank Joe Mantello, Ryan Murphy, David Stone and the brilliant company enough. This 83-year old first-time Tony nominee couldn鈥檛 be happier this morning!鈥�
Julie White, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
"I was at home. I knew the nominations were happening and I was really praying for some nominations for our show to help it stay open! And then I was like, 'Shit, did they announce them at 8 AM?' I didn鈥檛 know when they were being announced. But it got to be around 8:45 and no one had called me and I was like, 'Oh shit.' And then my agent called me and said, 'Congratulations! You鈥檙e a three-time Tony nominee.' You can鈥檛 help yourself, you鈥檙e like, 'What, no way! Is this a really cruel joke?' But then he gave me a lowdown and the play and Taylor and Santo and George and Kristine. It鈥檚 going to be happy news on the second floor dressing room level. I鈥檓 really really mad that Nathan was snubbed because there is no Gary without Nathan Lane and he is absolutely genius in the part and it鈥檚 a joy to be with him on the stage and he鈥檚 been nothing but so generous to me throughout this crazy process!"
Bartlett Sher, Best Direction of a Play, To Kill a Mockingbird
"I was in Berlin. I鈥檓 directing an opera here in East Berlin and I rehearsed this morning and headed to the airport and here we are! Really, really extraordinary. We all worked very hard on it, I was very moved and delighted for everybody. I鈥檒l hopefully see everyone tomorrow and celebrate with them and tell them how amazing they are. I鈥檝e been friends with Celia for 15 years and to see her grow so powerfully in this work and to be lucky enough to work with Jeff and see him lead our company so beautifully and to feel so close to Gideon and for my dear friend Adam Guettel to receive a nomination is just great."
Andr茅 De Shields, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Hadestown
"The first call came from California from all places. It started like a churning in my stomach, and I thought, 'This is a curious response.' The churning I experienced was the same kind of feeling you get when you鈥檙e going to throw up. And no sooner did I think that, I started to cry. And I thought, 'Oh wow.' This is more than just a Tony nomination, this is an emotion that has been pent up in me for so long, for so many reasons, and representing so many communities of people. That here is the release expressed in a Tony nomination for Hadestown. It鈥檚 sort of perfect.
Andr茅 De Shields in the original Broadway cast of Hadestown
Matthew Murphy"It is terribly, importantly meaningful for me. First of all, I鈥檓 celebrating my half-century being a performer. I鈥檓 celebrating my 73rd birthday. I鈥檓 celebrating my third Tony Award nomination. There are people coming back into my life from my childhood, from my school days, from college, people I鈥檝e taught. People who have taught me. Perhaps the most meaningful expression I鈥檝e received came from a friend in Ohio, who simply said, 'Look over your shoulder. I鈥檓 standing there.'
"The challenge of the role was claiming it, and re-claiming it. I understand that Rachel Chavkin, who I call 鈥淐havkin the Great鈥� and Ana茂s Mitchell, who I call 鈥淭he Oracle,鈥� are writing a legend here from Hadestown. They are writing a legend about women being self-empowered, about strong Feminism. And that legend takes precedence over any other story that鈥檚 being told, and I respect that. However, I want to tell this story. That in 2012 Anais Mitchell did a workshop of Hadestown at Second Stage in a studio. That doesn鈥檛 get mentioned. What I鈥檓 claiming now, is having invented Hermes in 2012. And infected him with my DNA and having planted a boomerang in him, saying, 'I know you鈥檙e going to go away from me. But come back.' It took seven years, but he鈥檚 back to me now. It really resonates with great significance."
Laurie Metcalf, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, Hillary and Clinton
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a wonderful honor to get nominated for playing this role. It鈥檚 an honor I share with our brilliant playwright, Lucas Hnath, all three of my incredible scene partners, and the great Joe Mantello.鈥�
Bertie Carvell, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, Ink
"I was in bed, half asleep. I rolled over, glanced down, and saw reams of messages from friends, family, agents, all saying the same thing. So that was very nice. I鈥檓 just absolutely thrilled. I think there was a time when I felt it seemed decorous to seem embarrassed to be singled out, but I've grown out of that. Now I鈥檓 just absolutely thrilled. People say it glibly, it takes a village, but it鈥檚 true. And I鈥檓 thrilled we鈥檝e been recognized in so many different categories because it's a team effort and I think the nominations the play has received recognized that. But very nice for me to be the mascot!"
James Graham, Best Play, Ink
"I just feel so honored to see Ink feature in the Best Play category, especially alongside such incredible shows and these fellow writers I admire. Writing plays can be a scary thing (especially when they're about Rupert Murdoch!) and also a lonely thing before you share them with others. So to be on Broadway and among this welcoming community is pretty much a dream come true. I'm so proud to be at MTC in particular, alongside Choir Boy in the same category, and to have five other nominations for our show including Rupert for directing and Bertie for his amazing performance as Murdoch. We've only just opened and I can't wait to keep sharing this show with audiences in the weeks and months ahead."
Camille A. Brown, Best Choreography, Choir Boy
"My best friends called me screaming! That was my wake-up call. I was speechless. I just kept saying, 鈥楢re you serious? Are you serious?鈥� and they read the list and I said 鈥極h my goodness, oh my goodness,鈥� and then I was just quiet for like three minutes. I haven鈥檛 had time to really process it, so I have so many emotions, but the one that comes to the forefront is gratitude to the Tony committee, gratitude to Trip Cullman the director, and Tarell and my associate choreographer for creating such a safe and uplifting space for me. We never do anything alone so any time that I get to say thank you to those people that believe in my work, that鈥檚 what I feel, and the fact that it鈥檚 also acknowledging movements of the African diaspora onstage, it means so much."
Sarah Stiles, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Tootsie
"I was sleeping. I was at the Actors Fund gala until late last night. My boyfriend comes into the room, and I wake up to him just hugging me, and he鈥檚 looming over me with his face in my face, and he goes, 'Congratulations.' And my eyes just popped open, and I was like, 'Really!?!'
"It鈥檚 such an incredible season, the shows are so great. The performances are off the charts. And this category is just filled with bad asses鈥攁nd one of my co-stars, which is so thrilling. I just connected with Lilli Cooper on the phone, both of us were just screaming.
"I鈥檓 so grateful and so honored. Because I鈥檝e done this before, I know what to expect. I can鈥檛 wait to hang out with all of these people, and really get to know them. And we鈥檙e going to get to know the photographers, the reporters, and that鈥檚 a part I really love about it鈥攇etting to connect with everyone in the community on a deeper level. It鈥檚 going to be really fun."
Taylor Mac, Best Play, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
鈥淚鈥檓 feeling so so proud of Gary and all involved. Our play asks the question, 鈥淗ow can one cope when chaos permeates?鈥� And the answer is, at least on this Tuesday morning: put on a play that grapples with the horror of the world and put it on with a bunch of exceptional humans. Thank you to everybody who championed this new play and all the other work this season.鈥�
Bryan Cranston, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, Network
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to stay Mad as Hell when you鈥檙e nominated for a Tony! Thank you to the members of the American Theater Wing and The Broadway League for this recognition.鈥�
Ana茂s Mitchell, Best Original Score and Best Book Hadestown
"I鈥檓 kind of a tech dunce and I couldn鈥檛 figure out how to follow it on my phone on CBS so I just had Rachel Chavkin, our director, text me every time there was a nomination. I was on a thread with Rachel and Amber Gray and it was like 鈥極rchestrations! Sound design!鈥� and then as many emojis as I could possibly find to shoot back about how it went!"
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"The main thing I鈥檓 feeling is I鈥檓 just so grateful. Overwhelmed and grateful. This show has taken a long and winding road to Broadway, we didn鈥檛 know that this is where we would end up and so many amazing artists have put their hands on it and sprinkled their fairy dust on it over the years and kept it moving forward, so I鈥檓 thinking about all of them today, from the very beginning. To the many who were nominated along with me in the show today, I鈥檓 so grateful for the recognition for them because it鈥檚 been so much joyful hard work."
Tarell Alvin McCraney, Best Play, Choir Boy
鈥�Choir Boy inspired me, motivated me watching that amazing cast led by Jeremy Pope, and that incredible production directed by Trip Cullman everyday I knew we had to do everything we could to tell stories yet untold. I鈥檓 honored by this nomination ... all of them. I鈥檓 so excited to see so much of our production recognized; especially alongside folks like Taylor Mac. It鈥檚 humbling. I hope we鈥檝e made MTC proud. #ForDrew鈥�
Damon Daunno, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Oklahoma!
"I rolled over in bed and got a phone call from my agent [which elicited] a very sleepy fist in the air!
"It really means the world. I鈥檓 just overwhelmed with gratitude to be a part of this project and for this project to be recognized in this way and for this community to welcome me in this way really just means the world."
Nick Powell, Best Sound Design of a Play, The Ferryman
鈥淭his is a great surprise and amazing to receive this nomination in my favourite city. It feels like the culmination of an epic journey with this epic play - well over two years since we first started. It鈥檚 been an honour to bring the banshees鈥� wails to Broadway, and a privilege to be in the company of the other nominees.鈥�
Kelli O鈥橦ara, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Kiss Me, Kate
I was at the Today Show about to do our number and I found out right before I went on air. It never gets old. I was on pins and needles, I have to admit. It鈥檚 always a nice gift. It is a challenging show these days. A lot of misogyny. Our challenge was to pay homage to the classic and beautiful musical piece that it is鈥攊t鈥檚 the first Tony Award-winning musical鈥攂ut to also shine light on the things that aren鈥檛."
David Neumann, Best Choreography, Hadestown
"I found out via text messages. I wasn鈥檛 watching, I didn鈥檛 think I could handle it. It means the world to me, it鈥檚 lovely to be recognized like this. I鈥檓 really happy to have been part of this project, and to work with such a talented and lovely group of people."
Patrick Page, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured role in a Musical, Hadestown
"As with many musicals your work has to be very precise and detailed, because you aren鈥檛 given a lot of dialogue. You know, with Hamlet, if you blow the first soliloquy, you still have four more to go. But with a musical like Hadestown, if I don鈥檛 quite make the right emotional turns at the right point, if I don鈥檛 hit the right things, then it sort of cascades and the whole performance becomes less effective than it could have been. So it鈥檚 about precision, hitting each beat precisely is the most challenging part of the show."
Stephanie J. Block, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, The Cher Show
"We live in New Jersey, so we don鈥檛 get NY1, and I鈥檓 not on Facebook, and neither is Sebastian, but our babysitter Shelly came over and we watched it on her computer, because she is on Facebook.
"It takes a while to digest. It was really beautiful. It was also the first name announced, so it was a relief. This is the first time I鈥檝e been nominated while still doing a show. Drood had closed and so had Falsettos. So knowing that I鈥檓 going to go back to the Neil Simon with my Cher Show family and I鈥檓 going to honor them and celebrate them, and carry them with me these next few weeks. It feels huge, and really special."
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, To Kill a Mockingbird
鈥淭his day started differently than past nominations mornings. Previously, waking up at 8:30 felt extremely early, but this year, my 4-year-old came into our room around 6:15 AM so I鈥檝e been up for a couple of hours.
"I am so enormously proud to be a part of this production and the first person I thought of when these nominations were announced was Harper Lee. I wish she was alive to witness this production and I hope she鈥檇 feel so proud of what Aaron Sorkin has made and that something she wrote in 1960 about 1934 is having such a huge impact in 2019. She鈥檚 the reason we all get to be here and I am so moved that her contribution lives on through these awards.
"I am, of course, so grateful to be nominated, but this production has been a true collaboration from the start. So it is especially meaningful to me that so many people were recognized.
"I am so thankful, especially to Gideon and Will, since we are such a trio and so much of my performance hinges on them鈥擨 rely on them completely both as actors and humans every single time we perform. I鈥檓 over the moon for Gideon.鈥�
Gideon Glick, Best Performance by an Actor in a featured Role in a Play, To Kill a Mockingbird
鈥淚 am utterly shell shocked and beaming with gratitude. I鈥檝e been working in this community since I was 17 years old and to be recognized and acknowledged in this way is very moving. I am so proud of the work that our cast, creative team, and crew have poured into this show, and I feel very lucky to be able to tell this story and to play this character every day. Aaron, Bart, and Scott have created something quite remarkable at the Shubert Theater and I feel so deeply grateful to be a part of it.鈥�
Caitlin Kinnunen, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, The Prom
鈥淚鈥檓 shocked and honored and completely overwhelmed. I鈥檓 so happy to be a part of this incredible show. We鈥檝e all worked so hard to make this happen. I鈥檓 crying the happiest of tears.鈥�
Kristine Nielsen, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured role in a Play, Gary
"I don鈥檛 think [co-star Julie White and I] expected to be facing off! I was sound asleep! I was sort of not anticipating this at all, so my agent called and woke me up. And my niece, crying and hysterical.
"I think [tonight] will be a combination of things, I think Julie and I will be laughing, and we鈥檒l celebrate Nathan Lane because none of us would be there without his commitment to this play. He is just one of our greats. And I'll be excited to celebrate [playwright Taylor Mac]. It鈥檚 his first and hopefully there will be many many more for him! I鈥檓 happy because it鈥檚 not an easy play to assume would be a fan favorite, but when we come out and see all those young people every night, it feels so exciting to be in something that feels like the beginning of an exciting, new emerging playwright. And I鈥檓 going to celebrate by not going to the gym!"
Adam Driver, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, Burn This
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to articulate the honor it is to be nominated. I鈥檓 beyond thrilled to be a part of this play, with this cast and director, and this production team. It鈥檚 a meaningful moment in my life that I鈥檓 very grateful for.鈥�
Jim Nicola, Best Play and Best Musical, What the Constitution Means to Me and Hadestown
"One is always fearful and hopeful in those moments. That was a big surprise, the number [of nominations Hadestown received: 14]. I guess I can鈥檛 escape my New England Protestant childhood to always be suspicious of the good moments and remember the others! I did think a lot about particular those two central creators, Heidi [Schreck] and Ana茂s {MItchell], and this is such a great marker along the way of a lifelong journey for those two people. They each took 10 years to make these pieces and to see people have that kind of commitment and devotion and respect for the gift that鈥檚 been given to them... The shape of a life like that, that commits to giving us all something that makes us better, is really moving to me and in a moment like this I really think about those outstanding lives. And two women! It鈥檚 almost always been men. So that鈥檚 really another notable moment."
Mary Testa, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Oklahoma!
"My agent called me this morning at 8:35 or whatever time it was. I鈥檓 delighted. I鈥檓 just delighted! I鈥檓 very proud and I鈥檓 proud to be in this lovely group of women that have been nominated, most of us being friends, so it鈥檚 lovely.
"I鈥檓 very proud of this show. I鈥檝e been involved with it for a long time. It鈥檚 lovely to be recognized. I also understand how this business works, there鈥檚 no guarantees of anything, but I鈥檓 thrilled to be nominated. I鈥檓 very satisfied because I think this piece, by everybody, is extraordinary so I鈥檓 thrilled. I鈥檓 just thrilled!"
Scott Ellis, Best Direction of a Musical, Tootsie
鈥淢y husband and I have two kids so he said, 鈥榃hy don鈥檛 I take the kids to school and you stay here?鈥� and I said 鈥極K.鈥� We got a new TV so I have no clue how to turn the TV on, and I mean none. I was like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know how to turn the TV on.鈥� So I had to call him and he ran home and was like, 鈥極K, here it is.鈥� So we got it right in the nick of time. When CBS stopped, we were like, 鈥楴ow what do we do?鈥� We couldn鈥檛 figure out how to get on, so we鈥檙e finding it online and I just wanted to see how everyone was doing. Luckily The Today Show had a whole thing of Kelli and the cast of Kiss Me, Kate was doing 鈥淭oo Darn Hot鈥� so literally the moment it was done, we switched over and we just caught the beginning of it with Kelli talking, so it was a perfect half an hour.
"This is my ninth time, but this time I have to say, because of both shows running and getting nominated, it happened to me once before, but it just makes it special because you鈥檙e grateful for being able to do what you love to do and being in this business and then you鈥檙e grateful for two shows that have done well and having those nominations for both shows say everything about everybody involved with those shows. It probably would be harder if one wasn鈥檛 nominated and another one was, not probably, it would have been! So it鈥檚 an incredibly great thing to have them both celebrated."
Brandon Uranowitz, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, Burn This
"This was the first time I actually got up and watched. I had never done it before and I couldn鈥檛 sleep and my boyfriend is in China, so I was super antsy so I just bit the bullet and watched.
"I didn鈥檛 even really have time to scream because as soon as they announced my name, my buzzer rang鈥攁nd Robbie Fairchild and Sarah Esty were down in my lobby with noisemakers and bagels. I have the best friends in the entire world, but also, at the same time, I was like, 'What were you guys going to do if I didn鈥檛 get nominated?' 'We would have been here to comfort you! And thrown the noisemakers away.'
I was so thrilled they had the confidence because I sure as hell didn鈥檛. And we got nominated for Best Revival! I鈥檓 so thrilled about that. I鈥檓 so proud and thrilled!"
Casey Nicholaw, Best Direction of a Musical, The Prom
"Basically I was waiting until it was online because I didn鈥檛 know how to stream it. Then my phone started blowing up. I was so happy for the show, and for Kaitlin, Beth, and Brooks. The show has been such a close one to us and to our hearts. It really feels great that we are here after starting to work on it seven years ago. We spent so much time working on it, and tweaking it, and getting the tone right. It feels really good to be here.
"This one feels so personal to all of us, it鈥檚 been our baby. Most of the actors involved have been with it since the beginning, and we鈥檝e been able to create it around them and for them. It鈥檚 such a collaborative effort, and that鈥檚 what鈥檚 great. It feels really rewarding this moment."
Jeff Daniels, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, To Kill a Mockingbird
鈥淚t is an honor to play Atticus Finch on Broadway. And now this. Thank you, Broadway League and American Theatre Wing.鈥�
Lilli Cooper, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Tootsie
"I rolled over in bed and I slept through the broadcast. I didn鈥檛 set my alarm because I kind of wanted to wake up鈥攁nd I luckily woke up to 50-plus text messages and that was my first hint! And my mom called me and was the one to actually tell me, which was pretty awesome.
"She was freaking out, she was screaming on the phone. She was just so happy and joyous and proud. Then my boyfriend called me, and he鈥檚 actually in Phoenix right now so he鈥檚 three hours behind and he screamed at the top of his lungs in his hotel room and he鈥檚 pretty sure he woke everyone else up in the hotel!
I鈥檓 still sort of processing it. It feels like a culmination of a lot of work and I鈥檓 really proud of my work in the show and I鈥檓 really proud of everyone鈥檚 work in the show and I鈥檓 just happy that we could get the recognition for it. It just feels very surreal... I don鈥檛 know that I鈥檝e fully taken it in yet!"
Richie Jackson, Best Revival of a Play, Torch Song
"I was in the middle of our morning bike ride. Jordan [Roth]'s and my two-and-a-half year son, I take him on a bike ride every morning and my phone beeped. And I did not check my phone while biking鈥擨 can't get a call from my mother asking if I really read and biked鈥攁nd Jordan had texted me.
"It鈥檚 so moving to me that the production has resonated and stayed with people. This play stayed with me for 36 years after seeing it in 1983 with my mother, so I can鈥檛 stop thinking about the original. When it won the Tony I was working in the Haagen Dazs in Merrick, Long Island, and my mother called me to tell me the good news. So this is a full circle that I don鈥檛 think anyone could have written
"And I want to say: There鈥檚 no Torch Song without Michael Urie. I cast Michael because not only is he an extraordinary actor but I wanted young LGBTQ youth to have the role model offstage that I had with Harvey when I was 17."
Sam Mendes, Best Direction of a Play
鈥淚鈥檓 absolutely thrilled to have been nominated. The Ferryman has been one of the best experiences of my professional life, and this really is the cherry on the cake.鈥�
Heidi Schreck, Best Play and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play, What the Constitution Means to Me
鈥淚鈥檓 truly in shock, I鈥檓 not gonna lie! I know everyone says it. I tried to plan to sleep through it, so I set my alarm right past it but I woke up anyway.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to do the show every night, but I think tonight will be very special. I鈥檝e been texting with my stage manager because Mike [Iveson] and the debaters and I pick a motto before we go on stage, kind of a reason or doing it, and tonight will be extra special.
鈥淭he first [nomination, for Best Play], I had hopes. I tried not to get my hopes up too high, but I did have hopes. I did not expect to be nominated as an actress and I鈥檓 so honored, especially with that group of women who are all my heroes. And I got choked up! I just love them all so much.鈥�
Fionnula Flanagan, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, The Ferryman
鈥淚鈥檓 sort of wandering around in a daze, here, not quite believing it. I got two calls from Europe to say congratulations and I thought, 鈥楳y god, what is this?鈥� Thrilling, totally thrilling. I wasn鈥檛 so much surprised as shocked into paying attention! It just shows Maggie Faraway is never that far away鈥攕he鈥檚 wandering around my apartment!鈥�
