Double Tony Nominee Jan Maxwell Gets Teary at the Power of Theater

The morning the Tony nominations are announced, phones start ringing off the hook for the happy few who get nods. As usual, Broadway.com is among the callers offering congratulations and getting responses. Here are the first reactions from 2010 Tony nominees. Congrats to all!

Jan Maxwell
Nominated for Best Actress in a Play, The Royal Family
and Best Featured Actress in a Play, Lend Me a Tenor
“I went upstate on Sunday night and gave my husband a ‘do not call’ order. We have this tiny cabin that has no TV, no internet, no cell phone reception, no nothing. People on the street [in New York] had been saying to me, ‘You’re gonna get a double nomination,’ and I thought, ‘I’m being set up for the biggest fall of my life. I gotta get out of here!’ But this morning, curiosity got the best of me, so I went over to my neighbors’ house, got online, and stood there in my flannel pajamas going, ‘Oh. My. God.’ I was surprised by everything, because it was such a celebrity filled season. I’m so happy that both [plays] got best revival nominations. The Royal Family started everything off, and put some new air in my soul as far as theater goes, and [Lend Me a Tenor] is a lot of fun, and now this has sent me over the moon. I’ll sound like Pollyanna if I keep going, but I’m thrilled to be noticed, because I really believe in the theater. When I was driving into the little town of Phoenicia on Sunday night, I drove by this building that said ‘Shandaken Theatrical Society.’ There were people singing inside, and I just started to weep, because I know those people were having a wonderful time. Theater saves so many lives, and I’m honored to be part of it.”

For reactions from more of this year's Tony nominees, click here!