Tony Nominee Katie Finneran Wishes She'd Worn 'Looser Undergarments' for Her First Tony Win!

It only took ten minutes of hilarious, scene-stealing stage time as brassy boozer Marge MacDougall for Katie Finneran to score her second Tony nomination for this season's Promises, Promises revival. While her current role may be brief, Finneran has plenty of stage time under her belt, including the opening night cast of current off-Broadway hit Love, Loss and What I Wore, Broadway musicals (Cabaret, My Favorite Year) and plays (Mauritius, Proposals). Here Finneran recalls the night she won her first Tony for the starry revival of Noises Off (also in the cast: Patti LuPone, Peter Gallagher, Faith Prince and T.R. Knight) and why she’ll always have a career…in Montana?

Which year did you win your first Tony?
2002

For which role and show?
Brooke Ashton in Noises Off

Where were the awards held?
Radio City Music Hall

Who hosted?
Bernadette Peters and Gregory Hines

What did you wear?
A red dress that Jeff Mahshie designed for me

Who was sitting next to you?
My mom, dad and brother Danny

Who did you think would win your category?
Kate Burton for The Elephant Man; she was also nominated for Hedda Gabler, which I had done with her.

What was the first thing that ran through your mind when they said your name?
“I hope I’m eloquent. My mind is a BLANK.”

Did you forget anyone?
About a hundred people

Did you cry?
Afterward

If you could relive that night, would you change anything?
Wish I’d had a chance to thank everyone, and looser undergarments

Who were you most surprised to hear from after your win?
Rick Adams, my ninth grade drama teacher

Did winning a Tony change your life? How?
Yep. I know that I will always be able to do a show somewhere, like “Montana Presents Tony Winner…”

What’s your biggest memory of the night?
Calling Uta Hagen from Radio City Hall

What’s the best piece of advice you can offer for getting through Tony night?
Good foundation garments—and don’t drink anything

Where do you keep your Tony?
On my parents’ piano in Miami