Patti LuPone on Her Sixth Tony Nomination: 'It Never Gets Old'

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 2011 Tony nominees. Congrats to all!

Patti LuPone
Nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

“I’m thrilled! I was surprised initially with the Outer Critics nomination and then the Drama Desk and then the Tony. Our show closed at the beginning of January and what is it now, May? That was a long time ago. I got a call from my publicist [about the nomination]. I was up early to meet with my gardener in Connecticut, and I was watching all the Osama bin Laden stuff on CNN; I’m obsessed right now with what’s going on in the world, so I was like, ‘Who’s calling me?’ when the phone rang. I’m thrilled for Laura [Benanti], I’m thrilled for [composer] David [Yazbek], I’m thrilled for me and I’m so thrilled for the piece. I’m very proud of Women on the Verge. I’m sad that it didn’t get a proper run, but I’m really glad that the Tony committee saw fit to recognize it. I think it was a very special piece. It was bold, it was original and that’s the thing we need on Broadway. We need more new material! [A Tony nomination] is a validation of one’s work. All of a sudden you think, ‘Well, I did a great job, thank god.’ It never gets old. Are you kidding?!”