'Stunned' Tony Nominee Stark Sands is 'Rooting' for His Kinky Boots Rival to Win

The morning the Tony nominations are announced, phones start buzzing with texts and calls for the happy few who get nods. As usual, Broadway.com is thrilled to be among the callers offering congratulations and getting responses. Here are the first reactions from 2013 Tony nominees. Congrats to all!

Stark Sands
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role a Musical, Kinky Boots

“I sat down with [my wife] Gemma. I made her breakfast, and we watched it with fingers crossed for the show. I was not expecting this at all. I was sitting there rooting for Billy, rooting for Annaleigh, rooting for my friends in other shows, and obviously rooting for our creative team and for our show to be recognized. I really thought that [a Best Actor nod] wasn’t going to happen. And so I sat stunned. Gemma jumped up and down, freaking out and crying, and we sort of zoned out for a few minutes. It was amazing. Seriously, I am rooting for [Kinky Boots co-star Billy Porter]. That is my dream for Billy, to take this thing. It would be the best. I don’t generally cross my fingers for myself. I cross them for my friends. I’m just happy for all of the other nominees because I know how life changing this can be, to be singled out, and I’m so grateful. [Sands received his first nomination in 2007 for Journey's End.] The truth is both times [being nominated] I’m just happy to be along for the ride.”

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