Tony Nominee Billy Porter Opens Up About Why the Role of Lola 'Takes My Breath Away' & His 'Rock,' Stark Sands

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!

Billy Porter
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role a Musical, Kinky Boots

“It’s crazy. It’s amazing. It’s quite surreal. I took a white lady pill, and I went to sleep last night so that I could just sleep. I figured my phone would start ringing with news, and at about 8:33, it started going off. I’m thrilled for everybody involved. It’s like my mother always says, ‘God has bigger plans for you than you could ever dream for yourself.’ And for many, many years I had huge dreams for myself, but the dreams were based on me plugging myself into a template that already existed. And I have to say that I didn’t ever dream that a role could be created around me and what I do specifically. Because for so long, what I do has been marginalized and feared and pigeonholed that I wasn’t sure if there was ever going to be a place for me. So for this role to come along takes my breath away. Putting together a show is like creating a family, and it’s just lovely when the whole family gets to be recognized in this way. And most importantly, my co-star Stark Sands, who I wouldn’t even dream of stepping on the stage without. He’s my rock, and I couldn’t be Lola without him. I was just happy that people could see that and recognize that that relationship is at the heart and soul of the piece. It’s the two of us.”

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