Matilda Nominee Gabriel Ebert Will Serenade Bertie Carvel with His Ukelele & Shop for Nice Clothes

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!

Gabriel Ebert

Nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, Matilda


"It’s a classic Tuesday, and I was trying to sleep in a little bit, and my phone just started erupting with texts and voicemails at 9AM. I got up and it was just utter inundation of people who have love. It was a good feeling, but it’s been overwhelming. I got some lovely texts from my castmates and I got to send Bertie [Carvel] a lovely text as well, congratulating him. He and I actually share a floor at the theater, our dressing rooms, so I’m going to bring my ukulele in and sing him a special little song. I like to serenade the Trunchbull before I go on stage. That’s one of our little rituals. Tonight it will be a special one. I just got to talk to my mother for a little while, and a lot of people I haven't talked to in a long time, dear friends and Juilliard classmates, are coming out of the woodwork and congratulating me. It’s amazing the amount of love people have! My first thought was, ‘Oh man I better get some nice clothes so I can have some semblance that I’m a well-dressed gentleman.’ I feel immensely grateful and sort of a combination of being really humbled and really invigorated. I’ve dreamed of this since I was a kid and I’ve been on the stage ever since I was a wee boy, so this is definitely an incredibly important moment in my life. I’m just trying to stay grounded and breathe deep. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for the fact that people find me worthy."



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