Kinky Boots' Double Nominee Jerry Mitchell Offers Valuable Advice to All Other Tony Hopefuls

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!

Jerry Mitchell
Best Direction of a Musica and Best Choreography, Kinky Boots

“I watched it live, and I literally was in tears, especially when they called out Stark’s name. It’s my first time being nominated as a director, and it’s amazing. I feel like the director/choreographers I’ve always admired have been people who have a very special gift. It’s a very small group of people who can take a Broadway musical and helm the entire production from the direction and the choreography point of view. The seamlessness of a musical is what any team aims to do. And that I was nominated for both of those jobs was really rewarding for me today, personally. I went to Mark Fisher Fitness to do my workout, and, of course, everyone [there] already had banners and were screaming and yelling. I’m going to the theater in a few minutes and I figure [the cast] will be there. I’m going to tell all the Kinky Boots [nominees] that you have been invited to the party, and you had better enjoy every second of it because whether you win or not is a whole other equation. I was nominated five or six times before I won a Tony Award. Just being invited to this party is such a great honor and you need to enjoy it. I’m going to start the show tonight, have a celebratory dinner with my partner, then come back for the finale.”