Priscilla's Tony Sheldon Shares Tony Happiness with His Mom in Australia

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!

Tony Sheldon
Nominated for Best Actor in a Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

“I was sitting in front of the TV when the nominations were read out, because my mother is in Australia and she wouldn’t have let me get away with not knowing immediately! I had to sit holding the phone up to the TV so she could hear. I’m just dazed. For me, the fact that I’m even here doing the show is amazing enough, and to be an ambassador for the show in any way—I’m just so proud. I’ve been watching the Tonys since I was a kid; it was the high point of my year. To actually be here is the sort of thing you dream about. It’s an extraordinary feeling and the high point of your career. I’ve had so much input into this role from the very beginning, and it’s great to know that something you built from the ground up is getting this sort of acclaim. I had a major anxiety attack yesterday, and a bit of meltdown because I'm not big on crowds of peole, and then I thought, ‘You’d better pull yourself together!' But it’s thrilling. Bernadette herself would have the champagne bottle open and be sitting up in bed receiving phone calls from all her friends!”