Mormon’s Nikki M. James Likes Being Part of a 'Dream Team'

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!

Nikki M. James
Nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, The Book of Mormon

“This is so crazy and unexpected, but very welcome! I didn’t want to watch the announcements so I was still in bed when my best friend [and co-star] Tommar Wilson called me and said, ‘Congratulations Tony Award nominee!’ I started screaming and jumping up and down. I am a lifelong super fan of Broadway and have watched the Tony Awards every year for as long as I can remember. I have many copies still on VHS at my mother’s house with ‘Do Not Tape Over’ labels. It’s like becoming a member of this club I’ve wanted to be part of for so long. Not every girl who dreams of this gets to even be in a Broadway show, much less be nominated for a Tony, so I acknowledge how lucky I am. I was just on the phone with my mom who busted her butt to make sure I could study musical theater at NYU and never once said, ‘Maybe you should do something else.’ There are so many people responsible for where I am so this is a testament to them all. [Seeing co-stars Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells and Rory O’Malley get nominated as well] is the only way I would want this to happen. We’re like a dream team! I worry our show will go up a little late tonight because we’re all going to be so busy visiting each other in our dressing rooms.”