Thank You! The 2005 Tony Award Acceptance Speeches
"Wow! Alan Alda, Gordon Clapp, Fred Weller, Jeffrey Tambor, Jordan Lage and Tom Wopat are the biggest hams I've ever had the pleasure of working on stage with. Thank you guys. To be a part of this ensemble has been an amazing experience for me. Joe Mantello should be ashamed of himself for allowing grown men to behave that way on stage. Thank you Joe for encouraging all of that bad behavior. I'm completely shocked. This is the community I have always dreamed of being a part of and I'm so grateful for all the opportunities that I've had to be a part of this community. To all the producers of Glengarry. To my agents David Kalodner, Steve Dontaville. To Billy and Jill. To Lauren and everyone else who helped. Thank you so much. This is such a tremendous honor."— Liev Schreiber, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play, Glengary Glen Ross
"Wow! Oh, wow. Thank you so much. I guess less is more. If you've seen the play, you know what I'm talking about. Thank you so much for all of those who nominated and voted for me. I really appreciate it. It's just too much. It's been quite a whirlwind for me this year, the past few years. And I thank everybody whose been praying for me and been in my corner. John Patrick Shanley—genius! Doug Hughes, Cherry, the entire cast, Heather and everybody. Everybody's been so wonderful. The standbys, that's my crew. When I'm waiting an hour or so before I'm on stage. It's just been wonderful. My sisters are here. My sister Billie! And Lena from Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is in the house! My cousin, Renee. Everybody, thank y'all so much for coming up here and being a part of this with me. My husband Zane Mark and my daughter Crystal for putting up with me! Listen, I'm not washing any more dishes! I can't hold this and wash dishes, too! Thank you so much! This is for my mother. She just made her transition this past April to the great city above. I dedicate this to her. My agents. Thank you so much for your prayers. Thank you. Goodnight." —Adriane Lenox, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, Doubt
"It's unbelievable. One thing I learned writing a book for a musical is that no one really knows what it is, but if you do, you know what an amazing job the other nominees in this category have done. Our book was so collaborative, I'll never be able to thank all the people I should mention, but let me start with the guy that brought us to the party, Bill Finn, for his exuberant score and for being hard to say no to. And James Lapine for being harder to say no to. Rebecca Feldman and the actors who started this… Jay Reiss for his inspired sentences… Dan Fogler, Sarah Saltzberg and our exciting ensemble for their characters and creativity. We all want to thank our producers David Stone, Second Stage, Barrington Stage and finally, since this show is so much about kids trying to please their parents, I just want to say how lucky I am to have a family who makes fun of me no matter what. Thank you." —Rachel Sheinkin, Best Book of a Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
"Wow, thank you, thank you, thank you. I was in Paw Paw, Michigan this morning with my entire family celebrating my nephew Derrick's graduation. I know they're all watching, so I want to say thanks Mom and Dad, Ricky and Gary for all your love and support. I wouldn't be standing here without the four-time Tony award winning mensch, Jerry Zaks, my champion. Um, the entire producing team, the Nederlanders, Jimmy Jr., Jimmy Sr., Susan Bristow, Nick Scandalios, Clear Channel, Marty Richards, Terry Allen Kramer, Ken Greenblatt. The entire cast and crew at the Marquis Theatre, especially Gary Beach and the amazing Cagelles. Robert Tatad, my associate… the designers… Listen, I came to New York and I had three amazing teachers: Michael Bennett, Jerome Robbins and Bob Avian and now I have Jack O'Brien. He's my heart and soul. I want to thank Mark Sendroff, Julie McDonald and Tony Selznick, who have guided me, and my partner, Erik Sherr, who gives me unconditional love. Harvey and Jerry, you've written a story about unconditional love and our country needs to hear it more today than ever. Thank you for that. Thank you for this. I love Broadway!" —Jerry Mitchell, Best Choreographer, La Cage aux Folles
Editor's Note: Mitchell contacted us after the awards and asked if we would include a few people he missed during the telecast, so here they are: "I would like to also thank Wendy and Jeff and everyone at 101 Productions and my assistant, Ginger Tidwell. Along with Patrick Vaccariello and David Krane, as well as Orit Jacoby Carroll and Marc Bruni for their great collaboration. Doing La Cage was a dream come true. I have always been a fan of the show!"
"This is just the most incredible thrill of my entire life, period. I know it will always be a highlight, no matter what happens, so I don't want to screw this up. Elizabeth Spencer wrote a beautiful story and it's lasted for 50 years and it gave me five years of something to get up and do. I don't make stories, I don't know how to invent them, but she sure does and she gave us all something that just inspired us to work and to try and do our best. And quickly I'm going to try and do this. This is so exciting I can't even believe this is happening. Craig Lucas, you've saved this from the back of my bureau, 'cause that's where it was staying when you came across me. And Bart Sher, for doing a beautiful, beautiful job, beautiful leadership and exquisite production. And Ted Sperling for making a gorgeous sound and helping me with refining the score. The whole cast for your beautiful performances. Vicki and Kelli and Matthew for your stunning singing. And as a writer, you just feel so happy to have the people take it to heart the way they have and work so hard. Everybody has worked so hard and there's a whole team of organizations and companies and theaters that have made this happen. The Sundance, the Intiman Theatre in Seattle, the Goodman Theatre and of course, Lincoln Center Theatre, and Nonesuch Records and Rodgers and Hammerstein. They all made it happen together. And I just can't thank you enough. It's such a strong season. I'm so honored to be here. Thank you very much." —Adam Guettel, Best Original Score, The Light in the Piazza
"Wow, that was cool. I'd like to thank, oh, good lord, Claritin and all of my doctors. I'd like to thank… Here's the deal, we're all working really, really hard. We're all working really, really hard and it's just an honor to be a part of the theater community. New York's been so good to me and I want to thank you for that. The cast of Spamalot, I love you guys. I miss you guys. Thank you for being so supportive and so generous. To Hank and David, thanks for keeping it real. Thank you to my producers Bill Haber, Bob Boyett, all of our wonderful producers. Dr. Horowitz, thank you. Darling Wilson, thank you. I also want to thank Eric Idle, John Du Prez, Casey Nicholaw, I might as well give this to you. Bones, I might as well give this to you. Mike Nichols, thank you. Thank you for this opportunity of a lifetime. You've changed my life completely and you've given someone the time of their life, and so I just want to thank you for that. Tara Rubin Casting, thank you. Thank you, Bernie Telsey. Thank you to my mother, Al, my family, my friends. I love you mom. Thank you." —Sara Ramirez, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Spamalot
"Thank you. I was going to dance up here, but I got all choked up. I thank the American Theatre Wing and the League for the honor and my mom and dad for the support and the DNA. To the other nominees, you guys are superb and the only reason I'm here is because I had a three-year head start and my education, my representation. My fantastic representation. Everyone from the Theatorium, BSC, Second Stage, to Broadway, Circle in the Square and all who took part in this dream collaboration, you will be thanked thoroughly on the website. My brilliant ensemble cast of lovely misfits, to the miracle chain, Rebecca, Sarah, Wendy, Bill, James and Mr. Stone. And I feel like Rocky right now, and she's my Adrian—Jodi! We did it and we did it with this hair! And in this body! Be brave! Be different! I dedicate this award to the Farm. And in the words of Mr. William Morris Barfee, 'My whole life I've only been able to breathe through one nostril and today is no exception!' Thank you!" —Dan Fogler, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
"I think the virtue of being given the Lifetime Achievement Award before you have necessarily achieved your lifetime work is probably because if they wait until you have achieved all of your lifetime work, you probably will have died. This is better. And I'm grateful. I'm dedicating to the memory of Jonathan Thomas, my life partner, who died only a month ago. He and I were together for 35 years. And he made me a happy playwright. And you have made me a happy playwright tonight. Thank you." —Edward Albee, Lifetime Achievement Award
"I want to thank everybody, on behalf of the entire cast, I mean that. There's a lot of people on stage with me every night at 700 Sundays, and I'm thrilled to be with them and that audiences see them as I present them and my family has become the audience's family. The greatest thrill in my career has been doing this show and coming home to present these stories of growing up and people that I love who touch me, made me a man and that couldn't have been done without so many people have assisted me and loved me throughout the years. Most importantly, Janice Crystal, right over there and my dear friend Larry Magid, who produced the show. We are a Special Event… I thought we were a really good play. And there are a lot of people to thank for that who couldn't be nominated because the way the event is put into the nomination form, but Des McAnuff, who created the show, directed with style and grace and wit and respect and love for Jack and Helen. For my good friend Alan Zweibel, who continues to contribute good material, we're closing in a week and we're still writing to make the show better. That's the kind of friend he is and also a wonderful writer. To my brothers and our family here tonight, whose story I share with them, this is the best part I've ever had to play. And I love working with the actor that I get to work with every night. This has been the greatest thrill of my life and this is a great cherry on all the 700 Sundays. And this actually for me is the 701st Sunday, because I know my dad and my mom are looking down probably with Zutty Zingleton, and saying, 'God, can you dig it? I knew that you could.' Thank you." —Billy Crystal, Best Special Theatrical Event, 700 Sundays
"Thank you. God, my head is totally empty. I had a thing I was going to say and I forgot it because I had given up so long ago. Well the first thing is thank you and to the other members of my category, my friends Jack and James and Barlett, I guess you were thinking, age before beauty. Me too. My congratulations to the winners. My love to those who have not won tonight and I just want to remind you of my motto: 'Cheer up, life isn't everything!' It always stands me in good stead. I'm up here for many brilliant people. I have to thank the most amazing company, in which every single member is a great performer. I have to thank an incredible group of stagehands who literally do magic every night. Above all, I have to thank Python and Eric Idle, from whom all blessings flow. I have to thank Casey Nicholaw, a brilliant choreographer, who did so much more of my job then you would ever believe. He's great and I'm deeply grateful to him. To Tim Hatley, for magical sets and costumes. And to two great producers, Bill Haber and Bob Boyett who are supportive, creative and I know you won't believe this, but I swear it's true… generous. I have to thank my gorgeous, amazing wife. And I agree with you, she could have done a lot better, but she is my luck. And Max and Jenny, you don't have to go to bed. Thank you." —Mike Nichols, Best Director of a Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot
"Wow. First of all I want to thank all the Tony voters out there for letting us be a part of your lives. I want to thank my producing partners: Terry Allen Kramer, Marty Richards, Sam Crothers, Kenny Greenblatt, Clear Channel Entertainment, Nick, Susan, Wendy, Jeffrey. I want to thank the great Jerry Herman for writing a gorgeous score. Harvey Fierstein for writing a book that is still a groundbreaking story of love and family values. Jerry Zaks for doing a masterful job of directing. Jerry Mitchell for choreographing just something unbelievable. The Cagelles. William Ivey Long for designing something that can go on any runway in the world. Scott Pask, Donald Holder and, especially I would like to thank my father, for if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here today. Thank you all very much." —Producer James L. Nederlander, Best Revival of a Musical, La Cage aux Folles
"Thank you for having this category. We're very, very grateful to many musicians who helped bring this beautiful score to life." —Ted Sperling, who won Best Orchestrations alongside Adam Guettel and Bruce Coughlin, The Light in the Piazza
"The only way I can truly express this here is through song, so look out." —Brian MacDevitt, Best Lighting of a Play, The Pillowman
"I have to remember my mother, who passed away in November, who would have loved this moment and who would have loved Adam and Craig's beautiful musical." —Christopher Akerlind, Best Lighting of a Musical, The Light in the Piazza
"I get to work with the most wonderful directors and writers and actors and designers." —Jess Goldstein, Best Costume of a Play, The Rivals
"Thank you so much to everyone. I'm really overwhelmed. Thank you." —Catherine Zuber, Best Costume of a Musical, The Light in the Piazza
"It's incredible. It's crazy. I learned to ride a bike between speed bumps." — Scott Pask, Best Scenic Design of a Play, The Pillowman
"It's been a labor of love from the first day we started working on it. I never in my life expected to be here tonight." —Michael Yeargan, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, The Light in the Piazza
"My partners Jerry Frankel and Jam Theatricals said I should prepare a speech and I'm afraid I didn't, but I want to say there is nothing more thrilling for all of my partners who are gathered here on stage than to go to the Bernard Jacobs Theatre eight times a week and hear the dazzling dialogue of David Mamet, one of our great playwrights. Forty plays and this is his first Tony! We share this with him. We share this with a brilliant director, Joe Mantello. And we share it with seven great artists who give eight thrilling performances a week, let me mention them: Alan Alda, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Tambor, Fredrick Weller, Tom Wopat, Gordon Clapp and Jordan Lage. Thank you for this great honor tonight." —Producer Jeffrey Richards, Best Revival of a Play, Glengarry Glen Ross
"Thank you so much. To be spoken of in a breath with my fellow nominees is honor enough for any actor and to be voted this honor by people who know and love and make theater should be blessing enough for any man, but I have blessings beyond this, I have a family, who love and supports me and for whom I love. I have representatives who love and support me and are very patient. I belong to a strong and a proud trade union and my paychecks are signed every week by producers who are brave and strong and fearless and who bring us this Broadway season. And then I step on stage each night with three ferocious actors who are brave and generous and who can make the breath of life out of a cry of the heart. And with the help of our brilliant director we speak every night, every night the words of one of our greatest playwrights of this or any time. This is Broadway and we do this every night. I thank you so much." —Bill Irwin, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
"Well. Happy. Joy. Fleeting. Fleeting. I want to thank the Sisters of Charity for teaching me to read and write. I want to thank the Irish Christian Brothers for throwing me out of high school. I want to thank the incredible ensemble cast of Doubt for turning in a ferocious, avalanche of talent every night. I want to thank especially Doug Hughes for the elegant job he did directing my play. I want to acknowledge the tremendous talent of Martin McDonagh and The Pillowman. It's a wonderful play. Who else am I supposed to thank? Help me here. The wonderful producers of this play: Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind and Carole Shorenstein Hayes. I want to thank the American Theatre Wing, and say, 'I love the theater!'" —Playwright John Patrick Shanley, Best Play, Doubt
"There's great serenity in the certainty of Doubt. I dedicate this to my father, my brother, my children, Wally and Gracie, and my husband Jeff. The entire company invites you to come see Doubt at the Walter Kerr Theatre. It's the best of Broadway. Thank you." —Producer Carole Shorenstein Hayes, Best Play, Doubt
"This is a great show." —Producer Lynne Meadow, Best Play, Doubt
"Thank you so much for this honor. I wouldn't be standing here without my amazing family, my steadfast friends, my teacher, Edward Sieg and this role, which has to be one of the greatest written for the stage, musical or otherwise. I'm a very, very lucky actor. My deepest thanks to Ira Weitzman, Andre Bishop, Bernie Gersten and Lincoln Center Theatre. To Elizabeth Spencer, for giving us your story, and to Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel for your powerful life-changing piece. Bartlett Sher, Ted Sperling and Jonathan Butterell, you are all geniuses and should be cloned so everyone can know the intense pleasure of working with you. Thank you so much for not offering this role Glenn Close or Cher. Tom Whitman, Lincoln Center crew, especially Alice Ramos and Kimberly Mark and the all-star cast of Piazza, especially my rock and compass, Kelli O'Hara. Thank you. And finally to my acting coach on this project, my 10-year-old son, Thomas Luke, I love you. You are my light in the piazza. Thank you." —Victoria Clark, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, The Light in the Piazza
"I feel like crying, because when I heard my name, I just got the joke. I just got it. I first and foremost want to thank God because there's no way that somebody with my name from South St. Louis, Missouri ends up at Radio City Musical Hall holding one of these without some divine intervention. I want to say hello to my daughters. My beautiful daughters, Clara and Maggie, who are my inspiration every night and everyday. I love you two so much and there's no school tomorrow. Ok, um, my parents are here. Norbert and Elaine. Yes, he is the culprit. My best friend, Michelle Federer, thank you for making me laugh on the inside again. Elin Flack, my manager, thank you for believing in me from the beginning. My agents, especially Lindsay Porter and Larry Taub, thank you so much. Thank you to Marty Bell, a truly compassionate producer who's given me another great part. The Old Globe Theatre, a great regional theater who gave us a home to create this play. Support regional theater around the country! To the best cast on Broadway. Sherie Scott, my dear, dear, dear, dear friend and my wonderful scene partner and my life friend. Joanna, Greg, Sara Gettelfinger. And to John Lithgow, I have one of these, and I'm honored, but you have what I really want, which is the respect and gratitude of every person in this community. I love you so much. Thank you." — Norbert Leo Butz, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
"Would you be suspicious if I use the teleprompter? Well, now for something completely different. Let's not thank Eric Idle, who started it all. Who was the genesis behind it. And Monty Python. Let's not thank John Du Prez, who gave is the music that allowed us to dance. Let's not thank Casey Nicholaw who gave our steps to our steps. Let's not thank our wonderful investors. Let's not thank Mike Nichols. And let's not thank the band. Thank you all. Thank you to the Broadway industry who we love. We're all very neurotic, but we love you all." —Bill Haber, Best Musical, Spamalot