2008 Tony Nominees React to the Big News
Rufus Sewell
Best Actor in a Play Nominee for Rock ‘n' Roll
"I had just gotten off a plane in New York, and I got a text saying ‘Congratulations.' As I was trying to work out what I was being congratulated for, an armed security guard screamed, ‘Put that phone down, sir,' because I was in immigration. And I thought, ‘The Tonys may be important, but they're not worth getting shot for.' So I turned the phone off and had to wait an hour to know whether it was what I thought it was. I was coming to New York not for the Tonys; I wouldn't fly in on the off chance [of being nominated]; that would be embarrassing! I'm doing a TV series, Eleventh Hour, that has just been picked up for CBS, so I'm here for the upfronts. To find out [about the Tonys] at the same time was wonderful. I'm very proud of the work we did [in Rock ‘n' Roll], and I was desperate to not have a mindset that would enable someone to take that away by not nominating me for an award. I had all the reasons worked out in my head why it's not important—that it's possible to do your best work and have it somehow miss the radar—but this is a wonderful honor."
Thomas Kail
Best Director of a Musical Nominee for In the Heights
"I was standing on the island in the middle of Times Square, prepping for our Good Morning America appearance, and I realized that people seemed to be looking at a piece of paper [listing the Tony nominations]. The stage manager said, ‘Do you want to see this?' And I said, ‘I don't know. Do I?' And he said, ‘I think you do.' It was great, because I was with a lot of members of the In the Heights team standing in the middle of New York City. I don't know how one imagines these things, but this one was well beyond my expectations. I was thrilled that the entire design team was nominated, and that the music and lyrics and book—all the things this company brings to life each night—were recognized."
Heidi Rodewald
Best Score of a Musical Nominee for Passing Strange
"I overslept, and when I got up, my phone was full and I had people telling me online, ‘I can't get a hold of you!' I got a million calls. It's so nice to get attention for something you've been doing for so long. It feels great. I knew about the Tonys because all of my family acts in small theaters in Southern California. My grandfather was part of the theater, my sisters—everybody sang and acted. I joined a rock band, and I'm the one that's on Broadway! The incredible thing about it is we weren't even planning on Broadway in the first place, but here we are. I can't believe we're on Broadway and, on top of that, to be nominated for Tonys? I can't even imagine!"
Christopher Fitzgerald
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for Young Frankenstein
"I was in Boston on my day off visiting my wife, Jessica [Stone], who is doing She Loves Me at the Huntington Theatre, and I was with our baby, Charlie. I had just come back from a walk in the Boston Commons and was feeding him his apricot apple puree, and my agent called. It was very exciting! I told Charlie, but he wasn't very impressed. He dribbled food out of his mouth and we looked at each other and he let me know that I had to change his diaper. That, to me, is the perfect antidote to all the craziness. It's such a great thing to be acknowledged for your work. The show has been fun—I've learned a lot and it's been a big challenge, especially having a baby at the same time. It's helped Igor's eyes look sunken in!"
Rondi Reed
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for August: Osage County
It's been a wild and wacky day. The phone rang about 8:30 this morning and ever since, there's been lots of e-mails and a flurry of phone calls. I went for a walk with my dog through Central Park to try to calm down. It helped a little but, it's kind of like I'm in a state of shock. I'm thrilled for the play. I'm thrilled that all the Steppenwolf gals got nominated. I'm thrilled for Broadway in general. I think it's a really exciting bunch of people, I really do. The way New York and Broadway has embraced us, who woulda thunk it? Not me, that's for sure, having turned down this play four times. I was doing Wicked in Chicago, and I said I can't do this. But Tracy Letts was not going to take "no" for an answer. Then when I said I couldn't go with the show to New York, David Stone from Wicked said, "You need to, and we'll do whatever we need to do to accommodate you," which is completely unheard of. So, Tracy won out! The first time I went to the Tonys was in 1990, when The Grapes of Wrath was nominated. We had a big group scene, and I was third dust-bowl woman from the left. Kathleen Turner hosted, and Tyne Daly was up for Gypsy. I remember feeling like I was eight years old. Now I've grown up a little—I feel like I'm 14."
Martha Plimpton
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for Top Girls
"Of course, I was in bed [when the nominations were announced], where any self-respecting theater actor should be at that hour of the day. My good friend and agent Gary Gersh called me. I think I got simultaneous calls from him and my publicist Lisa Goldberg. It's been a little bit of a whirlwind, today's been really crazy. The first thing I did was I made coffee, took a shower and went down and celebrated the groundbreaking of the 52nd St. Project and their new building over on 10th Avenue. I celebrated their celebration with them, so that was really nice. It's been a really incredible, busy, wonderful, just fantastically fortunate year for me. I've had a lot of adventures and worked with a lot of really incredible people. And it's just really nice to be able to represent our company. That Top Girls has a seat at the table really means the world to me. I'm proud of us as a company, and I really am very happy that we're being acknowledged in this way."
Sam Buntrock
Best Director of a Musical Nominee for Sunday in the Park with George
"I'm in the UK, so I was already halfway through my day when I got the news. So it's a doubly long day, but wonderfully so. It's amazing. I know that's the word everyone says, but it is amazing to be nominated. It's not quite sunk in yet but I'm sure it will soon. I was in Regents Park in London when the general manager of the Roundabout phoned and left a message telling me I should look at the awards web site, and so I had a look and scrolled slooowwwwly down. Every single [nomination] just came up, and it's mind-blowing, a dream come true. I used to joke back when the show was playing in the smaller venue in London that [just aiming for] the West End was the stupidest thing I'd ever heard, that I wouldn't be happy unless it went to Broadway. So everything that's happened in America I've regarded with those eyes. It's a real fairy tale about how you can do a piece of work and that work can have a life and an audience, and grow and grow and grow. It's just amazing."
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Faith Prince
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for A Catered Affair
"I do this thing where I wake up at 4:30 in the morning, then I stay up for an hour and go back into a deep sleep. So I woke up and there were 14 messages on my phone. I mean, I'm very excited to be nominated, but I wonder what's going on in this town? It's so bizarre to have 12 Drama Desk nominations and only three for the Tonys. The reason I got into this was feeling great within a company, you know what I mean? When you get down to it, I'm still doing what I did in high school, which is musicals. I'm very happy to be recognized, don't get me wrong, but it never feels as good as when the whole show is up there, too. I'm a team player—I want my whole team up there! But I've got family in, and later I'm gonna have a two-hour massage, then I'll go do my show with my lovely cast members. We're going to continue to tell our story, regardless."
Paulo Szot
Best Featured Actor in a Musical for SouthPacific
"It's been a crazy morning. I got a call from a friend of mine, and then I saw it on TV. Since then, the phone has been ringing—all my friends are calling, which is great. I'm very surprised and very happy. We've been working so hard, and it's good to hear that all the work is worth it. Particularly I am happy with all the reactions of the critics and the audience toward me. I was not really expecting it because this is my first musical. I didn't know this audience. I didn't know the Broadway world. I'm very happy with the nomination. That's something I'll remember forever. But at the same time, I'm a person that always keeps my feet on the ground. I really concentrate on my work. This week has been a very exciting week, but it's not been my best sleeping week. What I need to do right now is keep working to make the show as good as I can—go to the theater, do a good show and keep doing it for a really long time. I'm sure tonight's show is going to be very special for us."
Stew
Best Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Orchestrations Nominee for Passing Strange
"I woke about a half hour ago [1pm], and my girlfriend told me. It's awards season; we don't really have off-days anymore, so I have to sleep when I can. I didn't want to wake up at 8 o'clock, because if we didn't get anything, it would have been a drag to wake up early, so I just slept. It's a nice surprise for a rock musician. I'm sort of a cult artist. I'm not mainstream. And now, suddenly, I'm in this alternate universe. It's an incredible gift—this other career, suddenly, on top of the one I already have. I've always said that every rock musician secretly wants to write a musical, and they just never get around to it because they don't know how to do it or they don't have the resources. Elizabeth Swados [who received four Tony nominations for Runaways in 1978]—that's great company. I feel very, very proud that Heidi [collaborator and fellow nominee Heidi Rodewald] and [director and collaborator] Annie [Dorsen] and I stuck to our guns through every production and insisted on making the play we wanted to make. We believed that the audience would want to take this trip with us, no matter how nutty and unusual it might be, and they have. Tonight, after [the show], I'm pretty sure the bar across the way will be active." 
Olga Merediz
Best Featured Actress in a Musical for In the Heights
"Oh my God, I'm dizzy! I'm just walking on air, what can I tell you? To be recognized for your work by your peers is what we live for! Plus, I'm included in a cast of women who are so very talented. And I'm relieved. The pressure is enormous—it's very rewarding of course, but there is pressure. I was in bed this morning and the phone kept ringing and ringing. I wear earplugs because my boyfriend snores, but I sort of heard the phone eventually and thought, 'Well. That must be a good thing,' and there it was. So I'm glad I woke up! This is like the little show that could. I did several workshops, then the off-Broadway run and now this. We've got such a talented group of people, from the designers to the composer, Lin-Manuel [Miranda], and the orchestrations. It's just got such heart and soul. There was something about this part that called to me, and I had to do it. I'm not playing a glamorous part—a lot of actresses, myself included, might have said, 'I don't want to be in a house coat and a white wig and old lady shoes.' But my heart said, 'Do it,' and I'm glad I followed my heart!"
Boyd Gaines
Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Gypsy
"I got the call [about the nomination] from my manager. I had taken my daughter to school, and I was walking the dog. I try to ignore these things; if it's good news, you'll hear, and if it's bad news, you don't want to talk to anyone anyway! It's very exciting. [After three Tony wins] it doesn't get old. [And the fact that Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti and Arthur Laurents were nominated] is the icing on the cake. It's premature to celebrate, but I'm really happy for all my fellow nominees."
David Farley
Best Costume Design of a Musical and Best Scenic Design of a Musical Nominee for Sunday in the Park with George
"Bit of a crazy day today! It's such a fantastic honor, to be nominated for both set and costumes, and the entire creative team being up for nominations as well! It's great to see that aspect recognized. I got a call from my agent this morning to tell me the good news, and so I was in a slightly sleepy state; there was slight disbelief to be honest. It's been a real whirlwind from the start of this project to now, and to be nominated for the most prestigious awards in the theater industry—it's overwhelming. It's great that there's such a celebration with awards here. They're given a lot of value, so it makes it even more exciting to be a part of that. Of all the art forms, the musical is what Americans do so very well. It is their art form. So to be up against amazing shows like South Pacific and In the Heights? I'm just looking forward to the party!"
David Pittu
Best Featured Actor in a Play for Is He Dead?
"I'm very happy. It's almost more of a compliment [to be nominated] than if the show was still running because they remembered me. I thought the show deserved other nominations, but I'm honored to be on the list with these actors. Jim Norton is one of my heroes. I think he's a genius. To be on a list with him—that, to me, is award enough. I'm a little surprised that he was in the featured category, but I hope he wins! It was my first time [at the Tonys] last year [as a nominee for Love/Musik] and in a funny way, the pressure is off this year; I know what's ahead, and I'm just going to enjoy it. I really don't care if I win or not." 
Patti LuPone
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for Gypsy
"I just woke up [at noon]! My voice needs a lot of sleep. I knew the nominations were coming out today, but what's the point of waking up? What happens if you don't get nominated? Then you're up going, 'Oh damn,' and if you do get nominated, you have a lot of responsibility, so I thought I would just take care of myself and get ready for the performance tonight. When I got up, I checked my messages, and my press agent called and my agent called. It's always a surprise [to be nominated] and a relief, quite frankly. This is my fifth nomination, but I don't think one is more important than the next; I've played some incredible parts. Rosamund in The Robber Bridegroom was my first nomination, a supporting nomination, so that meant a lot to me. Evita meant a lot to me because it was such a difficult part, Reno Sweeney [in Anything Goes] meant a lot to me because it was such a great part, and Mrs. Lovett [in Sweeney Todd] because it was such a great and difficult part. Oh, I'm so happy [that Boyd Gaines, Laura Benanti and Arthur Laurents were also nominated]! Oh my God, yes. Our starting place was our respect for Arthur. But I'll tell you, Boyd is my favorite leading man of all time; he has the greatest, wisest heart and mind. Now, my friend and I have to sort out clothes! [Laughs]. 'OK, you'll be wearing that to the Outer Critics, you'll be wearing that to the Tony nominations brunch…' It's just a nightmare of fashion!"
Kevin Adams
Best Lighting Design of a Play Nominee for The 39 Steps
"It's pleasantly unexpected and very nice, very fun. I've been in the business since the 1980s, but only a part of the Tony hubbub for the last two years, so this is still a little new to me. Last year was such a thrilling ride [winning the Tony for lighting Spring Awakening], so this is the icing on the cake. Last year I was laying in bed with no clothes on reading a book on Bauhaus given to me by [Passing Strange director] Annie Dorsen when I found out. So I got out of bed this morning, took that book out, took all my clothes off and got back into bed to read. At about 8:40, my agent called and gave me the news. So now it's my good luck book. Working on this show has been terrific. I've always been a Hitchcock fan. I always wanted to put Psycho on the stage, every shot. So I was very excited when this piece came my way. Moving events along through all the locations and keeping the variety of storytelling it uses on a very simple set was difficult. And I'm especially happy that any sound designer was recognized this year as well!"
Tom Wopat
Best Actor in a Musical Nominee for A Catered Affair
"I had a late night, so I did my best to sleep in this morning. But I had to move my truck at 11am, so I decided I'd go to the gym. That's when I opened my cell phone and found out what was going on. It's a little bittersweet. I'm delighted that Faith [Prince] got a nomination and [orchestrator] Jonathan Tunick is an old friend of mine. His work is always spectacular. But I truly thought that [director John] Doyle would get some recognition, and Harvey [Fierstein] and [composer] John Bucchino, as well. But I've been nominated before, and I try not to get too excited about things when they go well, and I try not to get too cranked-off when they don't [laughs]. Right now, I just barbecued some chicken. I'm gonna rest for a bit, read the paper and go to work. That to me is the real joy of things—I enjoy the work. It's definitely an honor to be nominated, but it's not really what I do it for. [Pause.] But I want to win!"
Danny Burstein
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for South Pacific
"We have a place in Pennsylvania that we go to on our days off. We don't have NY1 out there, but I got a call from my friend Patrick Wetzel, who was in The Drowsy Chaperone with me, and he was screaming. All I could hear was 'Yeahahahahhaaahh!' That kind of thing. And I thought, 'Well, I guess I got a nomination.' Then my parents called on the other line, and the phone started ringing. I've gotten 167 emails. I just got off the phone with Bob Saget, who's a dear friend. It's a terrific pat on the back, you know? The coolest part is that I got a nomination for Drowsy two years ago and my wife [Rebecca Luker] got a nomination last year for Mary Poppins and now this one this year. We're sort of back-to-back-to-back, and our heads are spinning because of it. I'm really happy for Loretta [Ables Sayre]. I am so ridiculously proud of her. Coming out of Hawaii, she had to be talked into auditioning of the role. She made her Broadway debut in this show, and now she's got a Tony nomination. I am over the moon!"
Conleth Hill
Best Featured Actor in a Play Nominee for The Seafarer
"I'm down on East 9th Street shooting [a film with Woody Allen]. I was in my trailer watching Fox News. They said they would show [the nominations] live, but they showed two and then cut it off. I was about to go on set and thought, 'Oh well, I won't know until later,' and then the publicist rang and told me. I'm pleasantly surprised! I think for such a small play—not small in stature but in numbers—to have four Tony nominations is pretty cool. Everyone on the set has been congratulating me. It's been a long journey for Conor [McPherson] and Jim [Norton] and myself. I don't hold out any hope at all of winning. If I had a vote, I know who I'd be voting for [Norton], but I'm just thrilled with the nomination; that's enough for me. And I'm thrilled to be rubbing shoulders with Jim again, even if it is in competition. I'm sure we won't fall out."
S. Epatha Merkerson
Best Actress in a Play Nominee for Come Back, Little Sheba
"I was asleep [when hearing the news] because I'm in Los Angeles. I got a call very early that I didn't react to, and then my publicist called again. I'm showered now, I'm on my way to the airport, and it's all starting to sink in. I've gotten like a dozen text messages from cast members—a very sweet one from [Come Back, Little Sheba co-star] Zoe Kazan, who I adore. When I finally turned my phone on, there were 12 messages on my machine, which was very funny. I've heard from a lot of my dear, dear friends. I'm honored by this. It's so cool because I started in the theater. To be nominated for a Tony Award is something that we all talked about when we were in school. You know, when I was in college, we always watched the Tony Awards. A couple of years ago, I was even able to present an award on the Tony Awards, so it's all really lovely and exciting. It really is quite an honor and it was a great role for me to do; had an extraordinary opportunity to play Lola and this is sort of the icing on the cake. It's just really lovely."
Andrea Martin
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for Young Frankenstein
"I didn't expect this at all. This nomination means a lot to me because I'm being recognized for doing the kind of comedy that I spent so much of my career doing. It's great to be told that I still have the ability to make people laugh in this way! It's been many, many years for me since I've done this kind of part. I stayed away from it for a long time. But I guess I've still got it! I was at the Harvard Faculty Club in Boston, Massachusetts this morning when I found out. I was there last night receiving an award from the Eliot Norton Critics Association and also giving an award to Nicholas Martin for sustained excellence. The funny thing is that Nicholas is directing Jessica Stone in She Loves Me in Boston and Jessica is married to [Young Frankenstein co-star and fellow nominee] Chris Fitzgerald so we were all together. My agent and my manager both called me while I was in my room. I didn't look on the websites or make any calls myself. I had a very Zen approach to it. If the phone rang, I knew it would be. If it didn't, I would go downstairs and get my complimentary breakfast before it closed at nine. Either way, I knew I'd be filled in some capacity!"
Rob Ashford
Best Choreography Nominee for Cry-Baby
"[A nomination] is always a nice treat in the morning! It helps the day go by very quickly. It's thrilling, I have to say. We all work hard, and it's just nice to be acknowledged in that way, so I feel blessed and honored. I'm in rehearsal mode right now and was up early this morning getting ready for that, and a niiiiiiice little text [with the good news] came through. I have to say I'm so excited because I have some of the best dancers ever. They look so good up there, and they make me look so good, so today is for all of us. They work hard and they love it; they were incredibly helpful throughout the creative process and I owe a lot to them. I can't wait to get to the theater tonight so we can all jump around and celebrate! This show is a lot [physically]. Dancers are all masochists in our own way, but it is a lot. But they love to show off and tell the story of Cry-Baby, and I'm just thrilled that they've gotten the recognition they deserve."
Daniel Breaker
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for Passing Strange
"I couldn't sleep at all, of course. It's sort of like Christmas Eve—not knowing whether you're going to get that shiny bicycle or not. I woke up at around 6. My wife and I were looking at the Tony website, and there it was. I didn't know whether it was real or not. Is this a dream? Is this really happening? So we waited for the announcements on NY1. I'm still sort of shocked. It's one of those moments where you feel a collective acknowledgment of the work that you've done on a show. The fact that I made it this far is deeply appreciated. And it's a blessing that it's not just one person nominated in the play—we have this smorgasbord of nominations. The play has always been about ensemble. The fact that we have seven [nominations] confirms the family-oriented show that is Passing Strange. I feel like I should start shopping for clothing. I guess I gotta get fitted for a tuxedo!" 
Anna Louizos
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Nominee for In the Heights
"I was at home watching NY1, and my oldest and dearest friend called and said, ‘Congratulations!' and I said, ‘What do you mean? We haven't watched it yet,' and he said, ‘I just saw it online.' Then when it came on TV, David Hyde Pierce said my name, which was very exciting because I love him and we worked together on Curtains last year. [In the Heights] hits very close to home for me. Every time I hear the music, I get choked up because it's an immigrant story. My family is Greek, and when my grandmother and my father came to this country, they couldn't speak English. But they had big dreams and made a life for themselves. The show embraces that wonderful promise of America, and the struggles as well. I used to watch [the Tonys] on television as a kid and think, ‘Wow, those people seem so far away.' It's almost unbelievable to me that I've gotten to this place where I'm a Tony nominee. It's incredible."
Sinead Cusack
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for Rock 'n' Roll
I'm a little stunned because there's always that sneaky little bit of you that thinks, 'wouldn't it be lovely?' But the more sensible and rational side of me said it's a strong year as far as plays are concerned. So I had prepared myself for not getting a nomination, and now I'm delighted. I think I laughed [when hearing the news]. I didn't call anyone up or do any of that. I told one of my sons but that's it. The others don't know yet, Jeremy [husband Jeremy Irons] doesn't know yet. He's on stage. I haven't heard from anyone [in the cast]. I have to text Rufie [co-star and fellow nominee Rufus Sewell] and Tom [playwright Tom Stoppard]. I don't know where Rufie is at the moment actually, I think he's in Los Angeles. I'll text him, and I hope we meet up to celebrate if he's in the country. But to me, it was a pretty lovely cake anyway and spectacular icing. But I loved the cake and loved playing the part."
Donald Holder
Best Lighting Design of a Play Nominee for Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Best Lighting Design of a Musical Nominee for South Pacific
"I was coming back from California, and I got several messages on my phone. I didn't realize I'd been nominated for both shows until I got to my studio and went online. What a thrill to be nominated twice! I've had five nominations and won for The Lion King. I thought I had a good shot at being nominated for South Pacific, but I know how tough the competition is, so I never take anything for granted. I'm working on Saved right now, so unfortunately I don't have a day to celebrate. Maybe I'll go have a glass of wine at dinner. But it's actually great to be working in a theater on the day you get nominated. I walked in, and they all congratulated me. That was a nice feeling."
de'Adre Aziza
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for Passing Strange
"I'm giddy right now. I took my son to school and woke back up around 12 and saw all these texts and voice mails; I figured the show got nominated. So I went to check the whole list [online] and I saw my name and I was like, 'Lord!' I'm a little asthmatic, a little shaky, a little in shock and happy at the same time. It's just beautiful to be recognized for the hard work you do. You don't do it for [awards]. You do it for the passion you have for it, and the fun and the audience. But then to receive recognition from the Tony Awards committee—it's amazing. At Passing Strange, we really are a family. We're kind of the underdog, but we've always had a lot of faith in ourselves. I think I'm just going to go take a walk in the sun and just smell the air and look at the trees and breathe it in." 
Thomas Meehan
Best Book of a Musical Nominee for Cry-Baby
"It's like Christmas morning here. We were very worried about what would happen with these awards since [certain critics] were so hard on us, so we're excited! But even though I'm proud of the book, I didn't expect to get nominated for it. I think it's a good piece of work and I love the whole world of John Waters, but we were really dismissed by some critics. And it was heartbreaking! I felt so bad for our composers and lyricists because they're so young, smart and talented, so for them to get a Tony nomination as well is just terrific. I've been down this road before, but this is the first time out for some of them. There's a little of that [John Waters-style happy ending] to it. We did, by the way, get lots of good reviews as well, but we were afraid we were going to be shut out. But I thought this is really a good show, and the audiences love it, and so it's a thrill to see Cry-Baby and its newcomers make it to the Broadway stage. And we're going to rock them at the awards show!"
Bobby Cannavale
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play Nominee for Mauritius
"I'm in shock. I just didn't expect it, and I didn't know Tony nominations were being announced today. I'm at the airport getting on a flight. I don't have a publicist; I never had one. I was hanging out with my girlfriend, Alison Pill, who was in the show. And I was running late, packing, and the phone rang. I thought it was the car company saying, 'Hurry up!' and it was the publicist from MTC. I was like 'WHAT?!' I couldn't believe it. At the same time, I was like, 'I can't believe a publicist is telling me this. It's too weird!' So that's how I found out. Then I gave my girlfriend a huge hug. The first call I made was to my mother. She started crying. You know, when I was a kid, I used to beg my mother to let me go into New York. I grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey, and back in the day, they used to run a lot more commercials on television for Broadway shows. So that was my thing: 'Please take me to Evita! Please take me to go see Sunday in the Park with George! Please take me to see Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,' which was the first play I saw in New York. My family was so not in the arts at all, and God bless my mom, she just always would bring me. All I ever wanted to do was plays. And just to be here today is…wow!"