The Hollywood Reporter is counting down to the 2025 Tonys with THR's Awards Countdown: Tonys Edition, a streaming preshow that will deliver expert analysis, predictions, behind-the-scenes set visits, nominee spotlights and so much more ahead of Broadway’s biggest night on Sunday, June 8.
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00:00:00The glitz, the talent, the stage, and the standing ovations.
00:00:04Broadway's biggest night is here.
00:00:06From breakthrough debuts to record-breaking nominees,
00:00:09the 2025 Tony Awards are full of showstoppers.
00:00:13And we've got all the access to the nominees and biggest shows.
00:00:16From exclusive behind-the-scenes set visits to Maybe Happy Ending
00:00:20and Buena Vista Social Club,
00:00:21how designers brought Stranger Things to life,
00:00:24to interviews with everyone from Darren Criss, Audra McDonald,
00:00:27Jonathan Groff, Sadie Sink, and so much more.
00:00:30Who's making history, what moments will steal the spotlight,
00:00:33and what surprises are waiting in the wings?
00:00:36Plus, a look at how Cynthia Erivo is having a full-circle moment
00:00:39as this year's Tony's host.
00:00:41The music, the fashion, and the forces behind and in front of the curtain,
00:00:45this is The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Countdown, Tony's Edition.
00:00:53What's going on, everyone?
00:00:55I'm Neha Joy, and welcome to The Hollywood Reporter's Tony Awards pre-show.
00:00:59I'm coming to you from the heart of New York City,
00:01:02right here on the iconic Top of the Rock,
00:01:04which is just steps away from Broadway's legendary theater district.
00:01:08Now, from the shows and musicals making waves,
00:01:10to the actors making history,
00:01:12this year's telecast is set to be packed with some unforgettable moments.
00:01:16And today, we're taking an inside look at some of those must-see shows,
00:01:20standout performances,
00:01:21and even a few behind-the-scenes surprises.
00:01:24But first, let's kick things off with a look at some of those numbers
00:01:27behind this year's Tony nominations.
00:01:32The final countdown to this year's Tony Awards is on.
00:01:35Let's take a closer look at the Tonys by the numbers.
00:01:38The 2025 Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall,
00:01:42which holds an audience of 5,960.
00:01:45There are approximately 831 people from various theatrical organizations
00:01:50who currently vote for the Tony Awards.
00:01:52The group of eligible voters includes voting members of the Broadway League
00:01:55and the Board of Directors,
00:01:57as well as designated members of the Advisory Committee of the American Theatre Wing.
00:02:01This year marks the 78th annual Tony Awards.
00:02:04The ceremony hands out trophies in 26 competitive categories,
00:02:08excluding special honors and awards.
00:02:10Director and producer Harold Prince holds the record for the most
00:02:13Tony wins by any individual.
00:02:14He received 21 Tonys during his career.
00:02:18Hamilton holds the record for the musical production
00:02:20with the most Tony nominations with 16 noms.
00:02:23And last year,
00:02:24Stereophonic became the play production with the most Tony nominations
00:02:27when it received 13 noms.
00:02:29Audra McDonald made history this year
00:02:31when she received her 11th Tony nomination
00:02:33for her star role as Rose in Gypsy on Broadway,
00:02:37making her the most Tony-nominated performer of all time.
00:02:40McDonald is also the most awarded performer in Tony history
00:02:43with six wins.
00:02:44Angela Lansbury has emceed the show more times than anyone else.
00:02:48She's hosted the Tonys five times.
00:02:51Right behind her are Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman,
00:02:54who have both emceed the ceremony four times.
00:02:56Some say Bob Fosse has the triple crown,
00:02:59as he's the only director to win a Tony,
00:03:00an Oscar, and an Emmy in the same year.
00:03:03He accomplished this feat in 1973.
00:03:05Only two productions have won all of the big six awards for musicals,
00:03:09South Pacific in 1950, and the producers in 2001.
00:03:12And it all comes down to one night,
00:03:15when the Tony Awards air live on Sunday, June 8th,
00:03:17on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern.
00:03:19We're here at the gallery at Rainbow Room to chat all about this Broadway season,
00:03:27which delivered some standout performances,
00:03:30from original new works to some powerful revivals that moved audiences in every way.
00:03:35Here to break down our top Tony contenders are THR's longtime theater critic,
00:03:41David Rooney, who's now our chief film critic,
00:03:43business writer, Caitlin Houston, who covers all things Broadway,
00:03:47and our executive awards editor, Scott Feinberg.
00:03:50Thanks so much for joining us, guys.
00:03:51Yeah, thanks for doing this.
00:03:52Yeah.
00:03:53So before we jump into the ballot,
00:03:55I just wanted to ask a few overarching questions.
00:03:58The first one being,
00:04:00what do we think of this year's group of nominees,
00:04:02and what do we find refreshing about this prop?
00:04:05I like that there's a mix of veterans
00:04:07who have done a million Broadway shows and newcomers.
00:04:10So there is this sense of new blood coming in.
00:04:13I mean, the entire company of John Proctor is the villain, for example.
00:04:16It's a great company, and they're all pretty new to Broadway.
00:04:19Sunset Boulevard, too?
00:04:21Sunset Boulevard, as well, yeah.
00:04:23I think that both Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis
00:04:27are really great discoveries in that.
00:04:29Yeah, I mean, it's a nice mix.
00:04:30I feel like we have a lot of original musicals this time around,
00:04:34which is exciting, or at least original enough.
00:04:36We've got Operation Mincemeat,
00:04:38which is based on history and technically a movie.
00:04:41And we've got Death Becomes Her,
00:04:42which is based on the film,
00:04:44but it's doing something so different from the film.
00:04:47And then we have some fully original musicals,
00:04:49like maybe Happy Ending, Dead Out At All, very original,
00:04:53also based on history, I guess.
00:04:54Yeah.
00:04:55But that was exciting to see,
00:04:56especially coming from the panel.
00:04:57Yeah, no, it's nice,
00:04:58because often the musicals just feel like regurgitated movies.
00:05:02And I think that what's great about Death Becomes Her,
00:05:05as you say, is that they do reinvent it quite a bit.
00:05:07I mean, I just have been struck
00:05:09by how many electric performances
00:05:11there are this year across the categories.
00:05:14It's so thrilling to see Nicole Scherzinger
00:05:17in Sunset Boulevard or Audra in Gypsy.
00:05:20Then you've got, unlike anything else
00:05:22that I can think of,
00:05:23Cole, Escola, and O'Mearian,
00:05:26I found that sometimes,
00:05:28maybe more often than usual even,
00:05:30the performances have kind of outshined
00:05:32the shows themselves in some cases.
00:05:34But there's a lot of really exciting acting
00:05:37going on this season, I think.
00:05:38Definitely.
00:05:39And Caitlin,
00:05:39how have some of these shows done in the box office?
00:05:42And do you think Broadway has truly bounced back
00:05:45from the pandemic?
00:05:46Yeah, it actually has bounced back.
00:05:48They officially said a few weeks ago
00:05:50that the Broadway grosses were surpassing
00:05:52that same point in the 2018-2019 season,
00:05:56which is the benchmark
00:05:57that they're measuring everything against
00:05:58because that was before the pandemic.
00:06:00It was a record season.
00:06:02So the box office is doing very well,
00:06:04especially for these celebrity-driven shows.
00:06:07Good Night and Good Luck with George Clooney
00:06:08is breaking records every week,
00:06:11making more than $4 million.
00:06:13Othello with Denzel and Jake Gyllenhaal
00:06:16also posting huge numbers.
00:06:18Everyone else is kind of like in between,
00:06:21but overall it's contributing to a surge
00:06:23in the box office.
00:06:24Yeah.
00:06:25Well, speaking of George and Denzel,
00:06:27there's a lot of Hollywood faces this season.
00:06:30So how have Tony voters regarded
00:06:31Hollywood talent this season?
00:06:33I think it's just traditionally with some distance.
00:06:38I think, you know,
00:06:39some people were shocked when Julia Roberts
00:06:41came and did Three Days of Rain
00:06:42with Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper maybe years ago
00:06:47and none of them got a mention.
00:06:49And I think people thought in particular
00:06:51it was a slap to Julia Roberts.
00:06:53But, you know,
00:06:54the fact is sometimes movie actors
00:06:57are used to looking for their light in the camera.
00:06:59They're not really that able
00:07:02to project a stage presence.
00:07:04And, you know,
00:07:05the Tony voters are serious people.
00:07:06They're serious about theater.
00:07:08You know,
00:07:08the Patti LuPone cap who was like,
00:07:10you know,
00:07:10not in my town.
00:07:11Get out, Uma Thurman.
00:07:12It's tough.
00:07:13And I think some of the film actors this year
00:07:16have not done so well.
00:07:18Like George Clooney's performance,
00:07:20as much as the play is admirable,
00:07:22what it's about,
00:07:22what it's saying,
00:07:23I think the performance is quite underpowered,
00:07:27subdued to a fault.
00:07:28And Denzel Washington is just,
00:07:30I'm sorry,
00:07:31not good in Othello.
00:07:33Really?
00:07:33Yeah.
00:07:34We're not good enough for $900.
00:07:36Jeez.
00:07:36Yeah.
00:07:36There are some big names
00:07:38from Hollywood like Clooney
00:07:39and Darren Criss
00:07:41and people who have been nominated,
00:07:43but there were a lot of people surprised,
00:07:45less so about Denzel and Gyllenhaal
00:07:47not getting in,
00:07:48but Karen Culkin.
00:07:49I think it's also interesting
00:07:50because you have your Broadway stars
00:07:53and your Hollywood stars
00:07:54where a lot of the theater community
00:07:55is like,
00:07:56Audra and Gypsy is my ultimate show.
00:07:58You know,
00:07:58she is their Hollywood star
00:08:00and that's who they're waiting for.
00:08:02Or even like Jennifer Samard
00:08:03and Megan Hilty.
00:08:04Like those are the true stars
00:08:06for the theater community
00:08:07because we know
00:08:08that they can perform.
00:08:09This is their medium.
00:08:11Everyone else,
00:08:12you're kind of just like,
00:08:12let's see how they do.
00:08:14Okay.
00:08:14So we're going to start
00:08:15with Best Actress in a Play.
00:08:18The Best Actress in a Play nominees
00:08:20are Laura Donnelly,
00:08:21The Hills of California,
00:08:23Mia Farrow,
00:08:24The Roommate,
00:08:25Latanya Richardson-Jackson,
00:08:27Purpose,
00:08:28Sadie Sink,
00:08:29John Proctor is the Villain,
00:08:31and Sarah Snook,
00:08:32The Picture of Dorian Gray.
00:08:34Okay.
00:08:35So a lot of great contenders
00:08:37in this mix.
00:08:38What do we think
00:08:38of this crop of nominees?
00:08:40I think it's Sarah Snook's
00:08:42maybe hands down.
00:08:44It's really hard to compete
00:08:45with her in Dorian Gray
00:08:48because she's playing
00:08:48every single character
00:08:50acting opposite herself
00:08:51via live feeds
00:08:53and pre-recorded video.
00:08:55I think it's two hours
00:08:56just uninterrupted of her,
00:08:58almost interrupted
00:08:59of her on stage
00:09:00running around.
00:09:0126 different characters.
00:09:0226, yeah.
00:09:03And it's just like a marathon
00:09:05of acting that you're watching.
00:09:07So these other nominees
00:09:08are all really great as well.
00:09:10It's just almost like
00:09:12she should be
00:09:12in a different category,
00:09:13I'd say.
00:09:13I agree.
00:09:14And the only thing
00:09:15that gives me a little pause
00:09:16and she won the Olivier,
00:09:18like there's a lot of reason
00:09:19to believe this is hers,
00:09:21hands down.
00:09:21The one thing
00:09:22that's a little disconcerting
00:09:24is most of the other nominees
00:09:25are from shows
00:09:26that are nominated
00:09:27for Best Play.
00:09:29It's not like
00:09:30it always has to
00:09:31for the person to win
00:09:32in the acting category,
00:09:33but that is the only argument
00:09:35that is even
00:09:35uninterrupted of it.
00:09:37So David and Caitlin,
00:09:38who are your picks
00:09:39for who should win?
00:09:41I'm going to go,
00:09:42I just think that
00:09:42what she's doing
00:09:44in John Proctor
00:09:44is really good
00:09:45and she manages
00:09:47to be part of the ensemble
00:09:49but at the same time
00:09:50stand out.
00:09:51And the energy
00:09:52at that show
00:09:53is phenomenal.
00:09:54You go to that show,
00:09:55the night I went
00:09:56on a press night
00:09:56there was a large
00:09:58school group,
00:09:59primarily girls
00:10:00and they were squealing
00:10:02and then out in the lobby
00:10:03at the end of the show
00:10:04they were still squealing
00:10:05and all huddled together
00:10:06down by the restrooms
00:10:07talking a mile a minute
00:10:08and oh my God,
00:10:10oh my God,
00:10:11that was so funny.
00:10:12And the Lorde song
00:10:13that they use
00:10:14in the end,
00:10:14Green Light,
00:10:15I think that went over
00:10:16really well with them
00:10:16and so just,
00:10:17it was great to see
00:10:18kids of that age,
00:10:20high school kids,
00:10:20really connecting with theater.
00:10:22So maybe that's an argument
00:10:23for Best Play
00:10:24for John Proctor.
00:10:26I mean,
00:10:26I wouldn't be upset.
00:10:28I'd like to know
00:10:29who went to Stranger Things
00:10:30the first shadow
00:10:31thinking they were
00:10:31going to see Sadie Sink
00:10:33and it didn't work out.
00:10:34And they're right
00:10:35across the street from me.
00:10:36Yeah, it's crazy.
00:10:37Absolutely.
00:10:37And Caitlin,
00:10:38who's your pick?
00:10:39Again,
00:10:40I think it's
00:10:40Sarah Snook's category.
00:10:42An upset would be exciting
00:10:44although Sarah Snook
00:10:44is working so hard
00:10:46on stage.
00:10:47I love an upset.
00:10:49And Scott,
00:10:50as our awards expert,
00:10:52who will win?
00:10:53Is this Sarah Snook's
00:10:54to take?
00:10:55It would,
00:10:55I think,
00:10:56if you ask any
00:10:57of the odds makers
00:10:58or any,
00:10:59it would be a huge shock
00:11:00if it wasn't Sarah Snook's.
00:11:02So I think
00:11:03that's the expectation.
00:11:08I mean,
00:11:09I had always thought
00:11:10about returning
00:11:10to theater
00:11:11just because this
00:11:11is where I started
00:11:12and I thought
00:11:13it would be like,
00:11:14I don't,
00:11:15just such a fulfilling
00:11:16experience
00:11:17and educational experience
00:11:18to return as an adult.
00:11:19and also I think
00:11:21the challenge
00:11:22is there
00:11:23which is that
00:11:24like being on stage
00:11:26it's like,
00:11:26I don't know,
00:11:28it was like a new muscle
00:11:28for me
00:11:29or like an old muscle
00:11:30that was out of practice.
00:11:31So tapping back
00:11:32into that
00:11:33and yeah,
00:11:35I've just learned
00:11:36so,
00:11:36so much
00:11:37and like there's been
00:11:37so many highs
00:11:38and lows
00:11:38of like feeling
00:11:40like I don't know
00:11:41what I'm doing
00:11:41and like the preview
00:11:42process and everything
00:11:43but I couldn't ask
00:11:45for a better team
00:11:46to be surrounded by.
00:11:46Our cast is incredible.
00:11:48Donya and Kimberly
00:11:48are so supportive.
00:11:50Okay,
00:11:50we're going to move on
00:11:51to Best Actor in a Play.
00:11:54The Best Actor in a Play
00:11:55nominees are
00:11:56George Clooney,
00:11:57Good Night and Good Luck,
00:11:59Pola Scola,
00:12:00O'Mary,
00:12:01John Michael Hill,
00:12:02Purpose,
00:12:03Daniel Dae Kim,
00:12:04Yellow Face,
00:12:05Harry Lennox,
00:12:06Purpose,
00:12:07Louis McCartney,
00:12:08Stranger Things,
00:12:09The First Shadow.
00:12:10Okay.
00:12:11Well,
00:12:12we can count him out.
00:12:13I just don't think
00:12:14there's much excitement
00:12:15around that show
00:12:16or that performance.
00:12:17You know,
00:12:17the super fans
00:12:19of Stranger Things
00:12:20on Netflix
00:12:21are going.
00:12:22I don't know
00:12:22that anyone
00:12:23in the theater community,
00:12:24the Tony voters,
00:12:25are particularly excited
00:12:26about it.
00:12:27And also,
00:12:28it just feels like
00:12:29another kind of
00:12:29theme park element
00:12:31of Broadway
00:12:31that a lot of people
00:12:32just have a knee-jerk
00:12:33reaction against.
00:12:34My pick would be
00:12:36unequivocally
00:12:36Cole Escola.
00:12:38I worship at the altar
00:12:39of Cole Escola.
00:12:40They are a genius
00:12:42and a comedy genius.
00:12:44I had loved their work
00:12:45on a bunch of TV shows,
00:12:47especially the late
00:12:49lamented At Home
00:12:50with Amy Sedaris,
00:12:51which was just
00:12:52the craziest,
00:12:53most bonkers show
00:12:54ever aired.
00:12:55And Cole Escola
00:12:55was wonderful in it.
00:12:57I think it's not
00:12:58a close call
00:12:59as far as,
00:13:00like David's saying,
00:13:01Cole Escola,
00:13:02it's so different
00:13:03than anything else.
00:13:04It's also a show
00:13:05that came up
00:13:06from off-Broadway
00:13:08and has been...
00:13:10And it opened...
00:13:10Everybody thought,
00:13:11this is insane,
00:13:13bringing this to Broadway.
00:13:14And it's doing
00:13:15a million plus a week.
00:13:16I've been thinking
00:13:17about John Fracture
00:13:18as the villain
00:13:18because the playwright
00:13:19said the reason
00:13:20that she wrote that play
00:13:21is because Woody Allen
00:13:22called the
00:13:23Harvey Weinstein allegations
00:13:25in the Me Too movement
00:13:27a witch hunt.
00:13:28So that made her
00:13:29start thinking
00:13:30about The Crucible
00:13:30and what it means
00:13:31to have a group of witches.
00:13:32And now we've got
00:13:33Weinstein on trial again
00:13:35and this play
00:13:35even more relevant.
00:13:37Yes.
00:13:37So David and Caitlin,
00:13:39who do you think
00:13:40should win
00:13:40in this category?
00:13:42Oh, Cole Escola.
00:13:43I think Cole's...
00:13:45I think Cole would be
00:13:45the first non-binary performer
00:13:47in this category.
00:13:48There have been
00:13:49non-binary performers
00:13:50who have won
00:13:50in other categories,
00:13:51but that would be
00:13:52the standout for this one.
00:13:53The Miscast Gala
00:13:55where Cole did
00:13:55the entirety
00:13:57of a chorus number
00:13:58from the Music Man
00:13:59playing all the parts.
00:14:00As an ensemble,
00:14:01as a burlesque number.
00:14:02Yeah, it was fantastic.
00:14:04But yeah,
00:14:05I think that,
00:14:05you know,
00:14:06that play also came along
00:14:07at a time
00:14:08when it was during
00:14:09the election campaign
00:14:09we were all feeling
00:14:10really worn down
00:14:11by the constant barrage
00:14:12of political news,
00:14:13most of it bad,
00:14:15most of it depressing.
00:14:16Whatever side you're on,
00:14:17I think that that play
00:14:18kind of opened up
00:14:19this 90-minute world
00:14:21where you just
00:14:22howl with laughter
00:14:24non-stop.
00:14:25I mean,
00:14:26I don't remember a play
00:14:27that delivered
00:14:28such a high ratio
00:14:29of laughs per minute.
00:14:31And Conrad,
00:14:33Enricomora,
00:14:34the others in the cast
00:14:34are very good
00:14:35but Cole is the one
00:14:37who binds everyone together
00:14:38and I think there's
00:14:39such a skill in that.
00:14:41And also,
00:14:41it's like a throwback
00:14:42to Charles Ludlam
00:14:44and, you know,
00:14:46the Ridiculous Theater Company.
00:14:48It's a kind of lunatic
00:14:49theater production
00:14:51that we don't get very much
00:14:52and we certainly
00:14:52don't get it on Broadway.
00:14:54So, I thought it was
00:14:55just a bold move
00:14:56to bring it here.
00:14:56I'm so thrilled
00:14:57that it's done so well.
00:14:58Yeah.
00:14:59And Scott,
00:15:00who will win?
00:15:01Is this a landslide
00:15:02victory for Cole?
00:15:03I think so
00:15:04and to the extent
00:15:05that other nominees
00:15:06who shall remain nameless
00:15:07have withdrawn
00:15:08from certain campaigning
00:15:10things they were
00:15:11intending to do
00:15:12because it's just
00:15:13looks silly
00:15:14at this point.
00:15:15So, I think that
00:15:15it's acknowledged
00:15:17around the
00:15:18even the pool
00:15:19of nominees
00:15:19that this one's over.
00:15:21Okay, well,
00:15:22we'll see
00:15:22who brings home
00:15:23this award.
00:15:24Now, guys,
00:15:25sit tight.
00:15:26We're gonna be back
00:15:26in just a bit
00:15:27with our best actress
00:15:28and actor
00:15:29in a musical.
00:15:31You know,
00:15:35I treat it
00:15:36entirely like a job
00:15:37when I'm outside
00:15:39of work.
00:15:40You know,
00:15:41I'll have thoughts
00:15:42but I mainly
00:15:43try to
00:15:44just stay
00:15:45like Louis,
00:15:46like really Louis
00:15:47outside of work
00:15:48because
00:15:49the show is intense
00:15:51and, you know,
00:15:52I'll get into work,
00:15:52I'll warm up properly
00:15:53and I'll start
00:15:54to play some music
00:15:55and kind of get
00:15:56into it a little
00:15:57and, you know,
00:15:58that's when it's
00:15:58like go time,
00:15:59you know,
00:16:00and it's time
00:16:00to show up
00:16:01and it's time
00:16:01to do your job
00:16:02because, you know,
00:16:04I think, you know,
00:16:05you can talk
00:16:06about acting
00:16:06and, you know,
00:16:07and it's great
00:16:08to get really deep
00:16:09and all into it
00:16:09but the end of the day
00:16:10is people are paying
00:16:12and, you know,
00:16:13I gotta be on stage
00:16:14and I gotta be top form
00:16:15and that means
00:16:15there's a mechanism
00:16:16to it
00:16:17which helps
00:16:18in kind of
00:16:19the dissection
00:16:19because then
00:16:20it's simpler,
00:16:21you know,
00:16:21and there's no veil
00:16:22or crossing
00:16:23or muddling
00:16:24of, you know,
00:16:25who I am
00:16:26I mean,
00:16:27my sleep
00:16:28is a little worse
00:16:29I do,
00:16:29my nightmares
00:16:30are a little worse
00:16:31I'm a sleep talker
00:16:32and a sleep walker
00:16:32As if we couldn't be
00:16:34any higher
00:16:34in the sky
00:16:35I'm here
00:16:36at Top of the Rock's
00:16:37newest attraction
00:16:38Skylift
00:16:39This is an open air
00:16:40platform that rises
00:16:4130 feet above the rooftop
00:16:42and spans 360 degrees
00:16:44for panoramic views
00:16:45of the city
00:16:46Talk about surreal
00:16:47Now, speaking of surreal
00:16:49let's talk about
00:16:49one of the buzziest shows
00:16:51on Broadway right now
00:16:52Stranger Things
00:16:53first shadow
00:16:53That's right
00:16:54Netflix has made
00:16:55its way to Broadway
00:16:56complete with
00:16:57mind-bending effects
00:16:58jaw-dropping design
00:16:59and the perfect
00:17:00amount of spooky
00:17:01But how did the
00:17:02Upside Down
00:17:03make its way
00:17:03to the stage?
00:17:04Well, we interviewed
00:17:05the team behind
00:17:06the magic to find out
00:17:07Take a look
00:17:08It's not real
00:17:13You are the shadow
00:17:16We are the design team
00:17:22behind Stranger Things
00:17:23the first shadow
00:17:24on Broadway
00:17:25Even though we knew
00:17:27it was Stranger Things
00:17:28and that the stakes
00:17:30were really high
00:17:30and it was really ambitious
00:17:31we weren't quite aware
00:17:33until we were in the room
00:17:34with Stephen
00:17:36that first meeting
00:17:37how ambitious
00:17:39it was going to be
00:17:40and there were lots
00:17:41of things that weren't
00:17:43necessarily a part
00:17:44of the script yet
00:17:45that we were discussing
00:17:47with Stephen
00:17:48there were lots of things
00:17:48that were already
00:17:49in the script
00:17:49and the task
00:17:52of making
00:17:53a full-size battleship
00:17:55appear
00:17:56at the beginning
00:17:57of the show
00:17:57was partially terrifying
00:18:00and partially exhilarating
00:18:01I mean, I don't know
00:18:02about you Chris
00:18:03but I left the room
00:18:04with a skip in my step
00:18:05thinking about
00:18:06Oh, buzzing
00:18:07absolutely buzzing
00:18:08You know, all credit
00:18:10to Kate
00:18:11our amazing playwright
00:18:12who sort of gave us
00:18:13this beautiful story
00:18:14you know, with all these
00:18:16very highly theatrical moments
00:18:17so she hadn't written
00:18:19for the stage before
00:18:20so it gave us
00:18:22these incredible challenges
00:18:24and also possibilities
00:18:26We definitely had to
00:18:27deliver effects
00:18:29that felt like
00:18:30they were in
00:18:31the Stranger Things universe
00:18:33the projection design
00:18:35we're sort of
00:18:36in video design
00:18:37we are sometimes
00:18:38creating a backdrop
00:18:40behind the scene
00:18:40but we're always
00:18:41in general
00:18:42we're adding a layer
00:18:43of light to the scene
00:18:44so it's working closely
00:18:46with John
00:18:47our lighting designer
00:18:48and Jamie and Chris
00:18:50and Miriam
00:18:50and also Paul
00:18:52our sound designer
00:18:53working to create
00:18:54the tapestry
00:18:56of visual effects
00:18:58and what you see
00:19:00and hear
00:19:00in the theatre
00:19:01There were two challenges
00:19:03for Chris and I
00:19:04that there were
00:19:05the known elements
00:19:07of the world
00:19:07the known elements
00:19:08of the canon
00:19:09and you know
00:19:10from a very early stage
00:19:12we knew from Kate's script
00:19:14that we were going
00:19:15to have to deliver
00:19:16some of the things
00:19:17that were already
00:19:18a part of the world
00:19:19of Stranger Things
00:19:20and so there was
00:19:21a lot of head scratching
00:19:22and group discussion
00:19:24between the entire
00:19:24creative team
00:19:25about how are we going
00:19:26to do those moments
00:19:27but then at the same time
00:19:29we were also really aware
00:19:30that you know
00:19:31this was a new offering
00:19:33into the Stranger Things universe
00:19:34and we wanted to do things
00:19:36that were unique
00:19:37to the stage version
00:19:39of what we were doing
00:19:40and things that the audience
00:19:41hadn't seen before
00:19:42A lot of what we do
00:19:43is not just designing
00:19:45the visual
00:19:45it's designing time
00:19:46it's designing
00:19:47how long things take
00:19:48how much time
00:19:50do we need
00:19:51to make a ship
00:19:52appear or disappear
00:19:53and then really
00:19:54pushing ourselves
00:19:54to do that
00:19:55in the least amount
00:19:56of time possible
00:19:57There's a whole moment
00:19:58in that sequence
00:19:59where you see
00:20:00an empty
00:20:01a sky
00:20:03a starry sky
00:20:04and an empty sea
00:20:05it's a piece of scenery
00:20:06that the audience
00:20:07sees for three seconds
00:20:08and then it's gone
00:20:09and never seen again
00:20:10and but without that
00:20:12without that moment
00:20:13without that little bit
00:20:13of time in that sequence
00:20:15it doesn't work
00:20:16So for me
00:20:17one illusion
00:20:17that audience can't believe
00:20:19is happening live
00:20:20is the ship
00:20:21because I think
00:20:22it has to do
00:20:23with scale
00:20:24that something so big
00:20:27appearing literally
00:20:28quite literally
00:20:29out of nowhere
00:20:30and then disappearing
00:20:31again in such a short
00:20:33amount of time
00:20:33is
00:20:34doesn't happen very often
00:20:36That's what I personally
00:20:38found exhilarating
00:20:39about working with Kate
00:20:40is she's like
00:20:41hey I've written
00:20:41this opening scene
00:20:43and we've got to make
00:20:43a ship vanish
00:20:44and then reappear
00:20:45in another dimension
00:20:46and you're like
00:20:47One illusion
00:20:49is the gantry fall
00:20:50it's when Patty's
00:20:51falling down the gantry
00:20:52in Act 2
00:20:53and you know
00:20:53we purposely
00:20:54you know
00:20:55put it into this
00:20:56kind of slow motion
00:20:56effect
00:20:58and I think
00:20:59just due to the nature
00:21:00of that
00:21:00due to the way
00:21:01that we've
00:21:02sort of
00:21:02framed it
00:21:04and what Patty does
00:21:05with her body as well
00:21:06it feels like
00:21:07it shouldn't be possible
00:21:08what you're seeing
00:21:09and even with us
00:21:11sort of
00:21:12you know
00:21:12knowing obviously
00:21:13having designed
00:21:14how it works
00:21:14we look at it every night
00:21:16and it's still got
00:21:17this kind of impossibility
00:21:17to it almost
00:21:18which is really exciting
00:21:19When Henry
00:21:20steps out of himself
00:21:22or he's lying on a bed
00:21:24and the lights flicker
00:21:26and he steps out of himself
00:21:28and he's still on the bed
00:21:29and I think that
00:21:31you know
00:21:32it was more challenging
00:21:33than it might
00:21:34appear
00:21:35but
00:21:35it gets
00:21:37lovely reactions
00:21:38from the audience
00:21:39A lot of my
00:21:40sort of colleagues
00:21:42in the theatre
00:21:42who go to see the show
00:21:43can't figure out
00:21:45how we did
00:21:46is the rat
00:21:47at the beginning
00:21:49of Act 2
00:21:49There's a rat
00:21:51in a cage
00:21:52and he's just running
00:21:53running along
00:21:54in the cage
00:21:54and then all of a sudden
00:21:55Henry takes over
00:21:57and
00:21:57that's a horrible thing
00:22:00to the rat
00:22:00and it's
00:22:01yeah
00:22:01it is
00:22:02it is a completely
00:22:04believable effect
00:22:05even up close
00:22:05One of the big differences
00:22:07I think from London
00:22:08to when we went to Broadway
00:22:09is we realised
00:22:10we revisited blood
00:22:11and blood's such a big thing
00:22:13in the show
00:22:14and we wanted the blood
00:22:16to be bigger
00:22:16and we wanted the blood
00:22:17to be more visual
00:22:18and for the audience
00:22:19to see it more
00:22:19so we definitely
00:22:20upped our ante on the blood
00:22:22And we have a great
00:22:23big mind flare
00:22:24now descending
00:22:25above the audience
00:22:26let's not forget
00:22:27which is quite
00:22:28quite different
00:22:28than to what it is
00:22:30in London
00:22:30For some of the jump scares
00:22:31we do
00:22:32particularly at the end
00:22:33of the show
00:22:33I like to just sort of
00:22:35look to one side
00:22:36and watch the audience
00:22:37jump
00:22:38out of their skin
00:22:40at that moment
00:22:41that's
00:22:41pretty satisfying
00:22:43I had an amazing
00:22:44discussion
00:22:45during previews
00:22:46with an audience member
00:22:47and he said
00:22:48what do you do?
00:22:49I said
00:22:49I did the special effects
00:22:51with Chris over here
00:22:52and he was so blown away
00:22:57and so amazed
00:23:00by the show
00:23:01that we'd all made together
00:23:02that he was holding back tears
00:23:04telling us about it
00:23:05and I had one of those moments
00:23:06where he realised
00:23:07that for the fans
00:23:09this is a really special experience
00:23:10and I think
00:23:11I knew that
00:23:12of course I knew that
00:23:13but it was really
00:23:14driven home
00:23:15It's not real
00:23:20Hey guys
00:23:31we're here at the
00:23:31Schoenfeld Theatre
00:23:32where we're bringing
00:23:33the rhythm of Havana
00:23:34to Broadway
00:23:35the 10 time
00:23:36Tony nominated
00:23:37Buena Vista Social Club
00:23:39is bringing the soul
00:23:40of Cuban music
00:23:41to new audiences
00:23:42and displaying
00:23:43the richness
00:23:43of Cuban culture
00:23:44through music
00:23:45movement
00:23:46heart
00:23:46and resilience
00:23:47Today we're going
00:23:48behind the scenes
00:23:49with choreographers
00:23:50Justin Peck
00:23:50and Patricia Delgado
00:23:52and they're telling us
00:23:53how they're bringing
00:23:53the Cuban music
00:23:54to life
00:23:55on stage
00:23:56and if we're lucky
00:23:57they may even show us
00:23:58a few new moves
00:23:58let's check it out
00:23:59let's check it out
00:23:59The Buena Vista Social Club
00:24:07is a show
00:24:08that's essentially
00:24:09about the making
00:24:09of this Cuban album
00:24:11that was made
00:24:12in the 90s
00:24:13and it follows
00:24:14several characters
00:24:15who were musicians
00:24:16and part of the making
00:24:17of that album
00:24:18and it jumps back
00:24:19and forth
00:24:20between the 90s
00:24:21and the 50s
00:24:22and kind of imagines
00:24:25what their trajectory
00:24:26was like
00:24:27and what their experience
00:24:28was like
00:24:29as young people
00:24:30who had their first experience
00:24:32with a place
00:24:33called the Buena Vista Social Club
00:24:35I think what our show does
00:24:37is it dives into
00:24:39these actual living artists
00:24:41and the trajectory
00:24:43of meeting
00:24:44when they were young
00:24:45and the hardships
00:24:47that their community
00:24:50their culture
00:24:50their country
00:24:51went through
00:24:52and how they don't have
00:24:53the opportunity
00:24:54to really fully
00:24:55feel the hype
00:24:58of their artistic experience
00:24:59until much later in life
00:25:01This is the kind of show
00:25:02that really meets
00:25:03an audience halfway
00:25:04and you feel that
00:25:05from the first song
00:25:06when the band
00:25:07and the cast
00:25:08enters onto the stage
00:25:09it's just like
00:25:10this swell of energy
00:25:12and it's
00:25:14there's a kind of like
00:25:15essence to it
00:25:16that it's hard to articulate
00:25:18exactly what it is
00:25:19but everyone feels it
00:25:21night after night
00:25:22I think the whole creative team
00:25:23had the vision
00:25:24to celebrate and honor the music
00:25:26that was always like
00:25:27our guiding light
00:25:28and I think
00:25:29when we cast this band
00:25:31they're not just
00:25:34incredible musicians
00:25:35but their mission
00:25:36is to spread
00:25:38Cuban music
00:25:39There's a very diverse range
00:25:41of kinds of movements
00:25:43you know
00:25:43everything from
00:25:44mambo and salsa
00:25:46to Afro-Cuban dance
00:25:49to even things like
00:25:51ballet and modern dance
00:25:52are a big part
00:25:53of the Cuban culture
00:25:54Such a collaborative
00:25:55experience
00:25:57with like the book writer
00:25:58and the director
00:25:59and the music department
00:26:01and the cast
00:26:02and the production
00:26:03and there's just
00:26:04this support
00:26:06and when you get
00:26:07the right support
00:26:08to hold up the dance
00:26:09and people who understand
00:26:10the power of dance
00:26:11it's a testament
00:26:12to what it can do
00:26:14for a show
00:26:15Especially Patricia's
00:26:16family was so
00:26:17thrilled to come
00:26:20and experience the show
00:26:21because
00:26:22I mean
00:26:22maybe you should
00:26:23talk about that
00:26:24they had never
00:26:25they've never been back
00:26:26to Cuba
00:26:26since they came
00:26:27when they were kids
00:26:28and even just like
00:26:30researching and talking
00:26:32about the show
00:26:32at home
00:26:33you know
00:26:34around our dining room table
00:26:35it was unpacking
00:26:38so many memories
00:26:39and stories
00:26:39and difficult challenges
00:26:43emotionally
00:26:44and I'll never forget
00:26:46my mom on opening night
00:26:47was like
00:26:47you know
00:26:48I've never been back
00:26:48to Cuba
00:26:49but you brought Cuba
00:26:49to me
00:26:50Patricia and I
00:26:51are married
00:26:51and we've worked
00:26:52together in different
00:26:52capacities
00:26:53but this is the first
00:26:54time where we're
00:26:55actually co-choreographers
00:26:56on a Broadway show
00:26:58together
00:26:59the music has been
00:27:00so much a part
00:27:01of both of our lives
00:27:02dating all the way
00:27:04back to when we were
00:27:05kids basically
00:27:06we've just been
00:27:07so much so that
00:27:08it was the first
00:27:09dance at our wedding
00:27:10we both share
00:27:13an incredible passion
00:27:14for this music
00:27:15and you know
00:27:16again like
00:27:17when we look back
00:27:18on that moment
00:27:18we're like
00:27:18we never thought
00:27:19we'd actually
00:27:19bring this to a Broadway stage
00:27:22so why not do it
00:27:23we choreographed it
00:27:24for my sister
00:27:25and her husband
00:27:25and my mom and dad
00:27:26and Justin and I
00:27:27that was our first dance
00:27:28so the choreography
00:27:29of this show
00:27:30started a while ago
00:27:31okay guys
00:27:32we are here
00:27:33with Justin Peck
00:27:34and the fabulous dancers
00:27:35of Buena Vista Social Club
00:27:37and they are going to
00:27:39teach me
00:27:39a few moves
00:27:40so let's do it
00:27:41a difficult rehearsal day
00:27:47for us
00:27:48now that the show
00:27:49is open
00:27:49most of the time
00:27:50we just get here
00:27:51and start getting ready
00:27:53to do our show
00:27:54and everybody
00:27:55have a different routine
00:27:56like we all have
00:27:57a ballet bar
00:27:58back there
00:27:59different warm-ups
00:28:00we roll up
00:28:00we stretch
00:28:01we do abs
00:28:02whatever we need
00:28:02to get the show ready
00:28:03and obviously
00:28:05in the process
00:28:05of the show
00:28:06since we are doing
00:28:07it eight times a week
00:28:08there are things
00:28:09that get lost
00:28:09and if we need it
00:28:10then we get here
00:28:12a little bit earlier
00:28:13and we sit down
00:28:14we give some notes
00:28:15and then we review
00:28:16and try to put back
00:28:18the essence of the show
00:28:19back again into our body
00:28:20so we don't lose
00:28:21the integrity
00:28:21of the movement
00:28:22so we have like
00:28:23many kinds of rehearsals
00:28:25we have understudy rehearsals
00:28:26we are now
00:28:27currently going through
00:28:28like Tony rehearsals
00:28:29or we might have
00:28:31like bureau rehearsal
00:28:32for any special appearance
00:28:34that we might be doing
00:28:35and so we have shows
00:28:37eight times a week
00:28:38and then we will be called
00:28:39here
00:28:39like today we're called
00:28:40at 11 a.m
00:28:41at 11 a.m
00:28:42exactly
00:28:42and so it's
00:28:43you get
00:28:44yeah but some of us
00:28:46for example
00:28:47like I know you have
00:28:48rehearsals on Thursdays
00:28:49and Fridays
00:28:50for understudy rehearsal
00:28:51which is completely
00:28:52different
00:28:52because she covers
00:28:53both the lead girls
00:28:55in the show
00:28:55Patricia and Justin
00:28:58I mean Justin Peck
00:28:59Patricia Delgado
00:29:00they're out there
00:29:02I mean I always
00:29:03admire their work
00:29:04and I'm so
00:29:07I feel so lucky
00:29:08grateful to be here
00:29:09and seeing their process
00:29:12being in the studio
00:29:13with them
00:29:14it's incredible
00:29:15they come to the studio
00:29:18knowing what they want to do
00:29:20and everything just flows
00:29:24and yeah they're incredible
00:29:27they're genius to me
00:29:30oh my god
00:29:30I love them together
00:29:31they're like
00:29:32yin and yang
00:29:33they need each other
00:29:34in the best way
00:29:36they're like perfect dynamics
00:29:37I think for me
00:29:38the most special part of this
00:29:39is that I get to be myself
00:29:42and bring my culture
00:29:43my Panama with me
00:29:45and it doesn't feel
00:29:46out of place
00:29:47it feels so welcomed
00:29:48it's encouraged
00:29:50yeah I think
00:29:51I think the most important
00:29:53part for me
00:29:53is that we are so authentic
00:29:55like we're not trying
00:29:57to play anybody else
00:29:58in this show
00:29:58we are playing ourselves
00:29:59it's our story
00:30:00it's our music
00:30:01it's our culture
00:30:01it's our dance
00:30:03it's our movement
00:30:03and I think that brings
00:30:05a certain type of joy
00:30:08that you cannot replicate
00:30:09when you're trying
00:30:10to be somebody else
00:30:11it's something that is innate
00:30:12and I think that's the most
00:30:14beautiful part of being here
00:30:15this is a total party
00:30:21I don't know
00:30:22on stage
00:30:23it's like the place
00:30:24you want to be
00:30:24a great costume
00:30:39can make a performance
00:30:40come alive on stage
00:30:41and a great red carpet look
00:30:43can make it a knockout
00:30:44awards night
00:30:45and for Broadway stars
00:30:46they definitely know
00:30:47how to deliver
00:30:48a fashion moment
00:30:49so let's take a look
00:30:50at some of the best
00:30:51red carpet looks
00:30:51Broadway's biggest night
00:30:58isn't just about the awards
00:30:59it's also where theater
00:31:01meets high fashion
00:31:02from classic glamour
00:31:03to bold statements
00:31:04the Tony Awards red carpet
00:31:05has served iconic looks
00:31:07that even rival
00:31:08Hollywood's hottest runways
00:31:09in the 80s and 90s
00:31:10the Tonys leaned into elegance
00:31:12legends like Bernadette Peters
00:31:14Liza Minnelli
00:31:15and Sigourney Weaver
00:31:16dazzled in sequins
00:31:17and old school silhouettes
00:31:18think opera gloves
00:31:20big hair and timeless grace
00:31:21at the 39th Tony Awards
00:31:23in 1985
00:31:24Weaver wore a black sequined
00:31:26column gown
00:31:27with opera gloves
00:31:28and in 1996
00:31:29at the 50th annual
00:31:31Tony Awards
00:31:32Peters is seen
00:31:33sporting black satin slacks
00:31:34with a sequined halter top
00:31:36standing next to Minnelli
00:31:37in a matching sequined
00:31:38v-neck top
00:31:39with a jacket
00:31:40and adding some flair
00:31:41with a neck scarf
00:31:42to accessorize the look
00:31:43moving on to the early 2000s
00:31:45when Wicked was casting
00:31:46its spell on Broadway
00:31:47and the red carpet
00:31:48Kristen Chenoweth
00:31:49brought old Hollywood charm
00:31:51in a strapless red gown
00:31:52while Idina Menzel
00:31:53paid homage to Elphaba
00:31:55with a stunning emerald
00:31:56around her neck
00:31:57wearing a periwinkle gown
00:31:58in 2004
00:31:59We also saw stars
00:32:01like Gwyneth Paltrow
00:32:01in 2001
00:32:02who wore a short-sleeved dress
00:32:04with a plunging neckline
00:32:05and a sheer floral skirt
00:32:07and then in 2006
00:32:08Sutton Foster
00:32:09donning an ivory mermaid gown
00:32:11with delicate feathers
00:32:12Moving on to later years
00:32:13we see stars
00:32:14like Jennifer Lopez
00:32:15in 2015
00:32:16wearing a midnight blue
00:32:17Valentino gown
00:32:18with gold embroidery
00:32:19and Lucy Liu in 2016
00:32:21for the 70th Tony Awards
00:32:23in a pastel yellow halter gown
00:32:25Then came the fashion revolution
00:32:27where Billy Porter
00:32:28redefined red carpet rules
00:32:30with this fierce red and pink look
00:32:31by Celestino Couture in 2019
00:32:34being the moment
00:32:35Following in 2023
00:32:37Lupita Nyong'o
00:32:38took a more structured approach
00:32:40pairing a black tuxedo pant
00:32:42with a metallic breastplate
00:32:43And in 2024
00:32:44we have Cynthia Erivo
00:32:46wowing the carpet
00:32:47with a custom gold sequin
00:32:48Louis Vuitton gown
00:32:49followed by Ariana DeVos
00:32:51in a dazzling mosaic
00:32:52Oscar de la Renta
00:32:53Every year
00:32:54the Tony's red carpet
00:32:55gets bolder, brighter
00:32:56and more unforgettable
00:32:58So as the curtain rises
00:32:59once again
00:33:00who will steal
00:33:01the spotlight this time?
00:33:10We were seeing
00:33:11Rose's life
00:33:12through a black lens
00:33:14and we haven't changed anything
00:33:16in the show at all
00:33:17We're just embodying
00:33:18who we are
00:33:19I'm not trying to
00:33:20be anybody else's Rose
00:33:22I'm not trying to be
00:33:22Ethel Merman
00:33:23I'm not trying to be
00:33:24Angela Lansbury
00:33:25or Patti LuPone
00:33:26or Bernadette Peters
00:33:28I'm being
00:33:29Audra McDonald's Rose
00:33:31and so
00:33:32and all that
00:33:34that means
00:33:35without changing
00:33:35a single line
00:33:36so when we have lines like
00:33:37I was born too soon
00:33:38and got started too late
00:33:39hits differently
00:33:40when you hear that
00:33:41coming from a black woman
00:33:42in the 20s
00:33:43we're back
00:33:43and we are moving on
00:33:45to the musicals
00:33:46we're going to start
00:33:46with our actresses
00:33:47the contenders
00:33:48for best actress
00:33:49in a musical
00:33:50are
00:33:51Megan Hilty
00:33:52Death Becomes Her
00:33:53Audra McDonald
00:33:54Gypsy
00:33:55Jasmine Amy Rogers
00:33:57Boop the Musical
00:33:58Nicole Scherzinger
00:33:59Sunset Boulevard
00:34:00and Jennifer Simard
00:34:01Death Becomes Her
00:34:02so a lot of people
00:34:04have been talking
00:34:05about Audra McDonald's
00:34:06performance
00:34:07in Gypsy
00:34:07how does this stack up
00:34:09in terms of
00:34:10other iterations
00:34:11of this production?
00:34:12I love this production
00:34:15I think that
00:34:16she's not a perfect
00:34:17vocal fit for the role
00:34:18but she sells anything
00:34:20and she's just
00:34:20a consummate actor
00:34:22you know
00:34:23she is the consummate
00:34:24musical theatre actor
00:34:25so I love
00:34:27what George C. Wolfe
00:34:29the director
00:34:29does to it
00:34:31without changing
00:34:31a word of the script
00:34:32but just putting
00:34:34a woman of colour
00:34:35in that role
00:34:36at that time
00:34:37in history
00:34:37you get a sense
00:34:39so much more
00:34:39of her struggle
00:34:40of why she's so hungry
00:34:41why she wants this
00:34:42because she's an incredibly
00:34:44abrasive character
00:34:44she's basically
00:34:45the monster
00:34:46stage mother
00:34:47of all time
00:34:48but she makes you
00:34:50feel for her
00:34:50and I think that
00:34:52in terms of
00:34:53all round
00:34:54360 degree performance
00:34:56I just don't think
00:34:57anything comes close
00:34:58I love Nicole Scherzinger
00:34:59in Sunset
00:35:01you know
00:35:01she can do
00:35:02the haughty diva
00:35:03thing
00:35:04the Gloria Swanson
00:35:05take
00:35:05on the character
00:35:06but she
00:35:07is primarily great
00:35:09because of her vocals
00:35:10I mean she kills
00:35:11two or three
00:35:12of those songs
00:35:13you know
00:35:13the only
00:35:13probably the only
00:35:14memorable songs
00:35:15in the show
00:35:15the show
00:35:16standing ovation
00:35:17yeah
00:35:17and you know
00:35:18she's just got
00:35:19incredible magnetism
00:35:20but I don't think
00:35:21she has the subtlety
00:35:22the nuances
00:35:23in her acting
00:35:23that Audra has
00:35:25Audra only has
00:35:26six Tonys
00:35:26she needs more
00:35:27I was gonna say
00:35:28I think that
00:35:29it'll be interesting
00:35:30to see how the voters
00:35:31consider that
00:35:33if they consider that
00:35:34because it is
00:35:34this is
00:35:35somebody who's
00:35:36certainly been
00:35:37thoroughly recognized
00:35:38all four
00:35:38with Audra
00:35:39all four acting
00:35:40categories she could
00:35:41have won in
00:35:42are among the
00:35:42the six total
00:35:44which is a record
00:35:45she's now
00:35:45the record
00:35:46solely in possession
00:35:48of the record
00:35:48for most nominations
00:35:49eleven
00:35:49eleven
00:35:50I think for some people
00:35:51it may be
00:35:52Ty goes to the person
00:35:53who's also great
00:35:55and has never been
00:35:55recognized
00:35:56which would be
00:35:57the Nicole Scherzinger
00:35:58presumably
00:35:58and that show
00:35:59is a phenomenon
00:36:00but obviously
00:36:02there are many
00:36:02many people
00:36:03like David
00:36:03and all of us
00:36:05I think
00:36:05just hold
00:36:06Audra
00:36:07in such a high regard
00:36:08but I don't think
00:36:10she's lacking
00:36:11for recognition
00:36:12in fact
00:36:12this very day
00:36:14she is on the cover
00:36:15of Time Magazine
00:36:16as I think
00:36:18it says
00:36:18the greatest
00:36:19Broadway actress
00:36:20of her generation
00:36:21or something
00:36:21which it's hard
00:36:22to argue
00:36:23but it's tough
00:36:24it's sort of like
00:36:24this comes up
00:36:25in film coverage
00:36:26sometimes
00:36:27where it's like
00:36:27if a Spielberg film
00:36:29was released
00:36:30under
00:36:31a new Spielberg film
00:36:32was released
00:36:32under somebody
00:36:33else's name
00:36:33people might
00:36:35be more excited
00:36:36about it
00:36:36than when it's
00:36:37Spielberg's name
00:36:37because you're judged
00:36:38against all of your
00:36:39previous incredible work
00:36:40and I think
00:36:41in this case
00:36:42Audra has set
00:36:44such a high bar
00:36:44with past work
00:36:45that even though
00:36:46she's terrific
00:36:47in this
00:36:47is she as terrific
00:36:48as you know
00:36:50any number of others
00:36:51and so there
00:36:52are all these
00:36:52different kinds
00:36:53of considerations
00:36:53and we've talked
00:36:54a little bit
00:36:55about Nicole Scherzinger
00:36:56already
00:36:57but her Broadway debut
00:36:58has been a topic
00:36:59of conversation
00:37:00what do we make
00:37:01of her
00:37:01kind of taking
00:37:02this turn over
00:37:03to Broadway
00:37:03she's done
00:37:05the West End
00:37:06before
00:37:07so I think
00:37:07they're more
00:37:08accustomed to her
00:37:09in London
00:37:10and we almost
00:37:11got her for Cats
00:37:12on Broadway
00:37:13as Grizabella
00:37:14but I think
00:37:15that the Broadway
00:37:16audiences were
00:37:18at least people
00:37:18I talked to
00:37:19were a little
00:37:19surprised
00:37:20at how great
00:37:21she was
00:37:21in this production
00:37:22because everyone
00:37:22knew that she
00:37:23can sing
00:37:23but they weren't
00:37:24sure about
00:37:25seeing her
00:37:25on stage
00:37:26and I think
00:37:27it was a
00:37:27pleasant surprise
00:37:28also there's
00:37:29a big difference
00:37:30between singing
00:37:31Pussycat Dolls
00:37:32pop
00:37:33and singing
00:37:33Andrew Lloyd Webber's
00:37:35foe
00:37:36Puccini
00:37:37well and she's
00:37:39and she does
00:37:40prove to be
00:37:43pretty adept
00:37:44that you know
00:37:45people
00:37:45Sunset Boulevard
00:37:46the subject matter
00:37:47is very dark
00:37:47but it's a
00:37:48it is under
00:37:49you know
00:37:49there's a lot
00:37:50of comedic
00:37:50stuff there
00:37:51and she does
00:37:51I think
00:37:52a good job
00:37:53with that
00:37:53and she's
00:37:53also willing
00:37:54to poke fun
00:37:54it herself
00:37:55on the show
00:37:55which is fun
00:37:56to see
00:37:56and it's kind
00:37:57of poetic
00:37:58that they are
00:37:59literally right
00:37:59across the street
00:38:00from each other
00:38:01Audra and
00:38:01Scherzinger
00:38:02one of them
00:38:02is gonna
00:38:03I can't imagine
00:38:04that the winner
00:38:05will not be
00:38:05one of those two
00:38:06there's great
00:38:07both the
00:38:08Death Becomes
00:38:09Her actresses
00:38:10are great
00:38:10but it's hard
00:38:10to beat a
00:38:11co-star
00:38:12they're not
00:38:12getting
00:38:12they just
00:38:13don't have
00:38:13the profile
00:38:14of this
00:38:15David and
00:38:15Caitlin
00:38:15who should
00:38:16win
00:38:16for me
00:38:18Audra
00:38:19you know
00:38:19I'm not
00:38:20gonna be mad
00:38:20if Nicole
00:38:21Scherzinger wins
00:38:22she
00:38:22she's working
00:38:23very hard
00:38:24and she's
00:38:24doing something
00:38:25fantastic
00:38:25but Audra
00:38:26is just
00:38:27a whole other
00:38:28level
00:38:28and it's
00:38:30you know
00:38:30the object
00:38:31of awards
00:38:31shouldn't be
00:38:32oh she's
00:38:32won enough
00:38:33we need to
00:38:33give it to
00:38:34someone else
00:38:34it should be
00:38:35what is the
00:38:36best work
00:38:36this season
00:38:37and I think
00:38:38she is doing
00:38:38the best work
00:38:39this season
00:38:39um that's
00:38:41that's a question
00:38:42that I haven't
00:38:42answered yet
00:38:43um I've been
00:38:44talking to
00:38:45people in the
00:38:45industry
00:38:46and friends
00:38:47and everyone
00:38:47is really
00:38:48torn on
00:38:49Audra
00:38:49versus Nicole
00:38:50so
00:38:50what was your
00:38:51personal
00:38:51I couldn't say
00:38:53you couldn't say
00:38:53all right
00:38:54we'll leave it
00:38:54as a question mark
00:38:55the interesting
00:38:56thing is both
00:38:56Audra and Nicole
00:38:57have been campaigning
00:38:58hard
00:38:59whereas normally
00:39:00you know
00:39:00people of this
00:39:01caliber in this
00:39:02point in their
00:39:03career you might
00:39:03not see them
00:39:04go so hard
00:39:04yeah
00:39:04so Scott
00:39:05with all this
00:39:06being said
00:39:07who's taking
00:39:07this one
00:39:08I'm gonna upset
00:39:10I'm gonna upset
00:39:10somebody here
00:39:10I don't
00:39:11I think
00:39:11I do think
00:39:12it's gonna be
00:39:13Scherzinger
00:39:13but I would
00:39:14not be
00:39:15shocked or
00:39:16disappointed
00:39:16if it was
00:39:17Audra
00:39:17Glenn Close
00:39:23when she came
00:39:23to see our show
00:39:24the other day
00:39:24she told me
00:39:25and she said
00:39:25this is arguably
00:39:27one of the
00:39:27greatest
00:39:27roles ever
00:39:30written
00:39:30for a woman
00:39:31and I agree
00:39:34with her
00:39:34you know
00:39:34it really tests
00:39:35your mettle
00:39:36as she says
00:39:36and it's not
00:39:38for the faint
00:39:38of heart
00:39:39and I have
00:39:41grown exponentially
00:39:42I've
00:39:43this role
00:39:46has really
00:39:46surprised me
00:39:47because
00:39:49I'm finally
00:39:50have become
00:39:52and am still
00:39:53becoming
00:39:54who I am
00:39:56and who I was
00:39:57meant to be
00:39:57and this is
00:39:58what I was
00:39:58born for
00:39:59okay
00:40:02moving on
00:40:02to the actors
00:40:03best actor
00:40:05in a musical
00:40:05Darren Criss
00:40:07Maybe Happy
00:40:07Ending
00:40:08Andrew Durand
00:40:09Dead Outlaw
00:40:10Tom Francis
00:40:11Sunset Boulevard
00:40:13Jonathan Groff
00:40:14Just In Time
00:40:15James Monroe
00:40:16Iglehart
00:40:17A Wonderful World
00:40:18The Louis Armstrong
00:40:19Musical
00:40:19and Jeremy Jordan
00:40:21Floyd Collins
00:40:22okay so this is
00:40:23a stacked
00:40:24category here
00:40:25what do we make
00:40:25of these nominees
00:40:26Jonathan Groff
00:40:27I'd say is an
00:40:28interesting nominee
00:40:29because he won
00:40:30the Tony last year
00:40:31for Merrily
00:40:31also someone
00:40:32who's incredibly
00:40:34beloved in the
00:40:34theater community
00:40:35and everyone
00:40:37I mean the
00:40:38ticket sales
00:40:39for Just In Time
00:40:40which he's starring
00:40:40in are amazing
00:40:42and I'd say
00:40:42that's based
00:40:43on the strength
00:40:44of love
00:40:45for Jonathan Groff
00:40:46and also his
00:40:47performance
00:40:47I think the question
00:40:48is just whether
00:40:49they'll give it to him
00:40:50two years in a row
00:40:51for Tony
00:40:51Darren Criss
00:40:53who's been on
00:40:54Broadway before
00:40:55but never in a role
00:40:56like this
00:40:56as a kind of
00:40:58futuristic AI
00:40:59guy
00:41:00like the physicality
00:41:01of this role
00:41:02is unbelievable
00:41:03the comedy
00:41:04the vocals
00:41:05all of it
00:41:06and yet
00:41:07Jonathan Groff
00:41:08is amazing
00:41:09as Bobby
00:41:10Darren
00:41:10in Just In Time
00:41:11and watching
00:41:12the enthusiasm
00:41:13of audiences
00:41:14responding to
00:41:15that show
00:41:16suggests that
00:41:17it could be him
00:41:18but I also think
00:41:18that a lot of
00:41:19people may be
00:41:20underestimating
00:41:21or discounting
00:41:22unfairly
00:41:23Tom Francis
00:41:23like Sunset
00:41:24I was going to say
00:41:25that right
00:41:25he's terrific
00:41:26and he is the
00:41:28viral outdoor
00:41:29sidewalk woman
00:41:30that I think
00:41:32that's one of
00:41:32the top thing
00:41:33people were talking
00:41:34about this year
00:41:34in the theater
00:41:35community
00:41:35there's such
00:41:37virtuoso planning
00:41:39involved in that
00:41:40whole post
00:41:41intermission sequence
00:41:42where he starts
00:41:43way up on an
00:41:43upper floor
00:41:44in the dressing room
00:41:44he sticks his head
00:41:45in the dressing rooms
00:41:46all the way down
00:41:47he's like
00:41:47chorus boys
00:41:48are making out
00:41:49on the stairs
00:41:50you know
00:41:51he's doing
00:41:51all this stuff
00:41:52and then
00:41:52he's out
00:41:53the theater
00:41:53outside
00:41:54through the exit
00:41:55doors
00:41:55onto the street
00:41:56doing this number
00:41:57without ever
00:41:58kind of missing
00:41:59a note
00:41:59and
00:42:00in the rain
00:42:01and the snow
00:42:02yeah
00:42:02it's an incredible
00:42:03bit of theatricality
00:42:05in there
00:42:05it's a real coup
00:42:06de théâtre
00:42:07but I think
00:42:08the performance
00:42:08is there
00:42:09all the way
00:42:09through
00:42:09I don't think
00:42:10it's just
00:42:10that stuff
00:42:11I think
00:42:12it's a very
00:42:12consistent
00:42:13solid performance
00:42:14but you know
00:42:15I agree
00:42:16that it seems
00:42:17to be between
00:42:18Darren Criss
00:42:18and Jonathan Groff
00:42:19and I would say
00:42:20Jonathan Groff
00:42:21is absolutely
00:42:22beloved in the
00:42:22community
00:42:23and one thing
00:42:24that maybe
00:42:25will play
00:42:26on a lot
00:42:26of people's
00:42:27minds
00:42:27even subconsciously
00:42:28is that
00:42:29he was very
00:42:30close to
00:42:30Gavin Creel
00:42:31that loss
00:42:32of Gavin Creel
00:42:32at a young age
00:42:33was just devastating
00:42:34to Broadway
00:42:35this year
00:42:35there is
00:42:36I'm sure
00:42:37there's going
00:42:37to be a tribute
00:42:38on the Tonys
00:42:39as part of the
00:42:41telecast
00:42:41but you know
00:42:42he was really
00:42:43just a trooper
00:42:45able to step
00:42:45into any kind
00:42:46of show
00:42:46you know
00:42:47he was in
00:42:47Hair
00:42:48and She Loves Me
00:42:49and all kinds
00:42:49of musical
00:42:50he was just
00:42:51always consistently
00:42:52great
00:42:53and an absolute
00:42:54beloved person
00:42:55in the community
00:42:56completely adored
00:42:57so many people
00:42:59say let's give it
00:42:59to Jonathan Groff
00:43:00so he kind of
00:43:01gives a big shout
00:43:02out to Gavin
00:43:02I was going to say
00:43:03it also
00:43:05I had to look this up
00:43:05Darren has been
00:43:06on Broadway a lot
00:43:07but this is his
00:43:08first Tony nomination
00:43:09so that could
00:43:10also play in
00:43:11he's also someone
00:43:12who's jumped in
00:43:13as replacements
00:43:15like in Hedwig
00:43:15and the Angry Itch
00:43:16and How to Succeed
00:43:17in Business
00:43:17so he's seen
00:43:18as someone who
00:43:18like is just
00:43:19very all Broadway
00:43:21all the way
00:43:22willing to do
00:43:22whatever for a role
00:43:23so that could go
00:43:24in his favor
00:43:25as well
00:43:26when people are like
00:43:26oh we have not
00:43:27given Darren Chris
00:43:28at Tonya
00:43:28totally
00:43:29so who do you
00:43:30two think
00:43:30should win
00:43:31I think I'd give
00:43:32it to Tom Francis
00:43:33yeah I think
00:43:34I'd agree with that
00:43:35I don't think
00:43:36it's going to happen
00:43:36but I would
00:43:37be very happy
00:43:39if it did
00:43:39me too
00:43:40but I guess
00:43:41you're going to
00:43:41ask who actually
00:43:42will
00:43:43and this is
00:43:44a really tough one
00:43:45because I could
00:43:45totally see it
00:43:46going to Groff
00:43:48but I think
00:43:49Chris
00:43:51again the show
00:43:52has been much
00:43:53more embraced
00:43:54by the voters
00:43:54he did not
00:43:56just win last year
00:43:57unlike Groff
00:43:57and I mean
00:43:58people really
00:43:59like him
00:43:59and that
00:44:00performance
00:44:01and that show
00:44:01okay guys
00:44:02we'll be back
00:44:03in just a bit
00:44:04to talk about
00:44:04some of the
00:44:05other big awards
00:44:06of the night
00:44:07best musical
00:44:08best play
00:44:08and best revivals
00:44:10of a play
00:44:10and musical
00:44:11stay tuned
00:44:11my friend Ted Chapin
00:44:17asked me to do
00:44:18this night
00:44:18at the 92nd
00:44:19Street Y
00:44:19of Bobby Darin
00:44:20Music
00:44:20I went home
00:44:21that night
00:44:22I watched
00:44:22I looked up
00:44:23Bobby Darin
00:44:23on YouTube
00:44:24and I was like
00:44:25what
00:44:27this guy
00:44:28was not
00:44:28just singing
00:44:29music
00:44:30he was
00:44:31living it
00:44:33with his
00:44:33full
00:44:34body
00:44:35and soul
00:44:36so the idea
00:44:37of telling
00:44:37his story
00:44:38in a live
00:44:39theater setting
00:44:40felt like
00:44:41the place
00:44:42to do it
00:44:42talk about
00:44:44defying gravity
00:44:45I am currently
00:44:4630 feet
00:44:47in the air
00:44:48on the beam
00:44:48another attraction
00:44:49here at
00:44:50top of the rock
00:44:51which pays homage
00:44:51to one of New York's
00:44:52most iconic images
00:44:53now this year's
00:44:54Tony's host
00:44:55knows a thing or two
00:44:56about flying high
00:44:57she's a Tony
00:44:58Emmy
00:44:59Grammy winner
00:45:00with just one award
00:45:01away from EGOT status
00:45:02and all with a voice
00:45:03that truly soars
00:45:04so let's take a closer look
00:45:06at the powerhouse
00:45:07leading this year's
00:45:08Tony Awards
00:45:08Cynthia Erivo
00:45:09before she was
00:45:14defying gravity
00:45:15on the big screen
00:45:16Cynthia Erivo
00:45:23was hitting
00:45:24all the right notes
00:45:24on the Broadway stage
00:45:26back in 2016
00:45:32Erivo won a Tony
00:45:34award for best
00:45:34leading actress
00:45:35in a musical
00:45:36for her portrayal
00:45:37of Celie
00:45:37in the revival
00:45:38of The Color Purple
00:45:39now nearly 10 years later
00:45:41Erivo is set to host
00:45:42the 78th annual
00:45:43Tony Awards
00:45:44while appearing
00:45:45on CBS mornings
00:45:46she called it
00:45:47a really beautiful
00:45:48full circle moment
00:45:49Broadway kind of
00:45:50changed my life
00:45:51I think it's
00:45:52because of Broadway
00:45:53and because of the work
00:45:54that we did
00:45:54in The Color Purple
00:45:54that I get to sit
00:45:56here with you now
00:45:56Erivo also shared
00:45:58that she's excited
00:45:58to celebrate the work
00:45:59that has occurred
00:46:00on Broadway
00:46:00over the past year
00:46:01as well as see
00:46:02the performances
00:46:03this year's
00:46:04Tony nominees
00:46:04bring to the stage
00:46:05during the show
00:46:06I've seen everything
00:46:07this season
00:46:09and it has been
00:46:10one of the most
00:46:10amazing things
00:46:11to be able to sit
00:46:12in the audiences
00:46:12and just soak in
00:46:13all of the amazing work
00:46:15that everyone is doing
00:46:15so I'm very excited
00:46:17to see all the performances
00:46:18you can see those
00:46:19show-stopping performances
00:46:21Erivo steering the ship
00:46:22and much more
00:46:23when the Tonys air live
00:46:24on CBS
00:46:25on Sunday June 8th
00:46:26at 8 p.m. Eastern
00:46:27You know
00:46:32trying to get
00:46:33an original musical
00:46:34made about robots
00:46:36and like
00:46:37the near future
00:46:38and Korea
00:46:39this is a very
00:46:41hard elevator pitch
00:46:44but it's not
00:46:45too dissimilar
00:46:46and I joke about
00:46:46this a lot
00:46:47from like me
00:46:47trying to pitch you
00:46:48Batman
00:46:49or like
00:46:50Back to the Future
00:46:51in a world
00:46:52where they weren't
00:46:53as culturally ubiquitous
00:46:54as they were
00:46:54right
00:46:55if you didn't know
00:46:56what I was talking about
00:46:56let me get this straight
00:46:57it's this rich white guy
00:46:59he fights clowns
00:47:00why do people like it
00:47:02and you go
00:47:02well it's because
00:47:03it's done really well
00:47:03and the characters
00:47:04are really cool
00:47:05and it's a cool aesthetic
00:47:05and people are going to love it
00:47:06it's going to be
00:47:07a multi-million dollar
00:47:07like franchise
00:47:08it's going to be this huge
00:47:09I'm like
00:47:09alright dude
00:47:10you can't wrap your head around it
00:47:11yeah it's like
00:47:11sure alright
00:47:12you're insane
00:47:12but again
00:47:14like those things
00:47:16with superb direction
00:47:17and vision
00:47:18and
00:47:19and all the pieces
00:47:20coming together
00:47:21at the right time
00:47:22and
00:47:22and alchemy
00:47:23that is
00:47:24you can't
00:47:25build in a lab
00:47:26things can
00:47:28take off
00:47:29because there's
00:47:30nothing else like it
00:47:31we're here at the
00:47:35Belasco Theater
00:47:36home of the
00:47:37ten time
00:47:37Tony nominated
00:47:38Maybe Happy Ending
00:47:40a show that blends
00:47:41science fiction
00:47:41with a story about
00:47:42love
00:47:43memory
00:47:43and what it means
00:47:44to connect
00:47:45the show follows
00:47:46two helper bots
00:47:47Claire and Oliver
00:47:48and today we're going
00:47:49behind the scenes
00:47:50to see how this
00:47:51futuristic world
00:47:52is put together
00:47:52a robot does
00:47:54what she always does
00:47:55it's the only way
00:47:58it'll be okay
00:48:00I'm Justin Scribner
00:48:01I'm the production
00:48:02stage manager
00:48:02for Maybe Happy Ending
00:48:04and a long time
00:48:05collaborator of
00:48:06Michael Arden
00:48:06and Dane Laffreys
00:48:07I met Michael
00:48:09in 2006
00:48:10we did a show
00:48:11called
00:48:12The Times They Are a Changein
00:48:13with Twyla Tharp
00:48:14on Broadway
00:48:14he was in it
00:48:15and I was
00:48:16the assistant stage manager
00:48:17so we forged a friendship
00:48:19backstage
00:48:19mostly laughing
00:48:20mostly having a great
00:48:22time together
00:48:22on a big Broadway show
00:48:25often the production
00:48:26stage manager
00:48:26is the one that
00:48:27everyone calls
00:48:28during the day
00:48:29if anything comes up
00:48:30so actually my day starts
00:48:31when I check my phone
00:48:33in the morning
00:48:33and there could be
00:48:34any number of things
00:48:35that happen
00:48:36usually you have
00:48:37understudies and swings
00:48:38that are ready to go on
00:48:39in a moment's notice
00:48:40and when actors get sick
00:48:42injured
00:48:42take days off
00:48:43it is the stage managers
00:48:45who are planning
00:48:46for that show
00:48:47during the day
00:48:47so whenever I show up
00:48:49to the theater
00:48:49it's really to make sure
00:48:50that everyone's got
00:48:51all the things
00:48:52that they need
00:48:52that we're heading
00:48:53towards a smooth show
00:48:55in the evening
00:48:56we're kind of like
00:48:57the central nervous system
00:48:58the communicators
00:49:00the facilitators
00:49:01yeah
00:49:02I call us
00:49:03the parents backstage
00:49:04this show is so tech heavy
00:49:06and so filled with
00:49:07special effects
00:49:08and relies on
00:49:10all of the design elements
00:49:11working in tandem
00:49:12and this beautiful script
00:49:14but I am really thrilled
00:49:16that we were able
00:49:17to achieve
00:49:18Dane and George's vision
00:49:19for the scenic
00:49:20and video design
00:49:21and it was a hard job
00:49:23but it was kind of like
00:49:24putting together
00:49:25a really complicated puzzle
00:49:26into the stage door
00:49:28right here
00:49:29this is our
00:49:30call board here
00:49:31entrance to the stage
00:49:33Darren's dressing room
00:49:35we have a whole
00:49:36tower of dressing rooms here
00:49:39I have a fabulous team
00:49:41of stage managers
00:49:42I work with
00:49:43we live in here
00:49:44and then right here
00:49:45is the calling room
00:49:47okay walk me through
00:49:48what exactly a calling room is
00:49:49because I don't think
00:49:50I've ever heard of that before
00:49:51it's not a phrase
00:49:52it doesn't exist usually
00:49:53usually you have a calling desk
00:49:55a stage manager's desk
00:49:56or a calling booth
00:49:59but here
00:50:00because we have
00:50:01so few actors
00:50:01we had empty dressing rooms
00:50:03and I advocated for us
00:50:05to have a desk space
00:50:07so I sit here
00:50:08and I have my
00:50:11calling script
00:50:11please
00:50:12when the show gets going
00:50:14I have a huge
00:50:16color shot of the stage
00:50:19and I utilize
00:50:20cue lights
00:50:21and my headset
00:50:23to call all of the
00:50:26automation
00:50:27lights
00:50:28sound
00:50:29video cues
00:50:30in the show
00:50:31and I do it
00:50:32rhythmically
00:50:33and I'm always
00:50:34counting music
00:50:35but basically
00:50:37I'm following along
00:50:38and there are
00:50:40some sequences
00:50:40where I'm really
00:50:42talking very quickly
00:50:43and I have indicated
00:50:45every time
00:50:46our set moves
00:50:47I have
00:50:49what is happening
00:50:51on the left
00:50:52and how I'm
00:50:53cueing it
00:50:53on the right
00:50:54I've got
00:50:5519 crew members
00:50:57on headset
00:50:58with me
00:50:59as we're going
00:51:00about the show
00:51:01and
00:51:02it's an hour
00:51:03and 45 minutes
00:51:05of non-stop action
00:51:07and when I'm
00:51:08cueing them
00:51:09often we've
00:51:10organized it
00:51:10so that
00:51:11I will warn
00:51:12our auto fly operator
00:51:15who's up on the
00:51:16fourth floor
00:51:16with a big computer
00:51:17set up
00:51:17our auto deck operator
00:51:19who's in the basement
00:51:20also with a huge
00:51:21computer set up
00:51:22and when their lights
00:51:23go on
00:51:23they are warned
00:51:24they know that
00:51:25the sequence is coming up
00:51:26and I probably
00:51:27will be also calling
00:51:29a light cue
00:51:29at the same time
00:51:30and I'll start
00:51:31the transition
00:51:32by saying go
00:51:33along with the lights
00:51:34and so that
00:51:35everything can move
00:51:36in tandem
00:51:37together
00:51:37sometimes the computers
00:51:39will say
00:51:40danger we can't go
00:51:42that we can't roll
00:51:43this unit
00:51:44because something else
00:51:44is in its way
00:51:45and so
00:51:46for that reason
00:51:47I'm actually grateful
00:51:48that we have a system
00:51:49that speaks to itself
00:51:50and is able to tell us
00:51:51if there's going to be
00:51:51an issue
00:51:52but we always
00:51:53try to avoid
00:51:54not
00:51:55stopping the show
00:51:56but if you need to
00:51:57you're right there
00:51:58that's right
00:51:58and I have so much
00:52:01trust in our team
00:52:02so
00:52:03it's really great
00:52:04this is awesome
00:52:05and I know
00:52:06this might even be fun
00:52:09when the pack is done
00:52:10I'm finally hitting the road
00:52:12Dane and George
00:52:14turns out
00:52:14use some of the same
00:52:16software
00:52:17when they are building
00:52:18their material
00:52:19and what they were able
00:52:20to do was
00:52:20do some pre-visualization
00:52:22of how this was going
00:52:23to look
00:52:24and get really clever
00:52:25about what areas
00:52:26of the stage
00:52:27are actually
00:52:28secretly made up
00:52:30of video
00:52:30here we are
00:52:33in the hallway
00:52:34wow
00:52:35and
00:52:37one little
00:52:38one little tidbit
00:52:39is
00:52:40we're on the 106th floor
00:52:41and they're in units
00:52:4382 and 84
00:52:44but
00:52:45we chose that
00:52:46because
00:52:46Michael's birthday
00:52:48is October 6th
00:52:491982
00:52:50wow
00:52:51so a little
00:52:51you know
00:52:52little easter egg
00:52:53in there
00:52:53little easter egg
00:52:54would you like to come in
00:52:55yes of course
00:52:56let's come on in guys
00:52:58I heard that these
00:52:59apartments were actually
00:53:00based off of a real
00:53:01modular building
00:53:02in Tokyo
00:53:03so are you able to talk
00:53:04about that a little
00:53:05I think it was built
00:53:06in the 70s
00:53:07and it was an idea
00:53:08of a modular building
00:53:09that you could actually
00:53:10take the units
00:53:12out with a crane
00:53:13and move them
00:53:13to other buildings
00:53:14so if you wanted to move
00:53:15you just have your entire
00:53:16little home
00:53:17so these cubes
00:53:19kind of inspired them
00:53:20to build
00:53:21a world that Oliver
00:53:22essentially never leaves
00:53:23and you can say
00:53:24this is the
00:53:25paper wall
00:53:26that has the video
00:53:28behind it
00:53:29and you would never know
00:53:30these are all
00:53:31made for the actors
00:53:32each of the actors
00:53:33has their own
00:53:35set of these
00:53:36so the understudies
00:53:37also did a photo shoot
00:53:38it's so beautiful
00:53:39this is the charger
00:53:40that lights up
00:53:42that he then
00:53:43charges himself with
00:53:44and there's a lot
00:53:45of lighting built into it
00:53:47so we have moving lights
00:53:48above
00:53:49there are speakers
00:53:50this is a fake speaker
00:53:52just for show
00:53:52and then like
00:53:53the audience doesn't see these
00:53:55but this is all
00:53:57helping to light the unit
00:53:58as it moves
00:53:59in and out
00:54:00and then this is the
00:54:02star of the show
00:54:03star of the show
00:54:03and of course
00:54:04Wah-Boon has
00:54:05his own emotional arc
00:54:07he starts a little sad
00:54:08so you can see
00:54:09he's getting into character
00:54:10is what's happening
00:54:11his favorite singers
00:54:13obviously we have
00:54:13Nat King Cole
00:54:14and Ella Fitzgerald
00:54:15with Bill Evans
00:54:17and then all of the
00:54:18magazines that he gets
00:54:20through the mail shoot
00:54:21which comes zooming in
00:54:22from above
00:54:23okay so now
00:54:25are we stepping into
00:54:26this is Claire's unit
00:54:27wow
00:54:28come on in
00:54:28let's take a look
00:54:29absolutely
00:54:30it's interesting
00:54:31their personalities
00:54:31are revealed
00:54:32through the design here
00:54:33she's kind of
00:54:35strung up some
00:54:36fairy lights
00:54:37in a somewhat
00:54:38haphazard
00:54:39half manner
00:54:40and she's turned
00:54:41her desk
00:54:42into a workshop
00:54:43so what she cares
00:54:45about is getting
00:54:46her battery fixed
00:54:47but they went so far
00:54:48as to even create
00:54:49a ground plan
00:54:50of what the units
00:54:51might look like
00:54:52in the building
00:54:53this 106 floor building
00:54:56the writers really
00:54:57were inspired
00:54:57by this idea
00:54:58the hermetic lifestyle
00:55:00of the Hikikomori
00:55:02Japanese men
00:55:03who were sealed off
00:55:04in their own little
00:55:05rooms in their cubes
00:55:06and here Oliver
00:55:08has kind of never
00:55:09left his apartment
00:55:10for 12 years
00:55:11and we kind of assume
00:55:12part of that is
00:55:13because James
00:55:14wasn't someone
00:55:15who actually left
00:55:16his apartment
00:55:16very often
00:55:17and he had a robot
00:55:18to keep him company
00:55:19in his little world
00:55:20the truth is
00:55:21the genius of this design
00:55:23is that you don't know
00:55:24it's coming
00:55:24it's not like
00:55:25when you sit down
00:55:26and you're watching
00:55:27the show
00:55:27you say
00:55:28I can see the video
00:55:30is going to be
00:55:30a big part of the show
00:55:31it just feels very intimate
00:55:32and small
00:55:33and as the show
00:55:34kind of unravels
00:55:36and you peel back
00:55:37the layers
00:55:37design elements
00:55:39are revealed
00:55:39and you kind of
00:55:40enter the world
00:55:41of these robots adventure
00:55:42it's really cool
00:55:43and if it doesn't
00:55:46come for free
00:55:47well that's the way
00:55:50that it has to be
00:55:52you know
00:55:58our show deals
00:55:59with themes
00:56:00that were topical
00:56:01in 2007
00:56:02and I would say
00:56:04more topical
00:56:05when we ran
00:56:06in the fall
00:56:06but even more topical
00:56:08today
00:56:09and more relevant
00:56:10today
00:56:10because these ideas
00:56:12of what it means
00:56:13to be American
00:56:13and who gets to
00:56:14call themselves
00:56:15Americans
00:56:16is something
00:56:17that's being questioned
00:56:18almost daily
00:56:20and I think
00:56:21our show
00:56:22addresses that
00:56:23question
00:56:24and that theme
00:56:24in a way
00:56:25that not only
00:56:26talks about it
00:56:26but shows people
00:56:27why it's so harmful
00:56:29to the fabric
00:56:30of our society
00:56:31and this is not
00:56:32only your first
00:56:33Tony nomination
00:56:33but you are also
00:56:34making history
00:56:35with this nomination
00:56:36so how special
00:56:37is that for you
00:56:38it's so special
00:56:39I didn't know
00:56:40until David told me
00:56:42a couple of weeks
00:56:42before the actual
00:56:43nomination
00:56:44you know
00:56:45the Tonys have been
00:56:46around for 78 years
00:56:47so the fact that
00:56:48I'm the very first
00:56:49Asian American
00:56:50is meaningful
00:56:51it makes me very happy
00:56:53and it also makes me
00:56:54a little sad too
00:56:55and the more important
00:56:56breakthrough is when
00:56:57there's an Asian American
00:56:58who wins
00:56:59so the nomination
00:57:00is one thing
00:57:01getting the award
00:57:02is the other
00:57:03did you know
00:57:04the Tony Awards
00:57:05were named
00:57:05after Antoinette Perry
00:57:06an actress, director
00:57:08and co-founder
00:57:08of the American
00:57:09Theatre Wing
00:57:10they were called
00:57:10the Perry Awards
00:57:11in its early years
00:57:12but eventually
00:57:13the award handed out
00:57:14was called
00:57:15a Tony
00:57:15and the name stuck
00:57:16the Tonys have had
00:57:17many memorable moments
00:57:18in its rich history
00:57:19take a look
00:57:20how did this
00:57:24legendary ceremony
00:57:25honoring Broadway's
00:57:26biggest and brightest
00:57:27stars come to be
00:57:29let's take a look back
00:57:30at the history
00:57:31of the Tony Awards
00:57:32this photo was taken
00:57:33at one of the first
00:57:34ceremonies in 1950
00:57:35just a few years
00:57:36after the American
00:57:37Theatre Wing
00:57:38established the Tony Awards
00:57:39to celebrate
00:57:40excellence in theater
00:57:41in 1947
00:57:42performers at the first
00:57:44ceremony included
00:57:44Mickey Rooney
00:57:45and Ethel Waters
00:57:46the awards were named
00:57:48after Antoinette
00:57:49Tony Perry
00:57:49an actress, director
00:57:51and producer
00:57:51as well as the
00:57:52dynamic wartime leader
00:57:54of the American
00:57:54Theatre Wing
00:57:55who had recently passed
00:57:56the Broadway community
00:57:57quickly embraced
00:57:58the Tony Awards
00:57:59and the gala dinner
00:58:00became one of the
00:58:01highlights of the
00:58:02New York Theatre season
00:58:03but the ceremony
00:58:04wasn't broadcast
00:58:05on national television
00:58:06until the 21st
00:58:07annual awards
00:58:08in 1967
00:58:09which was also
00:58:10the first time
00:58:11the event was
00:58:11co-presented
00:58:12with the Broadway League
00:58:13guests that year
00:58:14included Carol Burnett
00:58:15Warren Beatty
00:58:16Barbara Harris
00:58:17who won a Tony
00:58:18that night
00:58:18Harry Belafonte
00:58:19and Kirk Douglas
00:58:20among many others
00:58:21in 1978
00:58:23CBS began carrying
00:58:24the ceremony
00:58:25and the network
00:58:26has broadcast the
00:58:26Tonys every year since
00:58:28today the Tony Awards
00:58:29remain the pinnacle
00:58:30of acknowledgement
00:58:31for Broadway theatre
00:58:32and winning one
00:58:33has become a crucial
00:58:34component in obtaining
00:58:35the highly coveted
00:58:36EGOT
00:58:36aka when a performer
00:58:38has won an Emmy
00:58:39Grammy
00:58:40Oscar
00:58:40and a Tony
00:58:41the list of only
00:58:4221 performers
00:58:43in history
00:58:44who can call
00:58:45themselves
00:58:45competitive EGOT
00:58:46winners includes
00:58:47Viola Davis
00:58:48Rita Moreno
00:58:49Jennifer Hudson
00:58:50Andrew Lloyd Webber
00:58:51Elton John
00:58:52and Audrey Hepburn
00:58:53I don't think it gets
00:58:59much campier than
00:59:01our hit me sequence
00:59:03where in act two
00:59:05we're trying to
00:59:06kill each other
00:59:07and trying to do
00:59:08as much harm
00:59:09to each other
00:59:09as we possibly can
00:59:11and spoiler alert
00:59:13my head gets
00:59:15knocked off
00:59:15and then my head
00:59:17comes back in
00:59:18on a tray
00:59:18while my body
00:59:19is still sitting
00:59:20there on
00:59:21on the
00:59:23on the couch
00:59:24and
00:59:25there's also
00:59:26two
00:59:27grown men
00:59:28dressed up
00:59:29as us
00:59:30fighting
00:59:30it's very clearly
00:59:31not us
00:59:32you know
00:59:32it's
00:59:33it's
00:59:34and I really
00:59:36credit all that
00:59:36to our amazing
00:59:37director
00:59:38Christopher Gatelli
00:59:39he just had
00:59:39all of these
00:59:40incredible ideas
00:59:41and such
00:59:41a delightfully
00:59:44smart
00:59:45vision
00:59:46in executing
00:59:47all of the
00:59:48because
00:59:48it could very
00:59:49easily go too
00:59:50far
00:59:51you know
00:59:51but
00:59:52but it just
00:59:53doesn't
00:59:53because we've
00:59:54been under
00:59:54his guidance
00:59:55okay we're
00:59:57back with our
00:59:58Tony panelists
00:59:59and now it's
01:00:00on to the
01:00:00big awards
01:00:01best musical
01:00:02best play
01:00:03best revival
01:00:04of a musical
01:00:04and best revival
01:00:05of a play
01:00:06let's dive in
01:00:07with our best
01:00:08musical nominees
01:00:09the nominees
01:00:10for best musical
01:00:11are
01:00:12Buena Vista
01:00:12Social Club
01:00:13Dead Outlaw
01:00:14Death Becomes Her
01:00:16Maybe Happy Ending
01:00:18Operation Mince
01:00:19Meet a New Musical
01:00:20I personally
01:00:23would probably
01:00:24go with
01:00:24Death Becomes Her
01:00:26just because
01:00:26you know
01:00:27it is an
01:00:28incredible
01:00:28reinvention
01:00:29of a show
01:00:29that is
01:00:30you know
01:00:31the Robert
01:00:31Zemeckis
01:00:32film
01:00:33is very
01:00:34special effects
01:00:35laden
01:00:36it's very
01:00:36reliant
01:00:37on all of that
01:00:38on the
01:00:38transformations
01:00:39and things
01:00:39you can't
01:00:40really do
01:00:40in the same
01:00:41way
01:00:41on stage
01:00:42and just
01:00:42the fact
01:00:42that they
01:00:42found a way
01:00:43to do that
01:00:44convincingly
01:00:44and
01:00:45I mean
01:00:47I think
01:00:47it's a
01:00:47pretty fun
01:00:49show
01:00:49and there's
01:00:50a lot
01:00:51to be said
01:00:51for that
01:00:51yeah
01:00:52and Caitlin
01:00:53what were
01:00:53some of
01:00:54the hottest
01:00:54tickets
01:00:54in terms
01:00:55of musicals
01:00:56this season
01:00:57what played
01:00:57well
01:00:57commercially
01:00:58what didn't
01:00:59yeah
01:00:59it was an
01:01:00interesting
01:01:00year for
01:01:01musicals
01:01:01I guess
01:01:01on Broadway
01:01:02because
01:01:02the hottest
01:01:03tickets
01:01:04in the
01:01:04industry
01:01:04were actually
01:01:05the plays
01:01:05especially
01:01:07Good Night
01:01:07and Good Luck
01:01:08which we
01:01:08mentioned
01:01:08made more
01:01:09than 4 million
01:01:10or is making
01:01:11more than
01:01:114 million
01:01:11weekly
01:01:12Othello
01:01:13which is
01:01:13still selling
01:01:13well
01:01:14Glen Gary
01:01:14Glen Ross
01:01:15which is
01:01:15still selling
01:01:16well
01:01:16I'd say
01:01:16in this
01:01:17musicals
01:01:17category
01:01:18they're all
01:01:19doing
01:01:19decently
01:01:20well
01:01:20but you're
01:01:20not seeing
01:01:21the sky
01:01:22high prices
01:01:22that you're
01:01:23seeing
01:01:23with plays
01:01:24or things
01:01:25like that
01:01:25and maybe
01:01:27part of that
01:01:27is just
01:01:28that these
01:01:28are not
01:01:29celebrity
01:01:29driven
01:01:30properties
01:01:30these are
01:01:31just kind
01:01:31of solid
01:01:32best musicals
01:01:33on Broadway
01:01:34this is the
01:01:34one category
01:01:35where the
01:01:36Tony Nguyen
01:01:36can really
01:01:37move the
01:01:37needle
01:01:38and that's
01:01:40why I
01:01:40think
01:01:40whichever
01:01:41show
01:01:41wins
01:01:42here
01:01:42really
01:01:42could
01:01:42see
01:01:43a
01:01:43nice
01:01:43this is
01:01:44what
01:01:44tourists
01:01:45coming
01:01:45to
01:01:45New York
01:01:45they want
01:01:46to see
01:01:46the
01:01:46Tony
01:01:47winning
01:01:47musical
01:01:47now
01:01:48all
01:01:48these
01:01:48original
01:01:49musicals
01:01:49can we
01:01:49talk a
01:01:50little bit
01:01:50about
01:01:50how
01:01:51different
01:01:51each
01:01:51production
01:01:52is
01:01:52from
01:01:53each
01:01:53other
01:01:53I'd say
01:01:54maybe
01:01:54Happy
01:01:55Ending
01:01:55is
01:01:55like
01:01:56a
01:01:56small
01:01:57it feels
01:01:57small
01:01:58but they
01:01:58extended
01:01:59it
01:01:59for
01:01:59Broadway
01:01:59like
01:01:59a
01:01:59small
01:02:00little
01:02:00intimate
01:02:01musical
01:02:02a love
01:02:02story
01:02:02between
01:02:03two
01:02:03robots
01:02:03it's
01:02:04intimate
01:02:04but unlike
01:02:04a lot
01:02:05of other
01:02:05shows
01:02:06that
01:02:06move
01:02:07from
01:02:07Off-Broadway
01:02:08which
01:02:08this one
01:02:09didn't
01:02:09it came
01:02:09straight
01:02:10to
01:02:10Broadway
01:02:10but
01:02:11there's
01:02:11this
01:02:11feeling
01:02:12sometimes
01:02:12this belongs
01:02:13in an
01:02:13Off-Broadway
01:02:14house
01:02:14it does
01:02:14not
01:02:14belong
01:02:15in this
01:02:15massive
01:02:15barn
01:02:16of a
01:02:16theater
01:02:16I would
01:02:17say that
01:02:17to a degree
01:02:18about
01:02:18Dead Outlaw
01:02:19even though
01:02:20I enjoyed
01:02:21it
01:02:21I like
01:02:21it
01:02:21maybe
01:02:22Happy
01:02:23Ending
01:02:23works
01:02:23in a
01:02:24theater
01:02:25on Broadway
01:02:25there's
01:02:26something
01:02:27that you
01:02:27connect with
01:02:28about those
01:02:28characters
01:02:29and
01:02:30I think
01:02:31that that
01:02:31probably
01:02:32sets it
01:02:33apart
01:02:34as Caitlin
01:02:35said
01:02:36it's very
01:02:36sort of
01:02:37restrained
01:02:38it's not
01:02:38full of
01:02:39big effects
01:02:39or whatever
01:02:40whereas
01:02:40Death Becomes
01:02:41Her
01:02:41is very
01:02:42reliant
01:02:42on
01:02:42splashy
01:02:43showstoppers
01:02:44and
01:02:44effects
01:02:45and all
01:02:46of that
01:02:46and lighting
01:02:47magic
01:02:47yeah
01:02:48so
01:02:49who do we
01:02:50think
01:02:50should win
01:02:51I don't know
01:02:52I'm gonna go
01:02:53with maybe
01:02:53Happy Ending
01:02:54it's a really
01:02:55charming show
01:02:56and also
01:02:56you gotta
01:02:57take into
01:02:58account that
01:02:58as much
01:02:58as the
01:02:59road
01:02:59promoters
01:03:00the theater
01:03:01owners on
01:03:01the road
01:03:01are looking
01:03:02at potential
01:03:03touring
01:03:03properties
01:03:03they're all
01:03:05thinking
01:03:05Death Becomes
01:03:06Her is gonna
01:03:07be cripplingly
01:03:07expensive
01:03:08maybe Happy
01:03:09Ending
01:03:09we can move
01:03:10in and out
01:03:10for a few
01:03:11weeks
01:03:11advertise well
01:03:13and it's not
01:03:14a high cost
01:03:15production
01:03:15yeah it's like
01:03:16just four
01:03:16people
01:03:17yeah
01:03:18I'd also say
01:03:18maybe Happy
01:03:19Ending
01:03:19because I think
01:03:20people will
01:03:20want to reward
01:03:21the original
01:03:22small
01:03:23intimate musical
01:03:24and who
01:03:26will win
01:03:26I do think
01:03:28it's maybe
01:03:28Happy Ending
01:03:29again
01:03:29it's one of
01:03:30three here
01:03:31that have
01:03:31ten nominations
01:03:32there's obviously
01:03:33a lot of
01:03:34affection
01:03:34from all
01:03:35of these
01:03:36but based
01:03:37on the way
01:03:37things of
01:03:38voters have
01:03:38broken in
01:03:39the last few
01:03:40years that is
01:03:41right up their
01:03:42alley
01:03:42yeah
01:03:42but still I
01:03:43wouldn't count
01:03:44out
01:03:44Death Becomes
01:03:44never
01:03:45or
01:03:46okay let's
01:03:48move on to
01:03:48our best
01:03:49play nominees
01:03:50best play
01:03:51nominees are
01:03:51English
01:03:52The Hills
01:03:53of California
01:03:54John Proctor
01:03:55is the
01:03:55villain
01:03:56O'Mary
01:03:57and Purpose
01:03:59they're all
01:04:02pretty interesting
01:04:03and close
01:04:04in terms of
01:04:05who could win
01:04:05and Jez Butterworth
01:04:07had a nice
01:04:08run in this
01:04:09with plays
01:04:10at the Tonys
01:04:10last few years
01:04:11so Hills of
01:04:12California was
01:04:12great but it's
01:04:13not as top of
01:04:14mind because I
01:04:15think it's been
01:04:15gone now for
01:04:16a while
01:04:16it's also maybe
01:04:17not up there
01:04:18with Jerusalem
01:04:19which he won
01:04:19a bunch of
01:04:20Tonys for
01:04:20or Ferryman
01:04:21or the Ferryman
01:04:22yeah I mean
01:04:23he's done some
01:04:24great work
01:04:24and it's a
01:04:25great play
01:04:25and Sam
01:04:26Mendes does a
01:04:27beautiful job
01:04:27directing it
01:04:28but in a
01:04:30very strong
01:04:30ensemble
01:04:31but yeah
01:04:32things tend to
01:04:33fade fast
01:04:33when they're
01:04:34closed already
01:04:34and the
01:04:35interesting thing
01:04:36here also is
01:04:37that Hills of
01:04:38California and
01:04:38Purpose are
01:04:39of these five
01:04:40nominees the
01:04:41most overall
01:04:42nominated with
01:04:43seven
01:04:43Purpose
01:04:44also just won
01:04:46the Pulitzer Prize
01:04:47for Drama
01:04:47over O'Merry
01:04:49and yet I think
01:04:50there's a pretty
01:04:51clear sense that
01:04:53O'Merry is
01:04:54out front here
01:04:55again even with
01:04:56fewer noms
01:04:57five noms
01:04:57it's just unlike
01:04:59anything else that
01:05:00I think anybody
01:05:00can yes it's
01:05:02a historical
01:05:02it's silly
01:05:03but it's also
01:05:04smart and
01:05:05this is evoking
01:05:07an unusual level
01:05:08of enthusiasm
01:05:09and passion
01:05:10even among
01:05:11David's battle
01:05:12hardened
01:05:12contemporaries
01:05:13in the reviewing
01:05:14community
01:05:15I think that
01:05:16you know
01:05:16there's a sense
01:05:17of release
01:05:18when you see
01:05:19that show
01:05:19you just
01:05:20oh my god
01:05:21what a relief
01:05:22it is to laugh
01:05:23to just be
01:05:24transported like
01:05:25this
01:05:25and any show
01:05:26with gay
01:05:26Brian Lincoln
01:05:27works for me
01:05:29you mean Mary
01:05:30Sunspeth
01:05:30yeah
01:05:31I mean that
01:05:33whole cast
01:05:34is fantastic
01:05:34there's so many
01:05:35great lines
01:05:35and you just
01:05:36come out of it
01:05:37reeling trying
01:05:38to remember them
01:05:38all
01:05:38south of what
01:05:39south of what
01:05:41it's so great
01:05:41I like purpose
01:05:43quite a lot
01:05:43I really enjoyed
01:05:44it but it didn't
01:05:46stay with me
01:05:46and I also
01:05:47think it's not
01:05:48I think Brandon
01:05:49Jacob Jenkins
01:05:50is a tremendous
01:05:51playwright
01:05:52so talented
01:05:53I don't think
01:05:54this is his best
01:05:54play
01:05:55I'd say
01:05:56John Proctor
01:05:56is the villain
01:05:57also maybe
01:05:58is an interesting
01:05:59dark horse
01:05:59in this category
01:06:00as David was saying
01:06:01there's a lot
01:06:02of enthusiasm
01:06:02behind that play
01:06:03it's bringing
01:06:04young audiences
01:06:04and it came
01:06:05to Broadway
01:06:06in a non-traditional
01:06:08model
01:06:08it was at
01:06:09colleges
01:06:09and regional
01:06:10theaters
01:06:11so it's known
01:06:12across the country
01:06:12but it hasn't
01:06:13had a big
01:06:14off-Broadway
01:06:15or regional run
01:06:16and maybe
01:06:18it gets rewarded
01:06:18for its running
01:06:19back to Broadway
01:06:20I made your upset
01:06:22yeah but a cool
01:06:23dark horse
01:06:24also you know
01:06:26John Proctor
01:06:26is the villain
01:06:27it has
01:06:28a sort of
01:06:30heaviness
01:06:30about its themes
01:06:31it's me too
01:06:32sexual abuse
01:06:34even just
01:06:35an English class
01:06:37at high school
01:06:37going and
01:06:39re-examining
01:06:40Arthur Miller's
01:06:40The Crucible
01:06:41they all sound
01:06:42like big stodgy
01:06:43kind of
01:06:44heavy ideas
01:06:45and themes
01:06:46but the show
01:06:47has a lightness
01:06:48to it
01:06:48yeah
01:06:49so
01:06:49David Caitlin
01:06:51who should win
01:06:52oh Mary
01:06:53all the way
01:06:54just
01:06:55hilarious
01:06:56genius
01:06:57and deceptively
01:06:59smart
01:07:00I think
01:07:00I think it's
01:07:02it's great stuff
01:07:03Caitlin
01:07:03what would you
01:07:04say is your pick
01:07:05I might go with
01:07:06John Proctor
01:07:07just because I'd
01:07:08be interested to
01:07:09see what a best
01:07:11play Tony does
01:07:11for that play
01:07:12and kind of
01:07:12what kind of
01:07:13life it has
01:07:14after that
01:07:15Scott
01:07:15who will win
01:07:16I think it's
01:07:17going to be
01:07:18oh Mary
01:07:18and this might
01:07:19might be the
01:07:19biggest margin
01:07:20of any category
01:07:21there just seems
01:07:22to be such
01:07:23excitement for it
01:07:25that I think
01:07:25it's going to do it
01:07:27and you look at
01:07:27the New York Post
01:07:28or whatever
01:07:28on any given week
01:07:29like every celebrity
01:07:30in the world
01:07:30speaking to you
01:07:31including Sally
01:07:33Field who played
01:07:33Mary
01:07:34I love that
01:07:36they met as a
01:07:36group out
01:07:37Tony Kushner
01:07:38Steven Spielberg
01:07:38and Sally Field
01:07:40exactly
01:07:41that was great
01:07:42and finally
01:07:43best revival
01:07:44of a musical
01:07:44and best revival
01:07:46of a play
01:07:46nominees for
01:07:48best revival
01:07:48of a musical
01:07:49Floyd Collins
01:07:50Gypsy
01:07:51Pirates
01:07:52the Penzance
01:07:53musical
01:07:53Sunset Boulevard
01:07:55and best revival
01:07:56of a play
01:07:57nominees are
01:07:57Eureka Day
01:07:58Our Town
01:07:59Romeo and Juliet
01:08:01and Yellow Face
01:08:02okay so out of
01:08:03all of these
01:08:04revivals
01:08:05which one brought
01:08:06a fresh perspective
01:08:07to you on
01:08:08an original production
01:08:09probably Sunset
01:08:10I mean it's hard
01:08:11to compare
01:08:12in the two categories
01:08:13but I
01:08:13Sunset is a
01:08:15fresh take
01:08:16on this
01:08:17you know
01:08:181980s musical
01:08:19that was
01:08:20kind of grand
01:08:20and had so many
01:08:21set pieces
01:08:22and was kind of
01:08:23stodgy
01:08:23lumbering
01:08:24lumbering
01:08:25as you said
01:08:26and this is a
01:08:27you know
01:08:28a Jamie Lloyd
01:08:29stripped down
01:08:30production
01:08:30using live video
01:08:31so that feels
01:08:33pretty exciting
01:08:33yeah
01:08:33I personally
01:08:34would go with
01:08:35Gypsy
01:08:36just because
01:08:37I love the
01:08:37production
01:08:38but I
01:08:39I can
01:08:40completely see
01:08:41the merit
01:08:41in giving that
01:08:42award to
01:08:42Sunset Boulevard
01:08:43and there's
01:08:44history
01:08:44not that it's
01:08:46necessarily
01:08:46top of mind
01:08:47for voters
01:08:48but Gypsy
01:08:49a revival
01:08:50previously won
01:08:51in 1990
01:08:51although the
01:08:52original famously
01:08:53did not
01:08:54win way back
01:08:5559 or something
01:08:56Sunset Boulevard
01:08:57the original
01:08:58won best musical
01:08:59in 1995
01:09:00like they're
01:09:02these but these
01:09:03are both
01:09:04so different
01:09:04from any
01:09:05prior incarnation
01:09:06yeah
01:09:07it does seem
01:09:08like it would
01:09:08be between
01:09:09those those
01:09:10two and we
01:09:11we can say
01:09:11that Sunset
01:09:12Boulevard though
01:09:13by far
01:09:14is the most
01:09:15nominated in this
01:09:16category with
01:09:17seven
01:09:17so I
01:09:18I think that
01:09:19probably that's
01:09:21the favorite
01:09:22Romeo and Juliet
01:09:23is launching an
01:09:24interesting Tony's
01:09:25campaign where
01:09:26they are just
01:09:27defining what
01:09:27revival means
01:09:28which is you
01:09:29know like
01:09:30refreshing or
01:09:31a new take
01:09:31on something
01:09:32so they're
01:09:33trying to make
01:09:33the point that
01:09:34like we're
01:09:35doing Romeo and
01:09:35Juliet but this
01:09:36was totally
01:09:37different it was
01:09:38a very Gen Z
01:09:39take maybe the
01:09:42most Gen Z
01:09:42thing I've ever
01:09:43seen
01:09:43yeah I think
01:09:44that the only
01:09:45place where there
01:09:45were more high
01:09:47schoolers in the
01:09:48audience than
01:09:49John Proctor is
01:09:50the villain
01:09:51was it Romeo and
01:09:53Juliet and it's
01:09:54not just a Baz Luhrmann
01:09:55kind of reinvention
01:09:56it's its own
01:09:57thing I know I
01:09:58think it was
01:09:59looked on with a
01:10:00little bit of
01:10:00snobbery by a lot
01:10:01of the theater
01:10:01critics but I
01:10:02just thought it
01:10:03had great energy
01:10:04Kit Conner is the
01:10:05real deal on
01:10:06stage there's
01:10:08something to be
01:10:08said for that for
01:10:09shows that are
01:10:10building new
01:10:11generations of
01:10:11theater goers
01:10:12and I just will
01:10:14say for yellow
01:10:15face that that I
01:10:16think was very
01:10:17well done three
01:10:18nominations was not
01:10:19a lot but it's
01:10:19the most for any of
01:10:20these four and had
01:10:22some timely things
01:10:24to say
01:10:25so David
01:10:26Caitlin I'm going
01:10:27to ask you guys
01:10:27one more time
01:10:28who do you think
01:10:30should win in each
01:10:31of these categories
01:10:32revival of musical
01:10:34I'd say sunset
01:10:35for me a revival
01:10:36of a play
01:10:37I would say
01:10:39Eureka Day
01:10:40I would go
01:10:42quite happily with
01:10:43either gypsy or
01:10:44sunset here because
01:10:45as much as I prefer
01:10:46orders performance I
01:10:47do think that the
01:10:48production the
01:10:50ingenuity behind
01:10:51sunset is a total
01:10:52reinvention a
01:10:53reimagination of a
01:10:54play you know just
01:10:57for the chutzpah of
01:10:58it I would go for
01:10:59Romeo and Juliet but
01:11:00I think I'll be one
01:11:02of like three voters
01:11:03and Scott who is
01:11:06taking home this
01:11:07Tony for revival of
01:11:10musical I think it's
01:11:11sunset Boulevard and
01:11:12for revival of the
01:11:13play I think it's
01:11:14yellow face not just
01:11:15because they're both the
01:11:16most nominated in their
01:11:17categories but that's
01:11:19certainly one of the
01:11:20considerations with
01:11:21sunset Boulevard it's
01:11:22just I think it helps
01:11:23to be very different
01:11:25than anything else
01:11:26that's on the ballot
01:11:27and that is certainly
01:11:29the way that they did
01:11:30that was so creative and
01:11:31with yellow face I I
01:11:33don't know I guess we
01:11:34we've seen a million
01:11:35versions of our town
01:11:38and Romeo and Juliet
01:11:39and this this it just
01:11:42felt a little more new
01:11:43and exciting and so
01:11:44yellow face and
01:11:46yellow face and
01:11:47sunset Boulevard we'll
01:11:48see yeah okay well
01:11:49we'll tune in on Tony
01:11:51night to see who walks
01:11:52away our big winners
01:11:53thank you so much again
01:11:54to our panelists David
01:11:55Rooney Caitlin Houston
01:11:57and Scott Feinberg thank
01:11:58you thank you thank you
01:12:00well guys thanks so much
01:12:04for tuning in to the
01:12:05Hollywood reporters
01:12:06awards countdown Tony's
01:12:07edition I know I've had
01:12:08such a blast breaking
01:12:09down Broadway's biggest
01:12:10night with you all and
01:12:12telling you seeing these
01:12:13New York City skylines
01:12:14never gets old well we'll
01:12:15see who wins big at the
01:12:1778th Tony Awards when it
01:12:18airs live this Sunday on
01:12:20CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern
01:12:215 p.m. Pacific thanks so
01:12:23much for tuning in and
01:12:24until next time I'm Neha
01:12:26Joy and this is the
01:12:27Hollywood reporters
01:12:28and here's awards countdown
01:12:28so
01:12:30we'll see you next time
01:12:31we'll see you next time
01:12:31we'll see you next time
01:12:32we'll see you next time
01:12:33we'll see you next time
01:12:42we'll see you next time
01:12:44on