The 78th Annual Tony Awards
Or, as I'd like to call it, the best night of my life thus far (next to my wedding, of course)
This past Sunday, I attended the 78th Tony Awards Ceremony as a nominee, having co-produced the Tony-nominated and Olivier-winning new musical Operation Mincemeat.
When I stepped into the zone that was Radio City Musical Hall on Sunday, I was more abuzz with excitement than I thought I was on my wedding day. (And it's alright, folks because my wonderful husband was by my side on BOTH days.)
I saw my first Broadway show when I was six years old. I was raised on a steady diet of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and RENT, among others. Musical theatre has been the soundtrack to my life.
Working in the theatre has always been my dream, and to have it become my reality is both a blessing and a gift.
There are so many things to say about the Tony Awards. It is glamour. It is fashion. It is splendor. It is a night celebrating many of the brightest, most colorful, most cerebral, most intelligent, most thoughtful, and most awe-inspiring folks on the planet.
It is a night where joy and love shine brighter than any light could ever imagine.
I will never forget listening to Harvey Fierstein give his speech after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. How fortunate are we to live in an era where he is creating art? How lucky are we to have had such a titan, a warm soul, and a leader like him, paving the way for others to tell their stories with a little more ease?
The last time I saw Cynthia Erivo perform live was during the 2015 revival of The Color Purple on Broadway. When she sang, "I'm Here," the entire orchestra stood up mid-song to give her a rounding applause. She was that outstanding.
She's STILL that outstanding. And to see her sing and speak alongside one of my heroes, Sara Bareilles, was like a hug for my heart and an imprint on my soul.
Another speech that will burn in my brain for all eternity? Celia Keenan Bolger's speech after receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award.
Once upon a time, I wanted to be a judge. I wanted to attend law school, and I wanted to fight for justice, uphold democracy, and ensure that the good people of this world were allowed to thrive. I wanted to help. I wanted to show up at work, knowing that what I was doing was guiding us all to be better than we were yesterday.
Celia's speech reminds me that you can still be an advocate and a voice for change, good, and compassion, even if that's not your full-time work. She is exemplary at juggling it all, and the recognition she received was a testament to her continued efforts to make this world a little bit brighter for us all.
I have yet to see 'Buena Vista Social Club,' but the speech by Tony-winning choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, along with the performance, made me want to see it. That's one of the special parts about the awards: you get a little preview of so many shows (albeit not all) - and it just makes you even more excited to be in the room where it's all happening.
Speaking of the room where it happens, it was extraordinary to see the original cast of Hamilton return for HamilTEN, their tenth-anniversary celebration. I'm old enough to remember when they were at The Public and when Ham4Ham first started, and it's just invigorating to see this show continue to inspire so many people. The song choices and the cuts of each song were brilliant. As to be expected.
Also to be expected - Audra McDonald is magnificent. She’s a personal hero of mine, in both artistry and motherhood and how she shows up in the world. To witness her on a stage is a gift.
There’s a reason so many people call her the queen.
When our beloved Jak Malone won BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL for Operation Mincemeat, I, alongside many of my fellow co-producers and the mincemeat family, jumped to our feet with glee and joy and screams. Jak is extraordinary as Hester Leggat, and Dear Bill and Operation Mincemeat are a song and show that people will be talking about for decades to come. I couldn't be more proud to be a part of such a legendary production.
Breathing the same air as Oprah, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Erivo,
, Keanu Reeves, Harvey Firestein, and Lin-Manuel Miranda was pretty cool. The whole evening was the stuff of dreams. But, for me, the most memorable moment of the night was sitting up in the third mezzanine with my father, who gazed out at the orchestra and looked at me and said, "Look at us, Meg. We're at The Tony Awards."He taught theatre to high school students for over 30 years. A former student is a stage manager at Radio City Music Hall. Another is a stagehand who worked on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Another is on tour with Hamilton. Two new students are going to Carnegie Mellon. And so on, and so on.
He's a retired public school teacher now, but he remains one of the most renowned theatre educators and directors I know.
It was his first time at the Tony Awards, too.
To be working in the theatre is not for the faint of heart. Yes, we are all lovable, creative, empathetic folks, but to make a living doing this art form is not easy. It is wrought with rejection. And dissapointment. There are shows that close too soon and ones that never make it to the bigger stages or even off of the page.
It is constantly changing.
But it is also something that changes lives. It is something that makes people feel seen. It is an art form that has been around for thousands of years - and it's because it can encapsulate our heartbeat. Our hopes. Our humanity.
To everyone making theater this season, whether it is on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theaters, or in high school classrooms — I see you. I salute you. Keep going.
As Mama Audra McDonald says: "I'm rooting for the theatre."