From the boys of Billy Elliot literally screaming with excitement outside the CBS-TV studios where they had just filmed The Early Show to Will Ferrell sending a statement announcing that he had "double-plotzed," the reactions of Broadway's best and brightest to the 2009 Tony Award nominations has truly run the gamut. TheaterMania spent part of the day speaking with many of this year's worthy nominees. Here's a sample of their reactions.

Stockard Channing (Best Actress in a Musical, Pal Joey)
I was on a train in England and my cell phone came on when we got to France, and I thought "it's hard to know which of these things is better." I was actually surprised, in part because there are so many wonderful performances and people have a tendency to see the ones that are still playing. I loved playing Vera and it's nice to know that it turned out okay for everyone and not just me. It was sort of a new interpretation of the character, because I felt she had enormous impact as a person and was not just this predatory woman.

Martha Plimpton (Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Pal Joey)
I am really excited and amazed and thrilled and gratified. After all, three times in a row is pretty cool. Today was a little different; the last two years, I didn't know the day the nominations were being announced, and this year, everyone I know wouldn't let me forget. In fact, my friend Mia Barron called me around 8:50, and I was frankly shocked she was awake. I was still kind of out of it.

Brian D'Arcy James (Best Actor in a Musical, Shrek)
It's great, and a little different than the last time. When you have had this experience once before, you realize the sliver there is between having and not having this opportunity. So I think I appreciate it more this time around. And I'm particularly thrilled by our Best Musical nomination, because we've all worked so hard on this show. I wish everyone in our company could get a nomination.

Sutton Foster (Best Actress in a Musical, Shrek)
Even though this is my fourth time as a nominee, this show and this character is very special to me. I think one of the reasons I feel so passionately about it is that I did the first reading about three years ago, so it feels like I've been with this show for a long time. But it's also that Fiona is the most like me of any character I've played. I can relate to her. I also think she's a great role model for women. She's trying to be the pretty princess, but ultimately she has to embrace her inner ogre.

Christopher Sieber (Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Shrek)
It's an overwhelming feeling to get the respect of your peers this way; it's basically indescribable. I was hoping it would happen, not because I take parts to win awards, but because I am always glad when people notice me. I was always the last kid picked in gym class, and I rarely win anything, so something like this is really a honor.

Haydn Gwynne (Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Billy Elliot)
I got up this morning to watch the awards and I ended up watching the wrong channel. So when my publicist called to tell me I was nominated, I said "Has it happened already?" Then Elton John called, and that means so much, because he was really the first person to support me in London when I wanted this part. Even in England, where people know my work, they thought it was a long shot for me to get the job. So the idea I would do the role of Mrs. Wilkinson on Broadway was never in my mind. And even when we found out the show was going to Broadway, I'd still have put money on me not coming over. So this is quite a surprise.

Carole Shelley (Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Billy Elliot)
I am so happy I am beside myself. It's a heavenly part; I have always had great love for the role of Grandma from when I first saw the show. And I am just thrilled to be acknowledged. It seems unlikely that I will win. Let's be honest: I don't even think I am the underdog; I am the old puppy they let out of the cold.

Gregory Jbara (Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Billy Elliot)
I've been acting professionally for almost 25 years and to finally hit one of those professional landmarks like being a Tony nominee is so exciting. Fortunately, the work has been so gratifying that I could have happily gone on if my name wasn't called this morning, but I can't deny that today was a big milestone. Still, it's like your wedding day. After you're married, you realize you're still the same person than you were that morning.

Alice Ripley (Best Actress in a Musical, Next to Normal)
It's a dream come true to be nominated; you always want to think you're doing excellent work. And this experience feels completely different from when I was nominated for Side Show, because of having been in the city for so many years, I feel so much more part of the community than I did 12 years ago.

J. Robert Spencer (Best Actor in Musical, Next to Normal)
I was relieved, surprised, and thrilled. I knew a lot of people thought "how could I possibly do this part?" but I knew I had an emotional connection to Dan Goodman and that this was exactly the right showcase to show New York audiences what I've wanted to show them for a long time.

Jennifer Damiano (Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Next to Normal)
It's amazing. I think we were all hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. And I was personally ready to wake up and remind myself that it's just about the show, not awards. I do believe my job is to make sure I give 100 percent every night and stay focused.

Gavin Creel (Best Actor in a Musical, Hair)
It feels gorgeous. 2008 was a tough year. I was looking forward to doing Godspell after coming back from London on such a high after Mary Poppins. I was so reinvigorated. And then nothing worked out. So when I got this part -- just one day after I auditioned -- it felt like I never had gotten a job before. Now, I'm so grateful for the way the chips have fallen.

Will Swenson (Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Hair)
I was on my way out to take one of my kids to preschool when my sister called to say congratulations. It feels fantastic, and I am so excited for all our collaborators that were recognized, because I really feel like we're a team.

Diane Paulus (Best Director of a Musical, Hair)
Growing up in Manhattan, I was a true Broadway baby. I used to go to all these great shows and sit in the dark and cry at the curtain call wanting to be part of that. So to have this moment with Hair, a show where so many teenagers come out and see it as new show and not a revival, is truly a dream come true.

Marc Kudisch (Best Featured Actor in a Musical, 9 to 5)
I didn't expect it, and I am very flattered. It's very easy to judge a character like Franklin, who is the kind of the guy you don't want to touch, and I am pleased that the nominators were willing to say "good job." But I'm not doing it alone and I am disheartened that not all of my co-stars were recognized, because what these women do to me and vice versa is what makes this work. So I feel like it's only my right arm and right leg that are nominated.

Hunter Bell (Best Book of a Musical, [title of show])
Jeff Bowen and I had this scrappy dream of putting on a musical, and started writing one in my kitchen on a Salvation Army couch, so this nomination is cherries on top of cherries on top of icing on top of cake. As a kid, I always watched the Tony Awards, so to be part of it in this sort of real way in surreal.

Marcia Gay Harden (Best Actress in a Play, God of Carnage)
That is the best. It would not have been so joyful if all four of us were not nominated. We are an ensemble; one could not exist without the others. Ensemble acting is completely different than doing star turns and that's what we were asked to do. And we all know today is the real win. After this, no matter what happens, it's all ceremony.

Harriet Walter (Best Actress in a Play, Mary Stuart)
I've been asked to do the role of Mary three times -- it's more natural for me in spirit -- so it was harder for me to get into the head of Elizabeth. But all I needed to persuade me was the chance to work with Janet McTeer and Phyllida Lloyd. But now I really appreciate her and what she had to deal with. So I can take people's heads off without a second thought. As for the nomination, it's lovely, but whether I win or lose, I know in real life, the stakes aren't as high as they were for the women that Janet and I are playing.

Thomas Sadoski (Best Actor in a Play, reasons to be pretty)
I feel honored to be included in this category, especially when you think of all the actors who were recognized and even some of the actors who weren't recognized. Anyone in a play category this year shouldn't have counted their chickens. And the fact that the play was recognized is very gratifying, because I think Neil LaBute took a real step out of his comfort zone.