Ben Platt, Victoria Clark, Bonnie Milligan, and More React to Their Tony Nominations!

We have the list of 2023 Tony nominees, and we’re chatting with the members of the illustrious class of 2023 to hear their first reactions to the big news. check out some of their reactions below.

Ben Platt – Best Actor in a Musical – Parade
I watched CBS in bed with my fiancé and woke up just in time to see Myles and Lea and we got some good news! It’s wonderful. It’s so special to have a partner in crime in the show [in Micaela Diamond] and the fact that we really love and respect each other as people is kind of a cherry on top. So to be able to go through this together makes it way less daunting and way more fun. And I’m also super super proud of my close friend Colton Ryan who’s in my category with me and I’m really looking forward to going through it with him as well because he’s a wonderful guy and we go way back. As a Jew and obviously as a musical theater lover this show is really special to me, so to be part of this company already feels like a huge life honor, so this is kind of an embarrassment of riches. I think it’s so important that people see this and witness this particular story, so if this is going to help more people to do that, then wonderful.

Stephen McKinley Henderson – Best Actor in a Play – Between Riverside and Crazy
Words escape me. Stephen Adly Guirgis saw me when I had just had hip surgery and was walking with a cane and I didn’t think I had any more shows in me. That was a few years ago and we’ve since done it in three iterations, and this one was most thrilling. I really can’t say enough about the company: it was just great to have a group of actors stay together that long. This has been a wonderful season to be a part of. I didn’t get to see everything, but I saw a few shows before we were in the thick of it, and I’ll get to see a few more. I’m just grateful to be part of it.

Miriam Silverman — Best Featured Actress in a Play – The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Oh my god. The whole thing has been wild and unexpected roller coaster of a journey. I’m still in disbelief, quite frankly. This play has been living with me for seven years since we did it at the Goodman in Chicago. I’ve been on a bit of a mission since the Chicago run, so for the last 7 years, I’ve made my students read this play, because all of us who have been involved for so long are just dying for this play to get out in the world more. This is more meaningful than any other production I’ve been a part of.

Jennifer Weber – Double Nominee for Best Choreography – KPOP and & Juliet
It was so surreal being nominated twice. I heard my name once and jumped up and cheered – then I heard my name again and I sat down in shock. It was so wild – and unexpected. I’m so grateful for both shows to be recognized – what an exciting season for dance on Broadway.

Jeanine Tesori – Best Score – Kimberly Akimbo
We’re a small but mighty team and I think of us as the Mighty Ducks. When a show like ours, which is really small, gets the recognition like that from people in our industry, it makes my heart is really full.

Victoria Clark – Best Actress in a Musical – Kimberly Akimbo
I’m just so proud of our show, and so proud of everybody involved. We’ve had such a great journey from starting out at the Atlantic and then coming to Broadway. We’re a family. Justin is my heart. He’s my rock in the show. I couldn’t be prouder of him: this is his first professional job. To go from graduating from high school to a Tony nomination is an incredible escalating arc, which he earned. Bonnie is a force of nature, and she is an incredible person. She’s a great friend to everyone in this show and especially to me. She did not get nominated for Head Over Heels and she’s been waiting for this and she deserves it. This just means everything. It’s a real practice to find the joy in life and not always see the devastation. This is a show that reminds us to do that, so the fact that it’s getting recognized is great.

David Lindsay-Abaire – Best Score/Best Book – Kimberly Akimbo
I am over the moon! It’s so mind-blowing, honestly. I started the seed of this thing 23 years ago. All these years later, to think that it’s this Broadway musical getting all these nominations – the fact that it’s a musical at all is stunning – is almost too much too bear. It’s so gratifying to have it embraced in such an amazing season. I celebrate as I do every Tuesday: I will go to Lincoln Center and teach my playwriting class at Juilliard and pay it forward.

David Zayas – Best Featured Actor in a Play — Cost of Living 
I’m riding on the cloud. I’m feeling lucky and feeling very thankful. I’m feeling just as happy and thankful for Katy Sullivan and Kara Young, Jo Bonney, Martyna Majok. It’s so important that they’re being recognized as well. I’m kind of speechless and taking it in. This is the first time I’ve ever been nominated for anything in theater, so it’s very exciting.

Bonnie Milligan — Best Featured Actress in a Musical — Kimberly Akimbo
Oh, I’ve been crying all morning. It’s amazing. It feels incredible, kind of surreal, and just awesome. This show is so beautiful and something that came into my life at an important time, and it felt like something that was meant to be. I had just lost my father, and I was in the Midwest, and when they asked for the first audition, I couldn’t do it. I kept thinking that this show was mine, but I didn’t know if they would work around this intense grief I was in. It happened and I had a lot of ups and downs in the rehearsal of it, but it’s also a beautiful, cathartic healing process. It’s been a gift.

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman – Best Score – Some Like It Hot
We love our show, we love our collaborators, we love our cast. We are thrilled and honored to be the most nominated musical of the season. In fact, we are joyous and celebrating… eight shows a week at the Shubert Theatre!

Matthew López & Amber Ruffin – Best Book of a Musical – Some Like It Hot
We are thrilled to be nominated alongside so many from our Some Like It Hot family. Our show has always been to us about the power of the community to uplift individuals. That it has been received by audiences and by the Tony nominators with that same spirit makes this all feel full circle. We hope these nominations help bring the show and its message of self-acceptance and self-fulfillment to an even wider audience than before.

Patrick Marber – Best Direction of a Play – Leopoldstadt
I’ve been directing Tom’s Leopoldstadt for the last four years. This is a thrilling acknowledgement for the play and for all of us who have sailed in it.

Michael Arden – Best Director of a Musical – Parade
Overwhelmed to be included in such incredible company. To be at the helm of both Parade and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol this Broadway season has been the honor of my career thus far. I am indebted to all the artists who came together to make both these singular productions possible.

Casey Nicholaw – Best Director of a Musical/Best Choreography – Some Like It Hot
This morning was absolutely incredible! It’s the first time I got to experience hearing the nominations with one of my casts instead of at home. And to add to it, we were performing on the Today Show and we couldn’t make any noise – so there were just real tears and fake clapping! And then when we were done with the segment, there was so much screaming and camaraderie! I will never forget it!! Childhood dreams come true!!”

J. Harrison Ghee – Best Actor in a Musical – Some Like It Hot
I’m thrilled! It has been a fantastic journey to portray Jerry/Daphne, and I’ve been overwhelmed – in a good way – to see how audiences have received these characters. I’m thankful to every member of this production for creating such an affirming space where I get to show the complexity of this human and go on a beautiful ride every time the curtains go up. I’m grateful to the committee for recognizing this work. It’s a moment I will cherish forever. 

Suzan-Lori Parks – Best Revival of a Play – Topdog/Underdog
I am thrilled and deeply honored to have my work embraced and recognized! And I’m also so happy for Corey and Yahya! Our Topdog revival was a joyous team effort, with Kenny Leon leading the way! I’m doing my happy dance!

Crystal Lucas-Perry – Best Featured Actress in a Play – Ain’t No Mo’
Oh my gosh! I’m just completely overwhelmed. It still feels unreal but I’m feeling very good. It’s been a very good morning! I didn’t want to watch. I put my phone down. And then I realized that it was starting to blow up. I’ve been celebrating all morning because my cast was nominated and Jordan and direction, so there’s a lot of excitement going around right now. I gotta say it is one of the most beautiful things because to think we didn’t even make it to 100 performances and fought to save a show that we knew deserved to be in this community on that stage. It feels completely incredible to be acknowledged by our community in this way even though we didn’t have that long there. To know our impact was that great. To know the work was being seen and received. I’m just basking in love that was shown to us. Everything’s gonna taste a little sweeter today.

Brian Moreland – Producer – The Piano Lesson
I am over the moon and walking on cloud. I was on a zoom with the whole team when the nomination was announced, and I screamed so loud I think I woke up the whole neighborhood. I hope that this nomination can dispel the myth that diverse audiences don’t come to the theater, because they did, and in numbers that made The Piano Lesson the season’s highest grossing revival.

Lorna Courtney – Best Actress in a Musical – & Juliet
My heart is so full and warm to be nominated in this category with such amazing performers. I was at my best friend’s house, and we were all holding each other’s hands – my best friend and her mom. I was so happy for everyone in the category and then they said my name and I was shocked. It’s funny that the awards come out early in the morning like this because it really tests how much of your voice you have with all of the screaming that you do. It means everything, especially as a woman of color. I think the reason why people love the show is they see themselves in each one of us. I’m getting emotional because it’s a win for my community – minorities, people of color, people from Queens. In seventh grade I decided I wanted to be a singer and I didn’t know how far I could go with it. And to be nominated alongside one of my musical theater idols, Audra McDonald, means everything. When we were watching, I was like, “Audra saw this too!”

Samuel L. Jackson, Best Featured Actor in a Play – The Piano Lesson  
It’s a thrill to be nominated. This honor is particularly special having been under the direction of LaTanya and getting to continue August Wilson’s legacy on Broadway after first performing The Piano Lesson on stage at the Yale Repertory Theater 35 years ago. Thank you to the members of the American Theater Wing & Broadway League. Congratulations to all of the nominees.

Helen Park, Best Score – KPOP
After dedicating eight years of my life to working on KPOP and dreaming of sharing my music with the world, I am honored and humbled to be included in such an esteemed group. The recognition of my work through this nomination is a testament to the tireless efforts of my incredible creative team and cast who joined me in pushing boundaries and bringing a never-before-seen performance to the Broadway stage. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and I am thrilled to share this moment with them. I am at a loss for words, and deeply grateful for this recognition.

Josh Groban – Best Actor in a Musical – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
It’s surreal. It’s been such an amazing journey. Theater takes a long time. The culmination of a lot of hard work and a lot of extraordinary people putting in their hard work – when it gets to a point like this morning, it’s just an extraordinary feeling and one I don’t take for granted. A lot of gratitude this morning. It’s so fitting because [Annaleigh Ashford and I] have gone through this whole process side by side. We’re really ready to go and both feeling so happy for the show and so happy for each other. Our goal number one with this was to do right by [Stephen Sondheim] and to bring it to audiences in a way that would make him excited by their response. I know that it was so important to him that his work continue to reach people who knew his work and people for whom this might be their first live Sweeney. There isn’t a minute that goes by that we don’t wish that we had his presence and his guidance, but we also really strive to get it right each night in a way that would make him proud. Today is definitely a testament to the fact that in some ways we’ve done that for him.

Betsy Wolfe – Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical – & Juliet
I’m overjoyed. I immediately think of little perm-haired Betsy who could only dream of performing on a Broadway stage while watching the Tonys every year in her living room. I fell in love with & Juliet the moment I read it, and to be recognized by the nominating committee is beyond special. My hair has come a long way, and I’m grateful I have too.

Bill Sherman – Best Orchestrations – & Juliet
Thank you to the Tony Awards, the cast, crew, creatives, and the producers of & Juliet. To be recognized for our work on a show that exudes such joy is truly an honor. A special thank you to Max Martin for redefining an entire generation and history of music. Dominic and I were honored to take this amazing music apart and put it all back together again for Broadway.

Dominic Fallarco – Best Orchestrations – & Juliet
What an honor it is to be nominated for a Tony, along with my fantastic collaborator Bill Sherman – especially in a field of such wonderful nominees! Thank you to Max for trusting us with some of the best songs of the last few decades. It’s a labor of love to put so much detail into the notes and the sound and I’m thrilled to have that work recognized. I’m so proud of our show, and honored to share it with the world – congratulations to all the nominees.

Wendell Pierce – Best Actor in a Play – Death of a Salesman
This was such a beautiful, life-changing experience. I have a great sense of pride in the work and the effort that went into producing the play, and a sense of great satisfaction that I met this great challenge. To know that there were colleagues who thought enough of my work to give me this honor makes it very special. I did not know how moving this would feel. I’m still crying tears of joy and drinking loads of champagne.

Justin Cooley – Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Kimberly Akimbo
I’m feeling amazed. A little bit in shock. But very, very proud. To be nominated is an acknowledgement of this journey and how hard I worked and changed. It’s been an exponential amount of change and growth as an artist and person. I’m so glad people have received that and been impacted by that.

Jonathan Deans – Sound Design of a Play – Ain’t No Mo’
With much thanks. The Producers and Management supported Taylor and I to join together allowing us to shape the invisible with Stevie and Jordan, reflecting on the stunning performances with an amazing collaboration from everyone.

Taylor Williams – Sound Design of a Play – Ain’t No Mo’
I’m still floored that I was invited into the vortex of this show. Jonathan’s collaboration, along with the amazing work of so many people at the Belasco, have made this a dream experience. The honor of a nomination this morning is a (very big) cherry on top of it all!

Jordan E. Cooper – Best Featured Actor in a Play, Best Play – Ain’t No Mo’
I’m so elated, I’m still processing. I’m at home in Texas. I came out here for the weekend to see my parents. We were literally watching the nominations from the same home I used to do plays in as a kid. We are just overwhelmed. I was hoping that we would get some kind of recognition because everybody worked so hard and gave their souls on that stage. I’m just so grateful that all that work, that blood, that sweat, those tears weren’t in vain. All those liquids were rubbed into that stage under that ghost light. It means never give up. It means that the work is worth fighting for. It means that it matters when you put your soul into a piece of work. It means that the underdog matters. And people received it and understood it. I’m reeling from this but I’m also still reeling from Patti LuPone going on a whole 60-second rant about Ain’t No Mo’ and how much she loved it. I was like, What?! Patti hates everything! I’m just so incredibly grateful that the writing was recognized, the acting was recognized, the designs were recognized, the play itself. I’m lost for words.

Brian d’Arcy James – Best Actor in a Musical – Into the Woods
I was off on my timing. I thought they were being announced at 9, so I was sound asleep and my publicist called with the good news so it felt a little bit like a dream. It was a very special production. It kind of had that lightning in a bottle quality to it. A big part of the thrill of having this recognition is wanting to do right by [Stephen Sondheim’s] creation and his genius. You hope to honor the material that he and James Lapine have written, so I hope that he’s smiling down. To be able to touch base with Julia [Lester] and Sara [Bareilles] will be really fun. It’s going to be very fun to celebrate this thing that was truly special and really did feel unusually intoxicating the whole time we did it. I’m going into tech rehearsal for Days of Wine and Roses down at the Atlantic Theater with Kelli O’Hara so that’s my way of celebrating. Which is not a bad way to celebrate.   

Robert Horn – Best Book of a Musical – Shucked
I’m a little numb. It’s so weird as a writer to not have the words. But there are just so many words. This was a 10-year journey. I started writing this show 10 years ago and I thought it’s just never going to happen. So to have a morning like this is just really a relief. I was in my apartment on my computer but we were all doing a group chat, the whole creative team, and just crossing our fingers. And each time another name was said, it was thrilling. Nine nominations. Personally, it’s such a validation of what I do. I grew up as a little kid in New York wanting nothing more than to be in the world of theater and make it my life and it’s just so lovely to feel like the community accepts me and allows me to do what I love to do — for the second time! After the first time I was like OK, what else is there? You know what there is? There’s the second time! And it’s even sweeter. You do this in a bubble. You write and are like, Is anyone going to think this is funny? And then to hear all those people who have come in from all different walks of life, having good days and bad days, sit there collectively as a community and share this experience— it’s a wonderful thing to be able to say you were a part of a healing, because that’s where we are right now. We’re all healing. After any tragedy, when we come out of it, there’s a renaissance of art, and I think we’re in it. I’m thrilled to be a part of this season.   

Jordan Roth – Producer – Into the Woods
Into the Woods has always been the show that holds our hand through so many moments in life. To have so many of our Into the Woods family recognized today is one more moment that makes it worth the journeying.

Lear DeBessonet – Best Director of a Musical – Into the Woods
My heart bursts with gratitude for the recognition of our work on Into the Woods.  I always thought of this show as a great expression of love and humanity, and I am so honored that our intention was embraced with this incredible generosity.”

Sara Bareilles – Best Actress in a Musical – Into the Woods
I’m absolutely reeling. My heart is so full with love for the show – and for what this story meant to all of us onstage, backstage, as well as in the audience. I am beyond honored for this acknowledgement and I reserve the right to spontaneously start screaming with joy at any point today.

Katy Sullivan – Best Featured Actress in a Play – Cost of Living
All I wanted to do was be an actor and be on stage, and being a kid who had a disability, I had no one to point to, to say that this was possible. To be a part of this movement of authenticity in casting and inclusion for performers with disabilities is such an honor and a privilege. The 15-year-old inside of me is freaking out, and the adult is too.

Kevin Cahoon – Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Shucked
I’m so grateful. I was just blown away because it’s been such an incredible season with so many incredible shows and so many incredible actors who could be in that category. I feel like people have come out of the pandemic and this season of shows is so strong and the performances are all incredible and I’m just honored to be included in that group. The thing that I want us all to do is fly the banner of Broadway theater and show the world that Broadway is back and Broadway is important. The American theater is probably the most important cultural institution that we have. That’s what I’m excited about. Being an ambassador for theater and for Shucked, which is so special. I feel like it is a tonic for our times. It is a euphoric burst of sunshine swirling around the Nederlander Theatre. You know how I’m celebrating? I’m doing a show at seven o’clock! 

Sean Hayes – Best Actor in a Play – Good Night, Oscar
Thank you to the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing for this incredibly humbling nomination…I am honored to be included in such esteemed company. I am forever grateful to Doug Wright and Lisa Peterson for giving me the opportunity, and the stage, to bring Oscar Levant to life alongside a brilliant cast, crew and producers who work tirelessly to make this show so special.  It is a privilege to portray someone so complex; someone who is both hilarious and heartbreaking and I am truly grateful and thankful for this beautiful acknowledgement.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Best Actor in a Play – Topdog/Underdog
Topdog/Underdog: I was introduced to you at 20 years old. You taught me that there was a place in the theater if I were daring enough to take up space. You were confirmation that I belonged. Today, 16 years later, as I wake up to news of a Tony Award Nomination for the role I’ve dreamt about for so long, you continue to be the gift that keeps on giving. I’m grateful to Suzan-Lori Parks, to my Director Kenny Leon, the entire creative team including our producers, and especially my brother on the boards, Corey Hawkins. Congratulations to my fellow nominees. It’s a pleasure to be amongst great company.

Julia Lester – Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical – Into the Woods
I have no idea how to encapsulate my feelings. I am so overwhelmed in the best way possible. I’m so grateful to be in the City right now with my whole family, which is so special. I’m just trying to calm down and remember how to breathe. My whole family, we’re all big theater nerds so the Tonys are a huge deal for us every year and so usually tune into the livestream to hear the nominations, and this year it had some more excitement. So we all gathered on the couch and watched the nominees roll in. And then my name was read and it was like, What is happening?! When I think back on the experience, I think mostly about how much we all loved each other. We loved each other so much behind the scenes and really took care of each other. I was really a little fish in a big pond with the beginning of Encores! and of course the transfer to Broadway and could not have felt more loved and supported and uplifted by these incredible performers around me who were and are my idols. I’m just going to stay present with my people here and really just celebrate this day because it only happens once – your Broadway debut turning into a Tony nomination. Oh my god that’s made up, I can’t believe I just said that. 

Tom Kitt – Best Original Score – Almost Famous
I feel wonderful. I got a chance to celebrate with my wife. We got breakfast. We had just seen my young son’s percussion recital, so it’s been a swirl of music. Literally stepping outside onto the street after the concert, I started to notice my texts and that’s when I got the good news. It’s always incredibly special. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of Broadway seasons past and present and you are aware of the great artistry and beauty of this community, so I feel lucky to be a part of it. I feel very grateful to be recognized today along with all the glorious work from this season, and especially for Almost Famous, which is not running at present. The fact that the work was remembered and it resonated, that means a huge amount to me. 

Jodie Comer – Best Actress in a Play – Prima Facie
I love getting to play the role of Tessa in Prima Facie, so to receive this Tony Award nomination for my Broadway debut is beyond my wildest dreams. Broadway audiences have been so welcoming to me, so it has truly been an amazing experience. I am grateful to get to speak Suzie Miller’s words in her vital and urgent play, and for director Justin Martin, who guided me every step of the way.

Jamie Lloyd – Best Direction of A Play – A Doll’s House
Working with Jessica Chastain, Arian Moayed, Amy Herzog and the entire company of A Doll’s House has been one of the greatest experiences of my career. It was a privilege to create this new production of Ibsen’s masterpiece for Broadway audiences with a team of exceptional artists. We are honored and grateful to be recognised with these Tony nominations.

Arian Moayed – Best Performance Featured Actor in a Play – A Doll’s House
I don’t have enough words to describe how honored and excited I am. The only joy greater than this Tony nomination is sharing it with Jessica, Jamie, Amy and the incredible company of A Doll’s House.

NaTasha Yvette Williams – Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Some Like It Hot
I am having the best time. I’m on cloud 9 and its incredible. The cast was scheduled to perform this morning on the Today Show and we found out we were nominated for Best Musical right before we started filming the segment. We were trying to hold back tears we were so excited. As soon as the number was finished, we ran inside and upstairs to watch the rest of the awards and there was one left, Best Featured Actress in a Musical and I got to hear my name called, and everyone started screaming. I kept asking if it was real! I was at NBC when I found out that I am a 2023 Tony Nominee!

Micaela Diamond – Best Leading Actress in a Musical – Parade
I woke up and watched the nominations with my mom, who has been with me on this journey since I moved to New York. I am so happy for what this means for her and for us! And to be nominated for this production at this moment in time – along with Ben [Platt] and Michael [Arden] – what a dream!

Alex Newell – Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Shucked
To be nominated alongside such talented individuals is a tremendous honor. I grew up dreaming of singing my heart out on a Broadway stage, and to not only accomplish that, but also receive a nomination for it? It is beyond a dream come true. This is a surreal moment for me and I’m feeling deeply grateful and happy. 

Jordan Donica – Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Camelot
Words simply cannot describe the differing and constant emotions that I am feeling. I am a wee bit sleepy, a lot bit energized, and just at peace with whatever has been and whatever will be. It is an honor to be nominated along such incredible talents and, more importantly, incredible people. Thank you for the recognition and thank you to Lincoln Center Theater and the beautiful cast and crew of Camelot. No one gets to where they are alone. Thank you to everyone on Team Jordan and thank you to my entire family for the never-ending love, support, and guidance. “Every day is a gift.”

Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann – Best Sound Design of a Musical – Into the Woods
We’re so pleased to have been nominated for this incandescent production working with such a great creative team. We especially thank our collaborator Music Director Rob Berman and his whole music department.

Emilio Sosa – Best Costume Design of a Play – Ain’t No Mo’ and Good Night, Oscar
I’m completely floored by this amazing acknowledgement by my peers. I truly love what I do and hope to continue to add to the fabric of inclusion and diversity in our community. Go Theater!!!! 

Annaleigh Ashford – Best Actress in a Musical – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Thank you American Theatre Wing! It is an honor to be nominated alongside these talented women. I am deeply proud to be part of a show that has long inspired so many people to become artists and continues to do so today. Steve Sondheim was masterful at ensuring that the female counterpoint in his shows was equal and he was authentically interested in telling the whole, full story of all humans. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be telling his story with this magical cast, crew, and creative team. Congratulations to you all.

Nikki Crawford – Best Featured Actress in a Play – Fat Ham
The piece is just so brilliant and my castmates are just so brilliant and Saheem Ali, under his direction, I felt like we couldn’t fail and I just went with it. So it’s amazing. And to be listed with all these amazing actresses is amazing as well. I’ve just been running around like a chicken with its head cut off and I’ve just been answering calls and taking interviews. I had a moment about 20 minutes ago — one of the journalists asked me, What would your younger self say? And I just broke down in tears. Because I just think about it now and it’s like oh my God this is a dream come true. 

Cynthia Erivo – Best Play – Fat Ham
These nominations mark an exciting and joyful moment in our theater community, with a mix of productions that celebrate representation and humanity. I’m in awe of James ljames, Saheem Ali and the brilliant actors, designers, crew members and more who make it all possible to tell this poignant tale eight shows a week. To return to Broadway in this capacity is a dream come true and a full circle moment for me. I am thrilled to share in this honor with the most incredible Hamily a girl could ask for!!!

To see the complete list, click here.