Michael Cerveris

Best Leading Actor in a Musical Nominee for Sweeney Todd

"I slept through the nominations, as I always do. Anything I need to know, I'll find out when I get up at a reasonable hour! I woke up to a lot of texts and messages from friends and family. You never want to assume anything about awards, but it's kind of a relief to have the day arrive and to get the acknowledgment. [Sweeney] is an intimidating role—it's really the Hamlet of musical theater, and it was also the first Broadway show I ever saw, with Len Cariou the epitome of a musical theater actor. But from the first day of rehearsal, because of the way John Doyle created the production, I felt I was going to be able to make it my own. The great thing about [Tony season] is getting to meet actors you may not have met before. I've seen Harry [Connick] and John [Lloyd Young] and Bob [Martin] and I think they're all terrific. I haven't seen The Wedding Singer because we're on the same schedule. My way of dealing with the negative, competitive aspects [of awards] is to try to get to know the other guys and see what they do so I can be supportive and happy for anybody who wins. Because at the end of the day, it's not like we're playing basketball and can outscore each other."

PLAYBILL.COM

"Thrilled and Relieved": Immediate Reactions from Tony-Nominated Individuals

By Matt Windman

The Tony nominations were announced at 8:45 AM on May 16, and by 8:50 AM, Playbill.com was on the phone interviewing the nominated actors, composers and playwrights. Here are some highlights from the conversations.

Michael Cerveris, nominee for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for Sweeney Todd: "I feel pretty darn good. I like rainy days. That's why I'm in a good mood today. Oh, and there was some kind of announcement. Apparently, at least a handful of people enjoyed my performance and thought they'd tell other people about it. It's a bit of a relief to have that lingering 'will I, won't I?' question answered, especially in the affirmative. And it's great to be included in a list of really terrific actors. I slept through the announcement, as is my usual practice. Because I figure if there's anything I need to know, I can find out at a reasonable hour. So I woke up to a bunch of texts and phone call and emails... I was really, really pleased for Sweeney. In a way, this nomination maybe means more to me in a deeper level than the past two. To be nominated for my Broadway debut was beyond my wildest dreams with Tommy. That was such a thrill and so unexpected and exciting. To be nominated for Assassins was a thrill because being nominated for a Sondheim show where the challenges are so great was exciting. But there's something about this one, maybe because the role is such a challenge. For me, it's the most demanding and challenging role for a male actor in a Broadway musical that I can think of."