The Tony Awards gift lounge

On Sunday June 15th, the 2008 Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall and theatre actors of all sorts flocked to this one building in the heart of Manhattan to celebrate the shows that have emerged during this most recent theatre season. There were such theatre veterans as Priscilla Lopez and actors accomplished in both theatre and film like Mary-Louise Parker. And guess who was there doing press coverage? That's right: Good Prattle has conversation fresh from the gift lounge and red carpet of the Tony Awards! In the gift lounge we spoke with a plethora of people, including Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth; acclaimed actor Richard Griffiths; The Little Mermaid star Sierra Boggess; Legally Blonde star Laura Bell Bundy; stage and screen heavyweight Mary-Louise Parker; living legend Liza Minelli; Rent stars Anthony Rapp, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Wilson Jermaine-Heredia, and Adam Pascal; and standout actress Lily Tomlin. Enjoy!

Kristin Chenoweth
Hi, I’m Keely. Nice to meet you.
Hi! Nice to meet you, Keely.

So you’re here at the Tonys again!
It’s amazing! I haven’t been here since I was nominated for Wicked and that was five years ago. So I’m really excited to be here. See a lot of my friends.

Yeah. But you’ve been busy, though. You’re on Pushing Daisies…
Yep. Busy time in LA!

I know they’ve written at least one musical number into the show for you.
They sure did. [laughs] And very well, I might add. They did great… I thought it was really not cheesy and real and really fun.

Yeah! But then I always love when people burst into song.
Yeah! So do I! [laughs] It always made sense to me!

But so it’s nice to be back here in New York.
Yeah. It’s like being at home. It’s like drinking a glass of water. It’s survival for me; I love it.

Thank you so much!
Nice to meet you!

Richard Griffiths
Hi, I’m Keely Weiss. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.

So you’re here now and you’ll also be coming back in two months as well.
Or less! Well, you know, we’ve entered the back of June now and then there’s July and then I’m back. So six weeks’ time.

And so you’re transferring Equus to Broadway. You’ll be back in New York again!
I’m really looking forward to it. I mean—we were ending our show this time last year so it’s been a year off. And I’m really keen to get back to see if it still works. I think it will work.

I’m sure Broadway responds to theatre differently than the West End.
Well, I just think it’s more exciting because the West End is—you know, like anywhere else. It’s drowning in musicals and visitors and coach rides. But the old London audience is the same as the New York audience. Actual New Yorkers actually go to see more shows than any other Americans. As well as all the visitors. So it’s a more savvy audience and they’re very astute. And I love playing for them because they just get it. The fact that they get what you’re doing is just great; that’s why I love playing here. And once we get out of the dog days of the hot sticky summer it’s going to be great. August is going to be brutal.

Yeah. First we have to get through the hot sticky summer. Which is less than fun.
But anyway, I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun. And I’ll show Dan Radcliffe new places. I bet he’ll show me a few as well though. But then again he’s very young and I don’t like young people. I don’t like them. I think they should be smacked with wet fish around the face. [catching a glimpse of someone] That’s Mary-Louise Parker! It is, isn’t it! I love her. Stunning actor. She is stunning. But anyway—forgive me! I’ve just gotten in from California so—

Oh, the jet lag, I’m sure.
And this is a different part of the world… you know in California they do things differently there…

Thanks so much! It was great to meet you.
Great to meet you. Have a good time.

Sierra Boggess
Hi, I’m Keely Weiss. Nice to meet you.
Hi, nice to meet you too!

So you’re here because you’re Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
Yes. I was living in Las Vegas and I did an audition for it in New York and—I was very lucky; I booked it! It’s a total dream come true. Very cool.

Unlike millions of wistful little girls, you actually get to be Ariel!
Right! And I was that little girl too because the movie came out when I was seven so it’s just such a dream come true to get to do a role like that. And I feel such a sense of responsibility for all the kids, and especially for myself because I love it so much, so that’s really amazing.

Right. Well, you’re playing my favorite Disney princess.
Oh, cool! [laughs] I’m glad!

So you’re excited to be at the Tonys?
It’s amazing. I’ve never been a part of this before so it’s really, really, really cool. It’s cool! It’s good!

Thanks so much for talking!
Yeah, sure!

Laura Bell Bundy
Hi, I’m Keely Weiss; it’s nice to meet you. I’m sure it’s nice to be back here again!
Yes!

The Tonys are somewhat hysterical but in a good way.
Yes. Especially when you get free stuff!

[laughs] So you’re wrapping up your run with Legally Blonde as Elle Woods. And now MTV has a show searching for your replacement…
Yes. Well, I’m not actually involved with it; it’s essentially finding the girl to come in and play the part when I leave. I’m in a couple of episodes sort of mentoring the girls and telling them what they need to know through the audition process and also when they go on, so that’s about it. I don’t judge it; I’m not a host…

A little bit detached from it all.
Yeah. Because we were doing the show while that was going on in a different studio. So it was really not very attached to the show. I mean, although it is the girls playing a part in the show and all that. I was doing my job! [laughs]

You’ve been in the show for—how long? One or two years?
A year and a half, basically, since I started working on it.

Were you involved in the readings?
I was in every one, from the first reading of the show in July 2005. So it’s been three years. Three years to the month.

Wow.
Yeah! [laughs] I’ve got to run, but it was nice to meet you!

Nice to meet you too!

Mary-Louise Parker
Weeds starts tomorrow [on the 16th]; could you give us any sneak peek of what’s going to happen?
I thought it was Tuesday! It starts tomorrow? Really? Terrific! Well, [Nancy Botwin] burned down her house so she’s relocating tomorrow and it’s going to be a whole new scene and a whole new backdrop. It’s a really different season. I think the vibe is really different, actually. The people and the characters.

Why did you want to play this character?
I liked that it was a little perverse and I liked that it was a little dark and that she wasn’t a perfect mother. And I just thought it was real: I’m not perfect and I don’t know anyone who is.

What’s the biggest parenting shortcut you’ve taken?
Shortcuts? I don’t know. My problem is that I don’t let myself take shortcuts. So I think sometimes it’s better to let yourself take a shortcut, not to let yourself get so worn-out all the time! [laughs]

Weeds is a favorite TV show for so many people. What are some of your favorite TV shows or movies?
I only really get to watch, like, The Backyardigans and Wonder Pets. [everyone laughs] I don’t really get to watch TV that much. But I love television. I don’t feel like I’m above it at all. You know, some people are like, “I don’t watch television.” I actually really love TV but I don’t get to watch it.

What’s the best thing about being a parent?
Oh, everything! Just all of it. The things that they say—well, my daughter doesn’t really talk so much yet. She’s little. She puts a couple of words together here and there. But the things that my son says, I’m always just running to write it down because I can’t believe the things that come out of his mouth. You know? He’s just a little poet. I’m just completely in love with both of them and they’re just incredible.

I just wanted to say that you have the most beautiful skin ever; what are your secrets?
Oh, thank you! Well, it’s not looking that great today; I had a bit of fun last night. But I stay out of the sun; I quit smoking; I don’t drink—well, except for last night, which is why I have these glasses on this morning. I went out with my friend Adam [Duritz of the Counting Crows] and my friend Lisa. Adam’s picking out his own glasses over there. He’s being very girly right now. But I’m kind of a product whore… but my mother has really great skin. She’s never had a facelift or anything and she’s 85.

If you could turn anything into a musical what would it be?
OTHER REPORTER: Weeds the musical!
There you go! Some little dancing pot plants… [everyone laughs]

How does it feel being back here?
I could just get down and kiss the ground of Broadway. I’m so happy to be here.

Have you been seeing a lot of shows?
I saw Top Girls last night. That was great.

Are you a musical theatre queen?
I’m a theatre queen, period. I’m just a queen from morning til night, I guess.

Thanks so much!
Thank you.

Liza Minelli
Hello Liza, it’s nice to meet you!
It’s nice to meet you!

How’ve you been doing?
Great! Thank you!

How’s it being back in New York with the Tonys?
Oh, it’s wonderful. I love it. I’ve actually won two of them and part of that reason is the man I’m sitting next to, Ron Lewis, his choreography, his style—and all my friends here! [laughs]

Have you been seeing a lot of shows recently?
Yes. What have you seen?

I recently saw In the Heights, which is fantastic.
I’ve got to go see that. Of course, Sunday in the Park with George is always great.

It is wonderful, yeah.
It was nice talking to you!

It was great talking to you. Thank you!

Anthony Rapp
Hi! My name is Keely—nice to meet you.
Anthony. Nice to meet you.

How does it feel to be back here and reunited with everyone?
It goes—sorry—eating a potato chip.

[laughs]
It’s always—I mean, it’s being with family. There are families that are dysfunctional and you don’t want to be around and then there’s family like this.

Yeah. Unfortunately Rent’s closing in September after… eleven great years.
Twelve and a half.

Twelve and a half!?
Almost. Over twelve, yes.

Wow. Yeah, it’s unbelievable. But all good things come to an end—but you came back to the show recently.
Yes, Adam Pascal and I came back last summer for ten weeks and it was really a great experience. And then the producers asked us to do a tour next year and [coming back to Broadway] went so well, it was so much fun, so we’re going to do that next year.

And now you’re back in New York again. At the Tonys once more!
Yeah! We did not this exact routine we’re doing tonight but very close to it—we started with “La Vie Boheme” and then went into… “Seasons”, I think it was, or maybe… we must have. Or maybe we started with “Seasons” and went into “La Vie Boheme”—I don’t remember, back in the day in ’96!

[laughs]
But it’s crazy.

And I guess it’s framing the Broadway run with the two Tony performances.
Yeah. Yeah, it’s pretty crazy. Five thousand performances. Crazy.

So what are you working on right now?
I’m doing a play at second stage called Some Americans Abroad. We start previews in eleven days and then we run through the summer.

Oh, I’m going to see that—so I will see you in that!
And then I’m developing a one-man show. I wrote a book a couple years ago—

Without You?
Yeah, Without You. I’m doing a show from it. It’s going to be in Pittsburgh, with this really great theatre that I’ve worked with a couple times, this fall. And then Adam Pascal and I are going on the road for eight months for the tour. And hopefully after that then I’ll get to do my show here somewhere.

Right. That would be great—I’m sure there are a lot of fans of yours who would be thrilled to be able to see it as a one-man show.
I hope so. I hope so! I mean, I’d like to do something. Yeah.

Great! Thanks so much!
It was great talking to you!

Wilson Jermaine Heredia
Hi, my name is Keely. Nice to meet you.
Wilson Jermaine Heredia.

So how’s it—you know, being back with everybody here—coming full circle, almost?
Well, it’s almost bittersweet considering this is the last time I think we’re really going to be together on a stage. I mean, I felt that when we thought that was going to be the same way with Rent 10, but of course I never expected to be asked to be at the Tony Awards tonight. So it’s bittersweet but it’s also fun. It’s always a party with all of us! It’s always a party.

Right. And the show’s history is so long and has so many chapters at this point.
It has many many chapters.

[laughs] So I’m sure it’s—have you been in New York or have you been elsewhere?
Yes, I’ve been—I was in Los Angeles about two weeks ago. I was shooting this film called Iron Badge, which was shot completely in P.O.V., and for once I’m a character that doesn’t die, which is actually pretty nice! But I live in New York City now and funnily enough I actually live in the heights!

No way! And did you see the musical [In the Heights]!?
Of course I saw the musical! Yes! It’s funny, I lived in the heights and then I saw the musical, and I was like, “Wow, I know that person, I know that person, I know that person…” So yeah!

Did you like the musical?
I loved the musical!

Isn’t it great?
I would love to be in it!

[laughs] I interviewed Karen Olivo recently, who plays Vanessa, and—
Karen Olivo, yes, she’s actually a friend of ours.

Yeah. She was great. The show is just fantastic.
And Mandy Gonzalez [who plays Nina in the show] as well was also a friend of mine—actually, we were in Eli’s Comin’ together as well. Yeah, actually, I was surprised when I saw them. I was like, “Wow! My friends are in a musical that I love! Of—”

“My friends are in a musical about the neighborhood that I live in!”
Yeah, the neighborhood that I live in, that I come from!

Yeah! [laughs] So you’re rooting for them tonight, then, I’m sure.
Yeah. I’m definitely going to be rooting for In the Heights!

[laughs] Thank you so much! It was so great to talk to you.
Thank you very much.

Daphne Rubin-Vega
Hi Daphne, my name is Keely—it’s nice to meet you!
Hi Keely. How are you?

I’m good—first of all I wanted to say that I’m a fan of yours through Rent but also through your music as well.
Oh, thank you!

So I wanted to ask—what’s it like being back here with, you know, everybody?
It’s very moving and wonderful. I mean… it’s like learning to ride a bike—you know, you get a little wobbly but—then you see your friends and you recognize all the history that you share. It’s just very moving.

And now that you’re back it’s like Rent has come full circle.
Yeah. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s bigger than us! You know, this makes me realize how very lucky we’ve been.

Yeah. And you’ve been working a lot on your music as well.
Yeah! I’ve got Redemption Songs.

Yeah! I saw you perform at Joe’s Pub back in October!
Yeah!

You perform there a lot.
I love Joe’s Pub and the Cutting Room. It’s like the neighborhood place, close to home. The sound system is great, and I just love the fact that it’s part of the Public Theatre. It’s very nice. It feels very close to home.

Are you working on new material at the moment?
I’m working on a Dan Zanes album called Nueva York and I think it’s coming out now or—now!

[laughs]
It’s coming out very soon. It should be out now.

Right. And you now have a son, so—
Yeah, I have a son. So a lot of things that—well, sometimes there are things that I know that he will enjoy and they thrill me to participate in something like—you know, I’m a big huge fan of Dan Zanes and so it’s good to work on this album with music in Spanish. So I get to, you know, flex the Latino muscle, and the music muscle… work with good friends.

And you’ve been involved in a couple of film projects.
Well, I was in Sex and the City, so that’s out now. I’m working, actually, on a film called Rachel Getting Married. It’s Jonathan Demme’s next film. So those are the things I’ve got sort of up the pipe.

Any future plans for theatre?
Um, those are always in the works! Those are always in the works. We’ll see what comes out of that.

We’ll see what happens?
Yep.

Thanks so much for talking to me; it was great to meet you!
You’re welcome. A pleasure! Take care.

Adam Pascal

Hi, nice to meet you; my name is Keely.
Nice to meet you.

How does it feel being back here with everybody…?
Oh, it’s great. I haven’t seen a lot of these people in a really long time, so it’s a wonderful chance to get back and hang with old friends.

And the Tony performances are in a way kind of framing Rent's Broadway run. But it’s been a good run—it’s been twelve and a half years.
Yeah, it’s been a great run. And you know, everything closes at some point, so we’re thrilled that it went so far.

And you were recently back in Rent.
Over last summer, yeah.

So how was coming back?
It was different because when we first did the show there was a lot of emotional baggage that we were all carrying, going through Jonathan [Larson] dying and all that stuff, so doing the actual performance of the show wasn’t always that much fun because of that. But this time around all of that stuff was gone so it was just really about enjoying the performance and getting the opportunity to perform it without all of the offstage stuff.

Right. And you have new experiences on which to draw as well, I’m sure.
Right, exactly.

What else have you been working on?
I have a new record out. It’s called Blinding Light and the name of the band is Me and Larry, and it’s available at meandlarry.com, and you can buy a download or you can buy the CD.

Thanks so much for talking!
It was a pleasure! Great to meet you!

Lily Tomlin
What shows are you really excited about?
Well, I don’t live here, so I saw Xanadu yesterday and it was really, really fun and playful and really delightful, and that’s who I’m introducing tonight. And I saw South Pacific, which was a beautiful, magnificent musical. And the last time I was here I saw Sunday in the Park [with George], which I died over. I cried so much at the end; it was so moving. And then I saw The 39 Steps, which was hilariously wonderful and inventive, and I saw August: Osage County twice—I saw a matinee and an evening performance so I could see both actresses. And that was pretty spectacular. Really, really good. There’s a lot of good things. I don’t know what else I’m going to see the rest of the week. I’m going to try to see as much as I can.

Katie Homes is coming to Broadway in an Arthur Miller play. Any advice, being a Broadway vet?
Just enjoy the hell out of the city, because when you’re on Broadway, especially if it’s a hit—I hope it’s a hit, Katie—it’s like a small town. You know? When you’re on Broadway and you’re in a hit everybody yells to you and waves to you and it’s just like living in Pleasantville, Ohio, or someplace like that! [laughs]

And you worked with Lindsay Lohan some time ago—
Oh, I sure did. In Prairie Home Companion.

Have you spoken to her since then?
Um... No.

[everybody laughs]
I haven’t. I mean, when we’re discoing and hanging out and stuff we don’t talk.

[everybody laughs] What’s the most awkward thing you’ve ever done onstage? Have you ever been naked onstage or something like that?
No. I haven’t.

Well, it’s about time! You look great!
Well, it certainly is!

[everybody laughs]
I’ll have to do a show about a massage parlor.

There was a movie about one, wasn’t there?
Was there? Probably so. Okay.

Is it nice to be back in New York around theatre again?
Oh, yes. It’s always great to be back in New York. Especially to be here for an event and see everybody, and lots of old friends and stuff.

Do you ever listen to Garrison Keillor’s radio show?
Sure I do! I listened to it before! Yeah, I always loved it, and you know what, it’s more hilarious in person because of Garrison’s dour face, you know? His face is turned down like a bulldog, it never changes, and so when you see all those antics and stuff and no matter what Garrison’s standing there with his face like that—and of course you see the sound effects live and that’s amusing. Anyway, I love it. It’s great. And you know my friend Allison Janney used to be the girl on Garrison Keillor’s show and now she’s coming back to Broadway in my role in 9 to 5! For which Dolly [Parton]’s doing the music! So I’m just getting a big retrospective and a future projection about Broadway theatre.

[laughter] Do you have any input about that? About 9 to 5?
Do I have any input about 9 to 5? No. I mean, I—no. I’m just hoping it’ll be a really big hit for Dolly and for Allison and everybody else who’s in it. And Pat Resnick, who’s done the script. She was one of the scriptwriters on the movie. So that’s coming pretty soon. I mean, it’s opening in L.A. in September and then coming here in November or something.

Apparently Lindsay has found love with Samantha Ronson. I don’t know if you’re familiar with that.
[taken aback] Oh! I’m not familiar, I’m just—you know.

She seems to be doing very well—she’s recovered, she’s getting back in the game, and she has a girlfriend—so any well wishes for your former costar?
Well, if they decide to get married, I hope they’ll think very carefully about the wardrobe.

[everybody laughs]
Thanks so much!

Thus ends our coverage of the Tony Awards pre-show gift lounge. Stay tuned for our red carpet coverage of the event!