And the Winner Is… Tony Nominees in Their Own Words (Midday on WNYC)

Musicians from the Tony-nominated Broadway musical “The Band’s Visit” perform live in studio and speak with guest host and creator, three-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award-winner David Yazbek. “The Band’s Visit” tells the story of an Egyptian Police Band that arrives in Israel to play a concert, but ends up in a remote village in the middle of the desert. Over the course of the evening, the band gets to know the locals and their lives connect in unexpected ways. "The Band's Visit" received 11 Tony nominations. 

This segment is guest hosted by David Yazbek and originally aired on May 7, 2018.

Disney's "Frozen" broke records at the box office for highest-grossing animated film. Five years later, it became a Broadway musical. Tony and Olivier Award-winning director Michael Grandage discusses creating and directing the hit "Frozen"  on Broadway. He also talks about returning to London for West End revivals of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmore and John Logan’s Red. "Frozen" received three Tony nominations. 

This segment is guest hosted by Jim O'Grady and originally aired on March 20, 2018.

Mark Rylance and Claire Van Kampen discuss the Shakespeare’s Globe production of "Farinelli and the King, a new play by written and scored by Van Kampen. King Philippe V of Spain (Rylance), plagued by insomnia, lies awake in his chamber. The Queen, desperate for a cure, hears of Farinelli, a castrato with a voice so divine it has the power to captivate all who hear it. “Farinelli and the King” received 5 Tony nominations.

This segment was guest hosted by Martha Plimpton and originally aired on January 26, 2018.

Harry Hadden-Paton and Lauren Ambrose talk about starring in the Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" at Lincoln Center Theater. It tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” "My Fair Lady" received 10 Tony nominations. 

This segment is guest hosted by Jonathan Capehart and originally aired on May 11, 2018.

We're taking a look at the new Lincoln Center production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I” with star Kelli O’Hara! The show was recently nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical; Sher was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical. The show is running at The Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Click here to check out all of our conversations will 2015 Tony nominees!

Tony winner Michael Cerveris, 3-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn, and Beth Malone talk about “Fun Home,” the musical based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel of the same name. “Fun Home” introduces us to Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of her uniquely dysfunctional family. The play was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, and received the OBIE. It was recently nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Now playing at the Circle in the Square Theater.

The Elephant Man, based on the real life of Joseph Merrick, is the story of a 19th-century British man who became a star of the traveling freak show circuit. When the renowned Dr. Treves takes Merrick under his care, he is astonished by the man’s brilliant intelligence, unshakable faith and resounding desire for love and understanding. Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola, stars of The Elephant Man on Broadway.

Actors Kristin Chenoweth, Peter Gallagher, and director Scott Ellis, discuss the new Broadway production of “On the Twentieth Century.” The Twentieth Century, a luxury coach travelling from Chicago to New York City, brings together bankrupt theater producer Oscar Jaffee (Gallagher) and Hollywood starlet Lily Garland (Chenoweth), who Jaffee tries to cajole into playing the lead in his new, non-existent epic drama. 

In "Hand to God," Jason is a shy, inquisitive student who finds an outlet for his burgeoning creativity at the Christian Puppet Ministry in the devoutly religious small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door and—most especially—his mother are thrown into further upheaval when Jason’s hand puppet, Tyrone—once soft-spoken—takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. Playwright Robert Askins and Steven Boyer (Jason) will discuss the play... along with Tyrone! 

Ben Miles, Nathaniel Parker, and Lydia Leonard talk about their roles in “Wolf Hall: Parts 1 & 2.” Adapted from Hilary Mantel’s Man Booker Prize winning novels, Wolf Hall is based on the deceit, betrayal, and intrigue of the court of Henry VIII. The production is headed by Ben Miles as Thomas Cromwell, Lydia Leonard as Anne Boleyn, and Nathaniel Parker as King Henry VIII, all under the direction of Olivier Award nominee Jeremy Herrin.