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Video: Annaleigh Ashford is Gobsmacked to Star in Her (Other) Favorite Sondheim Show
May 17, 2024
In this video, watch as Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford chats more about coming home to Broadway in Sweeney Todd, why this role was so important to her, and so much more.
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0:00
Here we are again. Hi
0:12
It's Tony Day. Oh, it's wild. It's so good to see you. It's always a pleasure to see you
0:16
You've been pinned again. I've been pinned. You know what? This is the thing that made me cry
0:20
And I'm going to cry. It's so good to see you. It's so sweet to see all these like old, you know, friendly faces, like old friends
0:27
It's really, this is one of those days that you're reminded how special this community
0:31
is, you know? I mean, you work on TV and film, but there's nothing like the theater community, right
0:35
You know, one year at the Drama Leagues, I remember Audra McDonald winning
0:39
And she said she'd just come back from doing quite a bit of TV. And she was like, it's so nice to be back home
0:44
And there's such a lovely feeling of that. Now, I'm not comparing myself to Audra
0:48
It's Audra. She's the queen. But how does it feel to be home again at the Lunt with Sweeney Todd opposite Josh Groban
0:56
You know, I feel like it's so, I feel it's such an honor to be a part of this rebuilding
1:03
of the American theater. You know, we don't remind ourselves enough that the American theater was closed down
1:09
the longest and the most and the hardest. This community was hit so hard by COVID
1:13
And this season really feels like a celebration and a rebuilding of the theater
1:17
And I'm so honored to be a part of it. And I'm happy that the lights are on
1:21
And being back in Sweeney with Josh. It's wild. I'm so honored to be back on Broadway after six and a half years
1:30
And the last one was a beautiful Stephen Sondheim piece. My other favorite Sondheim show
1:35
And to be in the other favorite Sondheim show is kind of extraordinary
1:39
I just think of Steve every day. And I say thank you to him. And thank you to Angela Lansbury
1:44
I'm just kind of gobsmacked. I don't have words today. No, can I ask Josh the same thing
1:50
What's it like living in the world of Stephen Sondheim? A treat
1:55
And a daily puzzle. Every day I go, okay, let's go do some puzzles. Fabulous
2:01
Take me back to the youngest version of you. That first play you did in kindergarten or in your backyard or in your basement
2:06
And what would the older you say to your younger self now
2:10
I did a production of Ruthless the Musical at the Theater on Broadway
2:14
Which is the gay theater of Denver. My grandmother was played by a very fabulous drag queen
2:19
Which is very fitting for my future career. My kinky boots future was right ahead of me
2:26
I think that my self now would tell that little girl self
2:32
Just keep having that childlike play. I just have always wanted to be a storyteller since I was a little person
2:39
And I'm so grateful I get to do it for a living now
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