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Video: Broadway's Rising Stars Shine at the 2023 Theatre World Awards
May 17, 2024
June 5 was a big night for Broadway's rising stars. That's because twelve fresh faces were honored for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production at the 77th Annual Theatre World Awards. In this video, we're taking you inside the big night!
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0:00
Hello, hello, hello
0:01
My name is Samantha Dawn Tutsilo, and this is my amazing co-host Jason A. Coombs
0:06
And we're here for Broadway World at the 77th Annual Theater World Awards
0:11
At the Circle in the Square Theater, celebrating all these amazing Broadway debuts
0:17
How you both feeling tonight? Really good and really grateful for this opportunity to be recognized
0:24
for what's just been a really wild year. And I never, ever would have thought
0:30
that somebody would give me like an actual award for, you know, just considering all of
0:36
considering my unique position at the show. It's really special to get recognized in this way
0:40
It's so well deserved. Samantha and I adore you and are so proud of you
0:45
We go way back to Jekyll and Hyde at FTT. Connecticut proud
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Congratulations on your major honor tonight. Outstanding swing. How do you feel
0:55
I feel over the moon. I attended the Theater World Awards years ago
0:59
as just like a fan and an observer, taking in the like amazingness that is this night
1:04
And so when I was told that I was receiving this honor, I was like, are you kidding
1:08
Just full circle, completely full circle. It's really cool. Feels like there's a line in the Kite Runner
1:14
that feels like he's shuffling around in a dream. And that, I just feel like I'm shuffling around in a dream
1:19
I can't believe this. Congratulations on all of your success with Top Dog
1:23
and for your Tony nominee and for making your Broadway debut. What was the most thrilling part
1:28
about being on Broadway for you? Being back on the stage. My training is on the stage
1:38
I gravitated towards theater because there's that feeling, that rush that you get when you step out on the stage
1:44
and when you feel those lights. And so it was great to be back in front of those lights
1:49
and going on that dangerous ride, especially in a project that meant so much to me
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What was so special to you about Top Dog Underdog? It has soul
1:58
And I found it at a time when I really needed something that had some soul that I could pour my soul into
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And it was just really a marriage of the best language, the best artists, myself, Kenny, Corey
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Susan Lori Parks and that whole team. It was just really, really special
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And as much as the story needed to be told, I needed to feel something at the time
2:25
So I couldn't say no. Oh my gosh, I am so elated right now
2:29
I can't believe I'm standing right here. Yeah, I'm speechless. I don't know what I'm gonna say when I get up there
2:35
I'm just gonna, I don't know, just go blah, blah, blah. That's acceptable
2:40
I think it's great, thank you. I mean, what an amazing show to be making your Broadway debut in
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It must be so much fun every night. What's your favorite part about Chuck's? That's a hard question, but let's see
2:52
The people, the people in the show, the people that work backstage with us
2:56
Cobb County has become a real community and it's just filled with a bunch of weirdos
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like really hilarious human beings that are not normal and very strange
3:09
and are constantly trying to make each other laugh, give each other support
3:13
It's kind of what makes every, just it puts the icing on the cake, honestly
3:17
Yeah, that and I think the laughter from the audience and the wonderful thing about my job in this show
3:25
I get to not only watch these incredible performers on the stage, like this one right here
3:32
but I also get to watch the audience and see how they're taking in the story and I think that's also one of my favorite things
3:37
Congratulations on all your success. Thanks, man, I can't believe, I never get to go to these fancy events
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so this is pretty wild, thank you. Yeah. What was your favorite part about being in Almost Famous
3:47
The three year experience of getting to build that show with that cast was absolutely unbelievable
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I learned so much and I will be forever changed by those people in that room. Congratulations! Thanks
4:02
How are you feeling? I feel great, I'm super excited and it's really unexpected and really lovely
4:06
and I'm excited to celebrate the New York theater season. Fun, and your show is closed now
4:12
so you can really sit in it and enjoy it and get the party going. Yeah, exactly, I was just at dinner with the entire cast
4:18
and they're all coming tonight, which is really lovely. I love that
4:22
And yeah, it's exciting. Congratulations! Thank you, thank you very much. I'm very grateful and delighted to be honored
4:30
and recognized by, I mean, it's one of the coolest things ever to receive a Theater World Award
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and over 77 years, that's what our winners have said, it's like, you know what, I remember my Theater World Award
4:45
and it's like one of my favorite little babies, so. I love that. So, thinking back to when you were younger
4:49
and you saw your first show, do you remember which one inspired you to pursue acting
4:53
Miss Saigon. And what was it about Miss Saigon that really inspired you? I saw a guy playing John who was a person of color
5:00
and I kind of saw my seat at the table and it started everything
5:05
it started my whole kind of love for it. So I then moved to London and trained and did all that
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and then I actually did Miss Saigon, which is quite a cute full circle moment
5:15
Yeah, it was Miss Saigon. Oh my God. And still, like that overture, I'm like, ooh
5:19
Oh, gives you chills, right? Yeah. Why do you like and love existing in the world of theater
5:26
I mean, I think theater is so important. Yeah, you get to have that job and transport people
5:32
on a journey that you get to show and tell it and give your take on it
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and I think it's just, it's an amazing feeling to have every night when I get to become a character
5:45
for two and a half hours and not think about what's happening in my life
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and just show people what I can become. Why do you love being a part of the theater world
5:55
I mean, it hasn't been until, I really have to say, like, I don't know, the world of theater
6:03
has always been a place where I found people that didn't necessarily see what I lack
6:09
They saw what I brought to the table and what I bring to a production or two
6:13
and being in that world where there's so much acceptance in a world where there's so much not acceptance
6:21
like, it's so important right now
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