Video: Maleah Joi Moon on Her Tony Nomination- 'What Is Going On?!'

What a whirlwind you've been on with this show, right

Oh, Richie. I mean, we started, I did my first introduction to Hell's Kitchen in 2022, down at the, during

a development at the Public Theater. And within the first, like, three days, I was like, I need to be a part of this for

as long as they'll have me. And so to be taking it here and to be at this Tony present, I mean, what is going on

What is going on? I'm so happy to be here. Okay, so you've been pinned, you got a Tony pin on, you're a Tony nominee

What does this nomination mean to you? I mean, all anybody wants is to be recognized, I think, for their work

And you know, I've tried my best to imbue as much of myself and my real life experiences

into Allie. So to know that it's being received in such a beautiful way is like, is insane

And it makes me so happy. Because you know, you've done some nice things, but this is very special, because you wanted

this from the very beginning to be a part of this. What's made this piece so special for you

The authenticity of it all. I mean, I grew up on traditional musical theater between whether it was Once on this Island

or Carousel, but to be doing something that's kind of a jukebox, but not a jukebox and like

involved with this superstar woman who is authoring a beautiful future for everybody

who lays their hand on this project. I mean, it's a dream come true

And I can't believe but I'm also so happy for the confirmation that we are here and

that we're telling the story in a way that's touching people. You know, many people are coming to the theater for the very first time

Yes. And you see that in your audience. And the second the lights go down, or you must hear it before the lights even go down in the theater

What that means to you, just introducing a whole new audience to the theater

So coming out of the stage door a lot of times, I'll talk to people and they'll be like, this

was my first Broadway show. And it makes me so happy that people who get people who come to the show get to see themselves

reflected in art. I think that's like the most important thing that you can the gift that you give as an

artist to help people see themselves in the in the media that they intake

And I mean, the the authenticity of it all is just like, it's amazing

And I'm so I'm so happy that we're imbuing real truth into the story