Speeches from Cynthia Nixon and Others at the Tony Awards

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Here are edited excerpts from some of the acceptance speeches at the Tony Awards on Sunday night. Winners paid tribute to parents, friends and educators. A couple made political points.

Cynthia Nixon, featured actress, play, “The Little Foxes”

“It is a privilege to appear in Lillian Hellman’s eerily prescient play, at this specific moment in history. Eighty years ago, she wrote, ‘There are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it, and other people who just stand around and watch them do it.’ My love, my gratitude and my undying respect go out to all the people in 2017 who are refusing to just stand and watch them do it. Thank you.”

Christopher Ashley, direction, musical, “Come From Away”

“Most of all I’d like to accept this on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and all of the first responders and their families in New York on 9/11. The people who gave their lives and the people who extended their hearts and their homes and were generous and kind at the very worst moments. To all of you, thank you, and thank you.”

Kevin Kline, leading actor, play, “Present Laughter”

“I want to thank everybody. We don’t do this alone, you know? It’s a group effort and it’s a wonderful group that I’m privileged to be working with. And gee, I guess I should thank my mentors: Joseph Papp, John Houseman, Margot Harley and Harold Guskin. And I would like to thank a number of organizations without whom probably half of the people in this room would not be here. And that would be the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Thank you.”

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Michael Aronov, winner for featured actor, play, “Oslo”

“My aunt and uncle and their two kids in New Jersey opened their hearts and home to me about 20 years ago when I first moved to New York to try to be an actor. They took me in and treated me like I was their son. I would have about five sets of keys in my bag at all times because when I missed the bus from doing shows in the city I had friends, rare and remarkable ones, that kept their doors open to me at any hour of the night. I finally was able to save up a couple of dollars and move into the city, a tiny, tiny studio apartment where if you walked in too fast you’d fly out the window. My mom and dad didn’t know that I was living off of pasta and cheese and rice pudding to be a frugal actor, because it would break their hearts and they’d try to turn the world upside down to help me be O.K. Because when I hurt they hurt more. and when I smile and soar they’re able to breathe. Thanks to Bart and J.T., this is the biggest honor of my life — but mainly because my mom and dad are here with me tonight. Solomon and Anna Aronov, you’ve always had my back more than anybody else in the world and you love me and Greg more than you love yourselves. My victories mean nothing to me unless I’m sharing them with you. Thank you.”

Gavin Creel, featured actor, musical, “Hello, Dolly!”

“I want to dedicate this, oh my goodness, to the musical theater department at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance. My education there as a young person changed my life forever. My professors, my classmates: They instilled in me an appreciation for what it is to be an artist and what it is to be lucky to be part of this incredible community. If you’re out there and you have money, and I know a lot of you in this room have a lot of it, start a scholarship. Change someone’s life the way that Art and Marty Harron changed mine.”

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