Sydney Lucas, 11, is this year's youngest Tony nominee, receiving recognition (Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical) for her performance as Small Alison in Fun Home — the most nominated musical of the season alongside An American in Paris.
When her name was announced, "[I started] screaming, crying, slash, 'Oh my Gosh!' And, oh my gosh, Judy [Kuhn], Emily [Skeggs] and Ruthie Ann [Miles] from The King and I are also nominated, and they're my very good friends, and I'm so happy for them."
Geneva Carr, who made her Broadway debut this season, reprising her role in the critically acclaimed new play Hand to God, was brought to tears by the accolade.
The actress, who was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, said through tears, "I can't believe it. [I'm] so proud to be in that company, my God. My first Tony [nomination]. This is my debut… I'm just so happy… I can't believe it. You know, I've been acting for 20 years and I've done everything, and I make a great living, but something like this, it's like a club you think you're never going to be in. My debut. I'm not carrying a spear, I'm telling an amazing story, I'm a lead in a play and then to be nominated with some of the best actresses in the world."
And, although it wasn't Tony Yazbeck's Broadway debut, his role in On the Town was a big breakout, earning him a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.
He said, "I just started weeping. At first I didn't even believe it. It's kind of surreal. This experience for me has sort of been something I've thought about in my life since I was four years old, but I never thought perhaps it had to happen or I never shot for it you know — it's an acknowledgment, I just wanted to do good work."
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