“The fact that Shen was left off the list isn’t just baffling, it’s frustrating, especially for those of us paying attention to the quiet brilliance happening off the mega-budget Broadway radar.”

“I was especially curious about the Best Direction categories. These are the folks shaping the tone, the energy, the whole vibe of a show — and while some names were buzzy locks, others definitely made me pause mid-scroll.”

“The Tony Awards have rightfully honored teachers, nonprofit leaders, and even…politicians. Surely there’s room for a journalist or two—especially when their work shapes how history will remember this moment in theatre.”

“This year’s acting categories for musicals? Let’s just say I had a few “Yes!!” moments, a few surprises, and one where I wanted to punch a wall. Let’s break it down.”

“Here are my predictions for some of the categories for who’ll be called tomorrow morning—and a shoutout in each category to someone who should be in the mix, even if they’re not on voters’ radar.”

“The Tonys are supposed to be for all of us. But when the entry fee is $595, it stops feeling like a shared celebration and starts feeling like an exclusive club.”

“Here are some of the key updates I'd like to see the Tony Awards make to keep this storied tradition as inclusive, forward-thinking, and impactful as the art form it celebrates.”

“While I think it is fine to make political statements during awards acceptance speeches, I do feel there is a certain way they should be done and at specific moments. Doing it while honoring an educator is not the right time.'“

When asked why he does an ASL performance, Young  responds  that it is about “actually doing  theater for the deaf rather than simply making theater accessible to the deaf.” His advocacy for the deaf and hard of hearing just goes to show that theatre truly is for everyone.

“The Tonys this year did not disappoint. We had some memorable moments, surprising wins, and water cooler talking points to last the next few months. Here are some of the takeaways I had from last night’s festivities.’

“With the “quasi-Tonys” coming later on this fall, I thought it would be a good time to start a new series of columns where we take a look back at some past ceremonies and rethink how the awards were handed out. Let’s a take a look at the 2017 awards.”