Hangin' with the Acting Nominees for the 2018 Drama Desk Awards!

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World

The 63rd Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday evening, June 3rd at Town Hall

once again hosted by Michael Urie. And we're here at Friedman's to meet some of this year's nominees

It's a strange piece in that it's such an ensemble, and yet many people I don't wind up seeing, and I see them in the hall

I see them at the curtain call. So my main scene partners are Lee Pace and Nathan Stewart Jarrett and Susan Brown

So it's about that. It's the extraordinary material that is always challenging and thrilling

It's sort of like living in a dream. It sounds like a cliche, but I'm seeing all of my favorite actors all over

my favorite directors and creative people on and off Broadway. It's like this, it's thoroughly amazing

I just got to talk to Laurie Metcalf and Nathan Lane. Like, I was going to say 12-year-old me is freaking out

But honestly, you know, 25-year-old me is freaking out. This is great. This is like an amazing time

And, you know, when you believe in something so wholeheartedly, to have it recognized by the drama desks is just icing on the cake

So I'm thrilled to be here. Oh, Richie, I'm so thrilled. Honestly, this has been, the show is such a gift

And all of this, like the fact that people are loving it, it just means so much to me and to our company

I'm so thrilled. How cool is this to be a married couple and be nominated

I know. Yeah, you should have seen us the day the nominations came out

We just kind of kept looking at each other going, shut up. No, shut up

And it's like, no, it's really happening. I did a little bit more shutting up. Yeah, it was like, no, I'm going to check

Look online again. Like, really? Whose nomination came first? Well, I found out about mine first

He was in the shower. She goes in and she says, guess who got nominated for a drama desk

I was like, congratulations, honey. That's really great. Well deserved. You did a great job on the show

And she was like, guess who else did? And I was like, who? This is what the drama desk does

They do Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway. They throw it all into a pot and they look at the very best of what you all do

Yeah, I mean, that's incredible. I love that. I mean, this has always been a dream to do

this I an actor with a disability I lost my leg to cancer and always wanted to do this and tap dancing come back and sing and act and just to be recognized as something really cool And to do that here in New York in a show like Baster Jones was incredible

Here we are, the drama desks. 11 years on, I was here 11 years ago

You were. Yeah, and I won this category 11 years ago. Let's see whether this can happen the second time, who knows

Also kind of amazing that Karen Smith is being represented in this room full of incredible actors

And I'm here playing the dumbest person you've ever met. You've been nominated

I know, for an award. God love her. She'd be so excited. The drama desk I have kind of an affection for

because when I did How I Learned to Drive, it was one of the awards I was lucky enough to actually win

It was my first experience of anything like this, when I did that, in the awards season, all that

So I have an affection and gratitude for this particular award. You know, I wrote this play deeply personal

and I wanted it to be universal and touch so many people. And so the reception has been overwhelming and also validating

and exciting for, like, what I'm trying to do as a writer

in writing African comedy. And, like, really, I'm driving in my own lane on that highway

So it's really exciting to be able to do that. that so many people have taken to, eh

Also, yeah, and I just have never experienced anything like this, the way you guys do this over here

I mean, we don't have anything like a whole season of awards

and we don't really do that, and it's just interesting the way you guys do it, you know

You don't do things in halves, I'll tell you that much. It's full on

We do it big here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's partly why I like it. You were so sensational in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

You have a two-show day today, don't you? after this, I have to go and do a warm-up

I have to be in Downward Dog and do some yoga. So, yeah. So is all of this all surreal for you

It's all pretty incredible. It's my first time being in America. And all these awards things are very intense

But I'm enjoying it. I'm just trying to take it on the chin and, you know. I was talking to all the Brits

They don't have this over there, so they're so excited. I mean, all the Angels in America cast in Harry Potter

they have two shows like you do, but these double performances. And they're like, we don't do it over there

Broadway people, you do it big here. We cuckoo here on Broadway We are I mean you think about it sometimes and it insane but it like I know people like Broadway people You know what I mean But everybody actors eight shows a week it a little bit of insanity but you know we a little bit insane I guess

Oh, it's fantastic. I don't do a lot of plays. This play is in the way basement

It's like a 60-seat theater, like a lot of feet underground. So the fact that this sort of little theater got this sort of recognition

It's fantastic. You know what? I was actually at the gym with my trainer, and I put my phone in my locker

I went to my locker, and there was a bunch of stuff. So I assumed, oh, that's awesome

Like, I'm so excited for Gretchen and Mean Girls. And I immediately went to go see if Kate was also nominated, and I was so excited

I didn't even think to look at the – And then I eventually scrolled up to look at everyone else

I was so surprised and shocked and so honored that Mui K-pop was a part of it

I think that's what's so cool about the Drama Desk is it's off-Broadway and on-Broadway

And it's so fun to be in this room celebrating all of New York theater. And I can't believe that I get to be part of it in any capacity

What does this all mean to you? It's all very overwhelming, for sure

But it's, I mean, this is so cliche, but it's such an honor to be nominated and to be recognized for a role

that I'm just having fun doing. And it's really, I'm bringing so much of myself to the role

that I was just a party, and then all of a sudden you get recognized by all these amazing organizations

And it's mind-blowing. That was such a beautiful show, Prince of Broadway

What did you enjoy the most about working on that? Oh, working with the creative team and the cast

Just the most delightful, kind, gracious people. Hal Prince, I don't know when I'll be able to work with him again

I'd love to. But then Susan Stroman, Jason Robert Brown. Just the people, you know, it really was wonderful to come to work every day and feel like you were part of something special

Well, honestly, I mean, I was just saying that I never even thought about it

I didn't know that I could win it. I didn't know that this was a thing that I could win

So it was just a perfect scenario where I was at home one morning and my agent called me

He was like, you won this thing for these three things. And I was like, oh, great

It's wonderful to get recognized, to have all of us recognized in a category that's kind of limited and really dense with good people, you know

It's an honor. Yeah it been seven years for me and Kiara and we just excited that more and more people get to see it And especially for these two ladies to take two of the five spots in that category we very happy this is my first time working on the show um and uh it been an uh an emotional roller coaster

um but all for the best a story that really is important that needs to be heard so yeah

what's award season like for you exhausting um but fun it's amazingly positive and everyone's

very friendly and uh it's a bit surreal but it's amazing it's amazing well so i actually

didn't realize that the drama desks had a solo show category so i was actually at disney world

with my husband and we had just waited two hours on that avatar ride and it was an amazing ride and

we got off the ride and i had a million texts which immediately you go what's wrong um and i

started looking i couldn't believe it i went i literally was like no that can't be right there's

no solo show. And I was so excited. And we were already at Disneyland celebrating

So what could be better? I've been away from Broadway for about a year and a half

So to come back in a role like this and be celebrated by a community that I love so much

it's great. It's a nice little reunion too because I get to see all my friends nominating in other categories that I don't get to see them

perform in. So I get to celebrate them as well. There was not one moment

of doing this play where I had to be there. Everything I got to do and get to do what I love to do

and in this role, in this production, with these people, it's kind of the most..

Like, it's all there really is in life. I have no words, because you know what

I'm making my Broadway debut, and now I'm nominated for a drama desk. What's happening in my life? What is life

I don't understand it, but I'm loving every second of it and so grateful for all of it. And I'm grateful to be here representing Frozen

and that's really awesome. to be here kind of representing, because I think we've been nominated for something like seven awards here

so to be here representing my family, which is what they are

I'm just thrilled, and it's just my favorite play, my favorite part

I hope I get to do it again. Best Ensemble Award, and you've already won! Yay

Off the bat, winners. I love that. I'm so excited. We're so grateful

I'm so excited. It's fantastic. Woo-hoo! Go Ghana! Thank you, Drama Desk

We're thrilled. We're delighted to be recognized. Yay! We love Jocelyn. Yes