The Tony Awards take place Sunday, June 11, as the strike by the Writers Guild of America continues. The union said it would not picket the show after the show’s producers agreed to alter the event to conform to the WGA’s requests. For example, the show won’t be using its previously written script — in fact, it won’t have a script at all, due to the strike. But Tony nominee Sara Bareilles is just happy that it’s taking place at all.
Sara, nominated for her role in the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods, tells ABC Audio that the WGA’s decision is “a huge win for our community,” because the Tony Awards are essentially a big commercial for what Broadway has to offer.
“The pandemic really gutted our industry … it just feels like we’re barely getting our legs beneath us here,” she adds. “And, for better or for worse, the Tonys are an essential part of broadcasting this industry, and the shows that are happening, and what there is to come consume, to our viewership across the nation and beyond.”
Sara says she’s grateful the show will go on and says she “stands in total solidarity” with WGA.
“I’m thrilled there won’t be a script,” she adds. “I mean, we’ll see how it goes, but it feels like, ‘Thank God it happened.'”
Sara’s nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Her good friend Josh Groban is nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for Sweeney Todd. Another singer who might win a Tony on Sunday is Mariah Carey: Some Like It Hot, a show she produced, is up for Best Musical.
The Tony Awards air live on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
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