Sting and Shaggy, John Leguizamo tout live theater ahead at Tony's

(8 Jun 2026) CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: SHOT 6 BELOW CONTAINS PROFANITY. ASSOCIATED PRESS New York – 7 June 2026 1. SOUNDBITE (English) Shaggy and Sting, recording artists: Sting: “Well, I'm gonna present the Best Revival of a Musical (award). And of course, 'The Last Ship' is a revival of the musical. We don't qualify yet, but it seems appropriate to do that. So, I'm very happy to do it. I'm not sure who's gonna win, but we're bringing 'The Last Ship' back to the Royal Opera House – not the Royal Opera House – the Metropolitan Opera House on Tuesday for nine shows. Me and Shaggy are in it. We want people to come and enjoy it.” Reporter: “The Ferrymen, The Lottery Ferrymen. Let’s keep it real, right?” Shaggy: “I got a lot of things going on. I’m Jamaican, man, it’s a lot of jobs, alright? Yeah, it’s a lot of things happening. The album 'Lottery,' I'm promoting that also. But the Ferryman is my main gig right now. You know, this is a character that we don't even know if he's alive or dead, but you know.” Sting: “A bit like you!” Shaggy: “Yeah, a bit like me, you know? I just kind of float. I'm a little mischievous, you know what I mean? But I have a lot of fun with the character." Reporter: “Not sure if he is alive or dead, is there a writer you can ask? Is there somebody that created this show that might have that question?” Shaggy: “What do you think, huh?” Sting: “I created him! So, he’s a kind of a spirit, but a mischievous spirit who takes you to the next world, which is perfect for Shaggy.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Nichelle Lewis, Actor nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Ragtime): “It feels like a blessing. It feels really incredible and getting to be among so many of my peers, it's just, it's just so amazing. And I've been like trying to like, you know, just not cry because we have all this makeup and hair and everything, but it's so cool to be here.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Nichelle Lewis, Actor nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Ragtime, on her costar Joshua Henry): “I don't know what it was, but I remember when we first sang ‘Wheels of a Dream’ together in a room it was for a reading. And it was just like fireworks. And I think everyone in the room felt it. And I feel me and Joshua have this deep understanding of what it means to sing this song and who it means, you know, such importance to. And I think we hold that with so much weight and hold it so dear to us. And we try to make sure that we're, you know, giving that some justice.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer - nominated for Best Orchestration (Cats: The Jellicle Ball): “It's absolutely fantastic because my mind goes back to last year, and if I had actually thought last year when we were here for 'Sunset' (Boulevard) that this version, this wonderful version of 'Cats' would even remotely get here, I would have been surprised. And the fact that, you know, it's here at all is just wonderful. I mean, I'm just thrilled for the kids, they're such a joyous bunch, 19 of them never having been on a Broadway stage in their lives, you now, and I mean for me that's kind of what 'Cats' is all about.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer - nominated for Best Orchestration (Cats: The Jellicle Ball): ++BLACK FRAMES++ ++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: SOUNDBITE BELOW CONTAINS A PROFANITY. PLEASE USE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND SCREEN FIRST.++ 6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Leguizamo, Actor and Presenter: ++BLACK FRAMES++ ++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++ Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...