John Lithgow, Shoshana Bean, Cinco Paul talk backstage at the Tony Awards

(8 Jun 2026) ASSOCIATED PRESS New York - 7 June 2026 1. John Lithgow 2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Lithgow, actor: “It's an explosion of joy and gratitude. I don't know, maybe this one is a little more special just because I don't know (Nicholas) Hytner is such a dear friend and he actually directed 'Sweet Smell of Success' which was my second Tony. I didn't get a chance to shout that out and I guess, you know, I'm 80 years old. It's rare to get to Broadway in a big, challenging role like this, in a brand new piece of work that has such an impact on an audience. So it makes it very, very gratifying.” 3. John Lithgow with trophy 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Shoshana Bean, actor: “Amazing - I'm still in a little bit, I'm so in disbelief. I am still in shock a little bit so I may not have the most articulate way to form how I feel but it feels good so far.” (Reporter: “You’ve been in a lot of shows, even in a show where there was flying. What was it about looking at this script, this book, and making you believe that, hey, it's going to work?”) Bean: “Hey, it's gonna work. It wasn't about the script or the book, it was about the people. And I was right. I was, right.” 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cinco Paul, writer: “Yeah, I actually had the idea for 'Schmigadoon' almost 30 years ago, and it was a stage musical, but I didn't really, you know, I got started, but I, I didn't move any further, and then, as you know I was writing for movies, and, and so, when I had a chance to do 'Schmigadoon' on TV, I grabbed it, but this is where I always really dreamed it would be, and so to be on Broadway and recognized like this is amazing it's like it's surreal.” (Reporter: “Two Tonys. You know, three nominations, right? Tell me, like, tell me a little bit about, like hearing your name called the first time and then again." Paul: "Yeah, I mean. I was, it's just a thrill every time, but especially like, I got one and I was like, oh, now I can relax. It's so nice to, you know, be recognized like that. And I was not expecting the one for original score. And that just totally threw me for a loop. So it was amazing, yeah, to have these together.” ++END ON SOUNDBITE++ STORYLINE: John Lithgow won the Tony Award for best lead actor in a play for his work in “Giant” and Laurie Metcalf won her third acting Tony for “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.” Bess Wohl's “Liberation” won best play, while Cinco Paul won for writing the book of “Schmigadoon!” as well as its score. Qween Jean became the first openly trans Tony winner ever for making the costumes for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” Shoshana Bean won for playing the mom in “The Lost Boys” and Joe Mantello won for directing “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.” =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. 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...