I have attended the TONY® Awards in person a total of one (count that, 1) time, and the experience was so perfect I don't ever want to attend them again, unless the experience could be beaten. I was officially Kristin Chenoweth's date, we sat in the exact center of the front row at Radio City Music Hall, we were all up on the television all evening... it was just a night of perfection honoring the transformative power of theatre.

The TONY® Awards have always been more than just a night of accolades—they’re a tribute to the transformative power of theatre (like I said), a moment to honor the artists, creators, and dreamers who bring stories to life on the world’s biggest stage. At the 73rd Annual TONY® Awards, I had the privilege of spearheading a partnership between the TONY® Awards and the Kristin Chenoweth Arts and Education Fund / Broadway Bootcamp, an initiative dedicated to nurturing the next generation of performers and theatre-makers.

This collaboration culminated in a live, on-air mention during the national broadcast, shining a spotlight on arts education in front of millions of viewers. Accompanying this moment was a nationally distributed commercial spot that further amplified the mission of Broadway Bootcamp—ensuring that young artists from all backgrounds have access to the mentorship, training, and inspiration they need to step into the spotlight themselves.

Bridging the worlds of professional theatre and arts education is something I’m deeply passionate about, and having this initiative recognized on the TONY® Awards stage was a testament to the importance of investing in the future of the performing arts. The energy of that night—the electric performances, the heartfelt speeches, the shared love of storytelling—was unforgettable, and I’m honored to have played a role in celebrating not just the stars of today, but those of tomorrow.