Step Inside the Winner's Circle!

Summary

The Broadway Show: Uncut

Episode: Step Inside the Winner's Circle!

Release Date: June 22, 2026
Host: Tamsen Fadal
Featured Correspondent: Beth Stevens
Theme: Extended Tony Awards Winners’ Reactions

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Episode Overview

This special post-Tony Awards episode drops listeners directly into the Winders’ Circle at the 2026 Tony Awards, capturing the excitement, disbelief, and pride felt by Broadway's newest winners moments after their victories. Beth Stevens interviews a series of Tony honorees—including actors, playwrights, directors, and choreographers—offering candid and emotional insights on the significance of their wins, the energy of Broadway, and the evolving sense of community and inclusion within the theater world.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. John Lithgow on Returning and Belonging

• First On-Air Winner Interview
• [00:31–01:41]
  • John Lithgow reflects on the challenge (and humor) of following a spectacular Tony opening number:

    “I thought, my God, this opening number. I don't. I hope I don't win this, because that's an impossible act to follow.” — John Lithgow [00:37]

  • Discusses the fast-changing Broadway landscape and how meaningful it is to be embraced by the current generation:

    "Five years is a long time on Broadway. The generations change very quickly... And this big explosion of wonderful new shows toward the end of the season. Just so much creative energy among people I've never heard of. It's thrilling, and it's just great to be back on Broadway." — John Lithgow [01:02]

  • Expresses gratitude for the audience’s hunger for serious plays and being part of a vibrant, evolving community.

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2. Shoshana Bean’s Emotional Journey with The Lost Boys

• First Tony Win, Best Featured Actress in a Musical
• [02:10–06:12]
  • Shares the perpetual underdog feeling and describes the Tony as "a really big, beautiful, heavy carrot...a big, beautiful, heavy pat on the back that’s like, keep going. You're doing the right thing." — Shoshana Bean [02:17]
  • Details her shock at winning ("I was just in, like an insane state of shock. I truly was in full disbelief. I had no inkling that this was happening tonight." [03:32]) and how her company embraced her immediately after.
  • Talks about staying present during a whirlwind day—dress rehearsals, red carpet, performances—and her gratitude for community support.
  • Made a personal commitment to see nearly every Broadway show this season, strengthening her sense of belonging:

    "I saw about 90% of the things...I really felt part of this community because I actually was a supporter, too." [05:07]

  • On leadership, intention, and keeping her roots:

    “I'm most proud of the fact that I’m keeping community in my heart...that I am speaking up for the people that I need to speak up for.” [06:12]

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3. Schmigadoon Triumphs: Joy, Collaboration, and Broadway Dreams

• Best New Musical & Multiple Wins
• Joshua Henry & Cinco Paul interviews [06:46–10:15]
  • Joshua Henry:

    “It was just thrilling...and then as you’re walking up, what was I going to say again? Because everything else changes.” [06:53] “There was a warmth to it right from the beginning...it just feels very modern.” [07:29]

  • Cinco Paul (Book Writer, Creator):

    “Come on top of the world. King of the world. Yeah. Dreams come true.” [08:26] “I have all my life wanted to be part of this community. And so this feels like just such a warm, loving welcome.” [08:51]

    • Praises choreographer Chris Gattelli and the triple-threat cast, celebrating a joyful process and the absence of negativity in the creation:

    “I’m just proud that we were all committed to create a show that was joyful and to be joyful as we created it. There was none of that negativity..." [10:15]

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4. The Jellicle Ball: Ballroom and Inclusion on Broadway

• Three Tony Awards for Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Choreographers Chris Gattelli and [Unnamed, from Senegal] [10:48–12:29]
  • Gattelli talks about moving from the background to the forefront as a choreographer.
  • Senegalese choreographer delivers a moving message:

    "This is not a win just for me, but this is a win for all of us back home in Africa...I want them to feel accepted, to feel seen, and to feel welcomed because of this show..." [11:10]

  • The team stresses the drive to cultivate spaces of radical inclusion, upending historic Broadway casting barriers:

    “We wanted to create a place where everyone felt included...for so long, Broadway had so many stipulations on what you can look like, what characters you could play...Now there's a place for everyone." — Chris Gattelli [12:07]

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5. Liberation and Milestone Wins for Women Playwrights

• Bess Wohl, First American Woman Playwright to Win Best New Play in Years
• [12:46–14:12]
  • Bess Wohl describes the moment as “surreal”, “overwhelming”, and a childhood dream come true:

    “To be able to stand in that room on behalf of our whole beautiful company...it's absolutely something my childhood self would not have believed.” [13:14]

  • She brings attention to the rarity of women winning this accolade:

    “I wanted to call it out just to speak about how important women’s stories are, how important women playwrights are...” [13:29]

  • Shares working-mom anecdotes about keeping her Tony out of reach of her creative children! [14:00]

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6. Ragtime’s Glorious Revival: Pride, Family, and Community

• Four Tony Wins, Including Best Musical Revival and Two Acting Awards
• Joshua Henry and Kasey Levy [14:32–18:39]
  • Joshua Henry:
    • Centered and reflective during his acceptance, grateful to honor those who shaped him—especially his first voice teacher:

    “To have my family there, to have my first voice teacher there...to be able to honor her from when I was 17 years old in the biggest way possible...” [15:22]

    • On becoming a leader within the Broadway community:

    “It feels special. It feels like I belong here and I'm proud of the work and proud...to be among the people that give so much to their art..." [15:53]

    • Celebrates with humor:

    “I feel like some Korean fried chicken is coming my way. I can taste it. I can taste it.” [16:25]

  • Kasey Levy:
    • Emphasizes the surreal thrill of finally winning a Tony after years on Broadway:

    “To get up there as myself and have the opportunity to thank people that have helped me...felt really wild and really special and deep and nerve wracking..." [16:44]

    • Reflects on how tightly-knit and committed the Ragtime company has been through a tough but rewarding run:

    “There hasn’t really been a week where we’ve had a coasting week...there’s always been something...Everyone’s really like persevered and shown up every day." [17:52]

    • On being a first-time nominee and winner:

    "I can't believe it. I'm so grateful. It's so cool." [18:39]

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Memorable Quotes

• John Lithgow:

  “Five years is a long time on Broadway. The generations change very quickly...It’s thrilling, and it's just great to be back.” [01:02]

• Shoshana Bean:

  “It just feels like a little pat on the back. Big, beautiful, heavy pat on the back that's like, keep going." [02:17]

• Cinco Paul:

  “I have all my life wanted to be part of this community. And so this feels like just such a warm, loving welcome.” [08:51]

• Jellicle Ball Choreographer:

  "I want people in Senegal...to feel accepted, to feel seen, and to feel welcomed because of this show..." [11:10]

• Bess Wohl:

  “I wanted to call it out just to speak about how important women’s stories are, how important women playwrights are..." [13:29]

• Joshua Henry (Ragtime):

  “To be able to honor her from when I was 17 years old in the biggest way possible...at the biggest night of theater—that actually is a big deal.” [15:22]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• John Lithgow (Giant): [00:31–01:41]
• Shoshana Bean (The Lost Boys): [02:10–06:12]
• Schmigadoon Team: [06:46–10:15]
• The Jellicle Ball Choreographers: [10:48–12:29]
• Bess Wohl (Liberation): [12:46–14:12]
• Ragtime (Joshua Henry, Kasey Levy): [14:32–18:39]

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Tone & Language

The tone is uplifting, candid, and emotionally resonant throughout, full of laughter, surprise, vulnerability, and love for the art form and its diverse, ever-evolving community. The language is reflective of unscripted, backstage moments—personal, authentic, and often moving.

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In Summary

This episode captures the high-octane joy and vulnerability of Tony-winning moments—the disbelief, the gratitude, the pride in both personal achievement and collective progress. From historic firsts (Bess Wohl) and returns (John Lithgow), to new standards in inclusion (The Jellicle Ball), and the powerful sense of Broadway family (Ragtime, The Lost Boys), it’s a must-listen celebration of the people who give Broadway its artistry and heart.

Transcript

[Tamsen Fadal]

It's the Broadway show Uncut. I'm so glad you're joining us. I'm Tamsen Fadal. Broadway's biggest night's in the books, but we're gonna flash back to the night of the Tonys because Beth Stevens was in the winner circle with Broadway's top talents just minutes after they won their trophies. You're gonna get a lot of quick interviews on this episode of the Broadway show Uncut. So let's start with the first winner on Tony night, John Lithgow, talking about his role in Giant.

[Beth Stevens]

Well, congratulations to you. It was an emotional speech. Tell me what it felt to be like. What. Tell me what it felt to be up there tonight.

[John Lithgow]

Well, for one thing, I thought, my God, this opening number. I don't. I hope I don't win this, because that's an impossible act to follow.

[Bess Wohl]

Literally.

[John Lithgow]

I was hoping. Geez, I don't know whether I can pull off a speech after that.

[Beth Stevens]

You've had a long history on Broadway, on the screen.

[Tamsen Fadal]

When.

[Beth Stevens]

What does it mean to you to come back to Broadway and be embraced by Tony voters this year?

[John Lithgow]

It's extremely special. You know, when you're away for. It's been five or six years since I worked with Joe Mantello and Laurie Metcalfe and Hillary and Clinton. Five years is a long time on Broadway. The generations change very quickly. I don't know so many of these talented people. And this big explosion of wonderful new shows toward the end of the season. Just so much creative energy among people I've never heard of. It's thrilling, and it's just great to be back on Broadway and to bring

[Beth Stevens]

a serious play back to Broadway.

[John Lithgow]

Yes. You have this sense that the audience are just hungry for this. Somebody else. Somebody. Somebody else just won much louder applause than I did.

[Tamsen Fadal]

The Lost Boys won four Tony Awards out of 12 nominations. And Broadway star Shoshana Bean picked up her first Tony for best featured actress in a musical.

[Beth Stevens]

Well, hello, Tony winner Shoshana Bean.

[Shoshana Bean]

What.

[Beth Stevens]

What's making you emotional right now? This is such a big night.

[Shoshana Bean]

I just think that I've. I have felt, and I know many people can relate to this, but like, an underdog a lot of the time. And I think this is just a little, really big, beautiful, heavy carrot that's like. You know, I try not to look outside myself for encouragement, acknowledgement, worth, but it just feels like a little pat on the back. Big, beautiful, heavy pat on the back that's like, keep going. You're doing the right thing. You're in the right place, you're with the right people.

[Beth Stevens]

So much of the Lost Boys is about belonging and you belong on Broadway.

[Shoshana Bean]

Thank you.

[Beth Stevens]

How did it feel to stand in front of that community tonight?

[Shoshana Bean]

I mean, the love and the energy was really intense. So it was overwhelming. It was beautiful. I was very moved and honored.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Now here's another one of the Tony winning stars of the Lost Boys.

[Beth Stevens]

Congratulations, you blood sucking baddie kind of match.

[Shoshana Bean]

Look, I like it.

[Beth Stevens]

Oh, yeah, we really do. We should go out on the town tonight. All right. This is a big deal. What did it feel like to stand up there in front of everybody at Radio City tonight?

[Shoshana Bean]

I was just in, like an insane state of shock. I truly was in full disbelief. I had no inkling that this was happening tonight. Like, you know, sometimes you're like, maybe there's like a 2% chance. Like, maybe. No, I was like, someone else is winning. Like, it's happening. And then, so standing up there, I just was like, oh, my God, this is crazy. But I got to hug my mom, who's sitting right next to me. And. And then when I got back, we immediately started doing our song for the. For the performance of our show. So I got to see my entire ensemble and they all, like, surrounded me and hugged me and it was. Yeah, it's just the people.

[Beth Stevens]

Has this even hit you yet? I mean, you were like, flying around.

[Chris Gattelli]

Nope.

[Shoshana Bean]

No. Yeah, I had a matinee today. Like, full day, full day. It has not fully hit me yet. I felt like I was dreaming when I walked up there and I couldn't look out. I looked out at everybody once and then was like, oh, that's too much. That's way too many people. And I'm overwhelmed.

[Beth Stevens]

So as you were preparing for this day, because it's a big, long day of performing and all the things you have to do. The red carpet, your glam, the whole thing. What was going through your head?

[Shoshana Bean]

I think what was going through my head is how to be as present as possible through all of this. It was like, you know, we woke up, we did dress rehearsal, and we got into costume, did a show, came here out of costume, in a costume, out of costume, red carpet, like, all these things. It really is like a busy schedule. So it was just sort of like, how can I really ground myself here and remember this day? Because it's kind of only one day where this happens. And I'm really grateful that I had quite a few moments to see my, my cast and hug them and like, to celebrate this together.

[Beth Stevens]

What does it feel like, for you to be embraced by this community like, this the best.

[Shoshana Bean]

I made a really clear decision this year. I said, before I start rehearsals, I'm going to go see every single show that I possibly can in this season. And I. I'd say I saw about 90% of the things. There were, like, a few that had, like, limited runs that I couldn't catch. But, Yeah, I saw 90% of, like, the plays, the musicals. And so I really felt part of this community because I actually, like, was a supporter, too, and went and saw everyone else's work. So very. I have a lot of. I'm, like, a fan of a lot

[Beth Stevens]

of people here and one fan that I know that you're a fan of. Shoshana Bean. Tell me about that.

[Shoshana Bean]

Oh, my God. Biggest fan. I've been a fan of her before. I, like, knew her as a person. Saw her last two years ago during Tommy at one of these. These award things. And I. And I said, we kind of had a manifestation moment where I was like, it'd be really cool to work together someday. And then we worked together within a year, and then we both won awards on the same day. And she's the best person to have in your cast. She's a genuine leader. She looks out for everybody and just keeps the. Keeps the room. Like, she's kind of the. She sets the tone for the room, and that tone is always warm.

[Beth Stevens]

So with all that you're taking in right now, what are you most proud of?

[Shoshana Bean]

Oh, I'm most proud of. I'm most proud of the fact that I. That I'm keeping community in my heart and that I. That I am speaking up for the people that I need to speak up for and that I'm like, you know, that I'm also proud that my mom was here. Like, I just, like, I, like, I'm proud of keeping my feet rooted in, like, my truth and the places I came from.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And what a night it was for Schmigadoon at the Tonys. Winner of best new musical of 2026.

[Beth Stevens]

Congratulations on winning best musical.

[Joshua Henry]

Yes.

[Beth Stevens]

What does it mean to you to win this huge award tonight?

[Joshua Henry]

It was just thrilling, you know, because it's hard. You can't really prepare for a thing you're not sure you're gonna get. And so I thought that we were nominated in the fact that it's doing, you know, it's really popular in the theater, was sort of enough. And then as it gets closer, you go, oh, I'd really, really like to win this. And then you think, well, you've had a good year. You know, so. And then there it was.

[Chris Gattelli]

Yeah.

[Joshua Henry]

And then as you're walking up. What was I going to say again? Because everything else changes.

[Beth Stevens]

What was it about this show that you fell in love with?

[Joshua Henry]

I think the fact that it was hard jokes and funny, but also that there was a warmth to it right from the beginning, and there's a kind of optimism, and it. It's respectful in a nice way, of musicals of the past, but it's its own thing, and it just feels very modern.

[Beth Stevens]

There are a lot of SNL alums on Broadway right now. Tell me about how proud you are of all these people who keep coming here.

[Joshua Henry]

Well, there, you know, I saw Maya the other night. It was breathtaking. And Anna, we're working with, and I haven't seen Rachel, but I hear she's great. And I saw her tonight. I just think it's what they do. And they're, in my world, they're the best at it. So it's nice that there's this other outlet.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Here's a show's creator and book writer, Cinco Paul.

[Beth Stevens]

How do you feel right now?

[Cinco Paul]

Come on top of the world. King of the world. Yeah. Dreams come true. Kid in a candy shop. It's all those cliches, and I just. I'm so grateful and I'm so happy to, like, share this with everybody in Shmigeton because they are the best people.

[Beth Stevens]

I've never seen a show that loves musicals this much. Tell me about what it feels like to now be a part of this community and officially embraced.

[Cinco Paul]

Yeah. I have to say, I have all my life wanted to be part of this community. And so this feels like just such a warm, loving welcome. And everybody from the get go, all these Broadway veterans we have on our show just were so welcoming and loving. And, yeah, it's. Come on. I never want to leave. I never want to leave.

[Beth Stevens]

This is a show tailor made for triple threats.

[Joshua Henry]

Yeah.

[Beth Stevens]

So tell me about the collaborative process for you.

[Cinco Paul]

Yeah, well, triple threats. I mean, talk about our ensemble. I mean, they are crazy. And so Chris Gattelli, our director, choreographer, who was the choreographer on both seasons of the TV show. I love Chris. I love working with him. We both saw the same show. You know, that's really important. And what's nice is everybody loves Chris. Everybody wants to work with Chris, and that's why we got this amazing cast.

[Beth Stevens]

Tell me what it felt like to be at the podium tonight two times so far, and looking out at this Broadway community. Of talented people.

[Cinco Paul]

Yeah. It's amazing, you know. You know, I love musicals and to, like, be holding awards that Rodgers and Hammerstein won or Frank Lesser won or, you know, it's just. It's incredible.

[Beth Stevens]

I'm very thrilled for you. Congratulations. What are you most proud of after all of this?

[Cinco Paul]

Oh, my gosh. I'm just proud that we were all committed to create a show that was joyful and to be joyful as we created it. And I'm so. Because there were no fights. There was none of that negativity, and I'm really proud of that.

[Tamsen Fadal]

The Jellicle Ball is a winner of three Tony Awards. And now the choreographers of Cats. The Jellicle Ball.

[Beth Stevens]

What has made you most proud in this moment?

[Chris Gattelli]

I'd say for me, as I've been doing ballroom and choreography for such a long time, and I was always in the background, but Amari's always pushing me to in the forefront, to be seen and to be heard. So that's what I'm. You know.

[Jellicle Ball Choreographer]

Stop. Don't make me cry. I'm trying not to. Honestly. It's really, really deep and really emotional because coming from Senegal right now, with everything that's happening in Senegal, between the lords and the LGBT community, this means that a little boy from Senegal who made a show about the LGBT community, people seen it, People are seeing it, People are wanting it, and I just want people in Senegal who are part of this community to understand this is not a win just for me, but this is a win for all of us back home in Africa. And I want them to feel accepted, to feel seen, and to feel welcomed because of this show as well, too. So emotionally, this is. It's a big, big, big moment for me. Yeah.

[Beth Stevens]

The inclusion of this show is so important. There's a place for everyone at Catskillable viewers. Tell me about bringing Ballroom to Broadway.

[Chris Gattelli]

It was just that it was. We wanted to create a place where everyone felt included. And for so long, Broadway had so many stipulations on what you can look like, what characters you could play, what roles can you play. If you're a guy, you can never really play a girl unless it was a joke. And now it's taken serious.

[Jellicle Ball Choreographer]

Big shout outs to X casting big shout outs to them.

[Chris Gattelli]

So now there's a place for everyone. We are creating these spaces.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Liberation won the Tony for best new play. Playwright Bess Wall's win is a first by an American woman in nearly.

[Beth Stevens]

Well, hello, Tony winner. Best wolf. How does it feel?

[Bess Wohl]

Surreal. It's overwhelming. It Feels amazing, though. Truly amazing.

[Beth Stevens]

Tell me what was going through your head as you were preparing for tonight. Because this show has touched so many people. You've had a lot of accolades, but this is a big night.

[Bess Wohl]

It's a night that I have dreamed of, you know, since I was a child. I've watched the Tony Awards. I've always loved theater. It's had such a big impact on my life. There's so many amazing artists in that room tonight that I revere.

[Kasey Levy]

So.

[Bess Wohl]

So to be able to stand in that room on behalf of our whole beautiful company and receive this, it's absolutely something that my childhood self would not have believed.

[Beth Stevens]

And you got to acknowledge the history making moment. Tell me about that.

[Bess Wohl]

Well, it's really extraordinary to me how few women playwrights have won this award. And I didn't even realize it, actually, until we were in this conversation. I think a lot of people don't notice. So I wanted to call it out just to speak about how important women's stories are, how important women playwrights are, and how grateful I feel to be able to put my voice out there.

[Beth Stevens]

And you did. And you got it. You got the tchotchke. So where's it gonna live?

[Bess Wohl]

I don't know. I gotta put it high up. Cause my kids will take it and make an art project out of it. I don't know what they'll do with it, but I'll find it with magic marker on it. And I don't want that.

[Beth Stevens]

That's what working moms have to deal with.

[Bess Wohl]

I know. Oh, God. The things that have Magic marker on them in my house. It's scary.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And let's wrap it up with the revival of Ragtime. Four wins, including best musical revival and awards for two of the stars. First, here's Tony winner Joshua Henry.

[Beth Stevens]

First of all, congratulations, Tony winner Josh Henry.

[Joshua Henry]

Thank you so much, my Tony winner.

[Beth Stevens]

Thank you, R. And you know what I loved about watching you give your speech? You were there, you were grounded, you were taking it in. And not some people are. Am I wrong? You were.

[Joshua Henry]

I was. I was really fully there. My heart was beating really slowly. And I. I wanted to just deliver something to the things that make my heart beat. To my family, to God, to all artists, and honoring the people that have come before me. It's very special, very important for me. And. And I think that I. I'm happy with it. I'm happy that I delivered that. I haven't watched it back, so hold on a second. But I feel good about it.

[Beth Stevens]

So what does it mean to you now that you're standing here, what was your proudest moment with all of this?

[Joshua Henry]

I mean, my proudest moment with all of this was. I mean, it's a pact, but to have my family there, to have my first voice teacher there, who honestly, she's the reason why I got into this, to be able to honor her from when I was 17 years old in the biggest way possible around the world, in the biggest night of theater, that

[Beth Stevens]

actually it's a big deal. It's a big deal. And you've been a member of this community for a long time now and now you're a leader of this community.

[Joshua Henry]

Yeah, it feels special. It feels like I belong here and I'm proud of the work and proud of you. To be among the people that give so much to their art and to try to dig and help us see ourselves and empathize and gosh, that's the theater community here in New York.

[Beth Stevens]

It's a really important question now because we do hard hitting journalism here. Okay, what food are you going to celebrate with? That's. I know you're a foodie.

[Joshua Henry]

What food am I going to celebrate with? Oh, my God.

[Beth Stevens]

The hardest question of the night.

[Joshua Henry]

I'm going to tell you what. I feel like some Korean fried chicken is coming my way. I can taste it. I can taste it.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And now here's Tony winner, Kasey Levy.

[Beth Stevens]

Casey Levy, ladies and gentlemen. Just what's going through your head when you get up there?

[Tamsen Fadal]

This is.

[Kasey Levy]

It's bananas. You know, I've performed on that stage a number of times, but to get up there as myself and have the opportunity to thank people that have helped me along the way felt really wild and really special and deep and nerve wracking, you know,

[Shoshana Bean]

But I think I

[Kasey Levy]

remember it and I remember looking out and seeing my parents and finding my husband in the crowd, and it just means everything.

[Beth Stevens]

What was going through your head today as you were preparing for tonight?

[Kasey Levy]

I was really in a place of joy. I just felt a lot of happiness all day. I mean, of course I was a little nervous and I was trying to pace myself and just like emotionally prepare for any which way it could go. But I. I was mostly really just feeling grateful. Like Tony day is always a special day. And to be part of Ragtime and have it be honored in the way it was tonight and then to get this award for my work, it's beyond anything I could have imagined.

[Beth Stevens]

What makes you most proud when you think about your work with Ragtime? Because it really does feel Like a family or a rag team, as they call it.

[Bess Wohl]

Yeah, we.

[Kasey Levy]

I mean, the company is so extraordinary. The cast, the crew, backstage wardrobe and wigs. I mean, the amount of love that's being poured into the show and just the sheer number of people that it takes to run it every night, our orchestra, I feel very proud of all of us. And it's been a long, healthy run so far, but it's been intense. There hasn't really been a week where we've had a coasting week. There's always been something, whether it was the parade or the holiday schedule or gearing up into Tony's or new cast members coming in and everyone's really like persevered and shown up every day and told the story and given it their all. And I'm really proud of us as a company.

[Beth Stevens]

And you've been a member of this industry and this community for such a long time. And now as a first time nominee, you came home with a chachki.

[Kasey Levy]

I can't believe it. I'm so grateful. It's so cool.

[Bess Wohl]

So cool.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And that's going to do it for this latest episode of the Broadway show uncut. But for tickets to all the Tony winning shows, head over to broadway.com until next time, I'm Tamsen Fadal.