Rob Ashford on Dancing to the Tonys With His Re-Imagined Production of Evita

The morning the Tony nominations are announced, phones start buzzing with texts and calls for the happy few who get nods. As usual, Broadway.com is among the callers offering congratulations and getting responses. Here are the first reactions from 2012 Tony nominees. Congrats to all!

Rob Ashford
Nominated for Best Choreography, Evita

“I found out from Joe Machota, who is my agent and one of my closest friends. [Tony morning is] always nerve-wracking, and it’s always a real honor when your name is called; that never changes. It’s been exciting for me to revisit this show six years on [from the London revival], to go back to a piece I loved and re-examine it—and in the process re-examine myself, as well. We entered the rehearsal process basically doing a new show, and I’m proud of our work re-inventing this show. This is one of Andrew [Lloyd Webber] and Tim [Rice’s] finest scores, and I think people are interested in real stories, and the fact that the show hasn't been redone in a big way since the original. I am so proud of Elena [Roger’s] work in this show and the way she has completely reinvented the role, and audiences are loving her. I'm working today—we’ve been in the studio for the past three days recording our cast album—but I’m going to have a lovely glass of wine tonight to celebrate.”

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