William Ivey Long Tony speech

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 1:41pm

The best speech at the Tony Awards was not broadcast. William Ivey Long used 98% of his time praising his friend and nominee Susan Hilferty in a long, funny, kind, generous speech where he ignored all the conventions of Tony Award show etiquette and listed no names and spoke only of her.

At one point he interjected into his own speech, "I've got the microphone and I'll say what I want." or something along those lines. Good for him.

I have checked the web and the papers and no one mentioned this warm tribute to an old friend.

I do hope someone wrote it or filmed it so everyone can eventually read it.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 1:47pm

God bless the webcast, I absolutely loved this speech. It was my second favourite heartfelt moment of the night (just narrowly pipped by the Kander standing ovation). What a wonderful, beautifully-mannered, classy gentleman. :3

[professor]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:18pm

Absolutely! This is my new all-time favorite Tony Award speech. You can find the text at the link below:
William Ivey Long Tony Speech

[Julian2]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:36pm

"And one more thing, I want to thank you all for embracing the two little engines that could -- Spring Awakening and Grey Gardens – the little art pieces that nobody thought would do anything."

BEST quote of the evening.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:53pm

One of the best speeches of the evening. Very humble and gracious.