It's hard enough for regular people to be up and out of bed on a Monday morning, but for theater folks it's a rarity. But that's exactly what happened when the nominations for this year's Tony Awards were announced at the Hudson Theatre (and live on TV) at 8:30am this morning. Immediately, phones started to ring across town in the homes of the nominees alerting them to some great news to kick-off their week. Broadway.com was among the callers--to congratulate and find out how they heard the news. Here are the first reactions from the nominees:

Beth Fowler
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for The Boy from Oz
"My husband is standing here holding the tissue box. I'm so thrilled for Isabel! She cries if someone tells her she's wonderful, so I'm thinking, if I'm crying, she must be in the hospital. I was sitting in the backyard with my husband this morning, and the phone rang. We have houseguests, and I didn't want to wake them. I thought the phone ringing was the airport calling because we had a luggage mix-up, but then Jack [Witham, her husband] told me the luggage had been delivered at 5am. I thought, 'I better get that!' I just started choking when I heard. I was still listening to the message when I got my husband, and I was sobbing so hard, he thought one of my aunts had died. There's been a lot of waiting and crying and laughing and phone calls. I called my family to tell them; they've been so supportive. This is quite a surprise for me, although my husband has been predicting it since September. We've been married for 27 years, and he finally got something right!"

Daphne Rubin-Vega
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for Anna in the Tropics
"I always hate myself for caring so much. I mean, even if you don't get nominated you still have to show up for your friends. I really wanted to be supportive for Idina [Menzel]. I think she's gonna win. She better win. Even though I love Tonya Pinkins, Idina's my girl. Anyway, I was asleep. I make sure I'm asleep when it's going on. I don't wanna know until it's done. But [my husband] Tommy jumped from the bed and I thought there was a fire but he yelled, 'Daphne, you got it! You got the nomination!' Everyone's calling me and they're so excited and I'm trying to act like I don't care, but of course I care! I already have the dress! I know what I'm gonna wear. I'm gonna feature the tats. It has absolutely no back. It's amazing."

Jefferson Mays
Best Actor in a Play Nominee for I Am My Own Wife
"I was sound asleep. My dear wife got up to answer the phone; it was David Richenthal, our producer, who I believe called from his seat at the event at that ungodly hour. I don't just fall asleep after doing the show--I go into a coma, so I'm sorry to say my reaction was just to open one sleepy eye. But now that I've come to, I can say that I'm enjoying myself immensely. It's pretty wonderful to be nominated with my boyhood heroes. I'm rather giddy. We had breakfast out and then bought flowers for the window boxes. Yes, this nomination has put us into the pioneer spirit. We worked the land. And now there are flowers everywhere."

Essie Davis
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for Jumpers
"I didn't know how one was meant to find out these things, but [publicist] Jim Byk just called me while I was still in my dream state. This is so wild. It's fantastic. I feel really proud of all of the hard work we've done, and I'm excited for Simon [Russell Beale] and David [Leveaux]. I just got off the phone with my parents in Australia! It's midnight there. This really is a gift. I feel like Cinderella."

Isabel Keating
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for The Boy from Oz
"This is just so weird! The phones are ringing! I was not watching the announcement, and at the risk of being crass, I had been in bed and was holding my pee for so long that I finally got up and went to the bathroom. Just as I was crawling back into bed, the machine clicked on. It was [publicist] Joe Perrotta. And you know, it's our day off, and I was glad I was already up. I hate to be woken up on the day off. I was just crying and laughing when I found out. I was so thrilled. We just love each other so much in this show. I've already heard from [co-star and fellow nominee] Beth Fowler; I heard from a lot of people. And they all knew before I did! It's so surreal. It's such an honor. Backstage it's fun, euphoric and full of love--and that's everyday! So I imagine it will be more so on Tuesday when we're all together again. This is more calls than I've received in a long time!"

Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for Avenue Q
"This is downright miraculous. I had to be at Carnegie Hall at 10:30am for a rehearsal, so I was up at 7:30am to pack up my stuff. The TV was on and my mom was in town so we all watched it. My husband was more nervous than I was, but neither of us could sleep. I just kept saying, 'Whatever happens happens. I have bigger fish to fry tonight.' This Carnegie Hall thing is big, too! It was interesting that John Leguizamo read off my name. I harkened back to a few years ago when I saw his Freak Tony nomination plaque for sale at one of the tables at the BC/EFA Flea Market. I said to my friend, 'Maybe I can buy that and just cross off his name!' You don't think that I have any expectation of winning, do you? I'm the rest. I'm 'the professor and Maryann.' The only thing that I hope is that there isn't a four-way tie for the others and that I'm left in the dust! This is a powerhouse group! To have your name in the same sentence with them… This is just gravy!"

Euan Morton
Best Actor in a Musical Nominee for Taboo
"I feel it's disgustingly early in the morning to do things like this! Seriously, I'm thrilled. I was asleep [when the nominations were announced], but I was woken up fairly swiftly. My mom watched it live over the Internet from Scotland and phoned me first. It's nice to see Taboo remembered that way. It was a tough ride and a lot of hard work, so it's nice to finish on a high note. Are you allowed to take guests to the Tony Awards? I will have people fighting to go with, I'm sure. Fighting for the chance to sit in a theater for three hours with no toilet break. At least they didn't have toilet breaks at the Olivier Awards! But I'm looking forward to going. I find these things funny--I don't take them very seriously. Then again, I'm totally unemployed, so I kind of have to laugh at things like this!"

Sanaa Lathan
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for A Raisin in the Sun
"I had no idea! I've been so concentrating on the play, and I was a little sick this week, so I've been in a fog. I'm still adjusting to the Broadway schedule. I turned off my phone and slept in. I woke up at noon to so many messages on my machine and on my Blackberry that I wondered if someone got hurt. I'm floored! I'm so thrilled for the play and for Audra [McDonald] and Phylicia [Rashad] and for being able to honor Lorraine Hansberry and her play. I can't believe I slept through it. I feel like I'm late!"

Tonya Pinkins
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for Caroline, or Change
"I was at All My Children sitting in the makeup chair, and someone said, 'Congratulations!' It was Michael Knight, who watched the nominations come out. I'm really happy. My first question was, 'How many did we get?' I only wish there were more because there are so many wonderful people on this show that deserve to be recognized. But I'm especially happy about that it was nominated for Best Musical--even with some people pooh-poohing it. I'm thrilled for Anika [Noni Rose] and Tony [Kushner] and Jeanine [Tesori] and George [C. Wolfe]. It's wonderful."

Hunter Foster
Best Actor in a Musical Nominee for Little Shop of Horrors
"These things make me nervous so I was really going to try to sleep in. My dad was watching it so I did wake up. I came downstairs and they said, 'They're gonna announce the nominations!' I said, 'Let me go to the bathroom.' So I did and they cut immediately to Jane [Krakowski] and I was the first name called. Jen [Cody, Foster's wife] yelled out, 'You got nominated!' I was like, 'Wait a minute!' It's just crazy. You can't predict these things. I don't understand the whole backlash against Little Shop of Horrors. I feel it deserved to be nominated for Best Revival even though I have nothing against the other shows, which were wonderful as well. I just wish I could enjoy the nomination with everyone. Being the only one nominated makes me feel like I'm kind of out on my own. It's sort of a lonely feeling rather than something we can all enjoy together. I wish we could all go through the Tony thing together and now we're not. But there's nothing you can do about that. I'll be taking Jen to the awards. The first thing she said was, 'Oh my God! I gotta find a dress!'"

Nilo Cruz
Best Play Nominee for Anna in the Tropics
"I'm very excited. I was out getting coffee, and when I got back I had received a message from Daryl Roth, the producer of Anna in the Tropics. I was surprised, overjoyed and thrilled. I'm glad that people didn't forget Anna. I called Daphne [Rubin-Vega]; she really deserves this. I hate to be placed in this competitive situation, to be honest with you-it's not why I write plays. And I've been really busy working on a new play, and I was happy to be busy and distracted. But this is wonderful."

Idina Menzel
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for Wicked
"I didn't get up early. I have to sleep! I don't want to lose my voice! So I woke up at like 11:15 and my husband told me. It's been a great morning. Of course, everybody's so excited. It's been a long process for the whole Wicked crew. It's been years of putting this together, so when something actually comes to fruition, it's amazing. It sounds so stupid, but I'm just happy to be nominated with so many incredible people. And I'm also excited that we're filling the Gershwin every night. That's the best testament to the success of the show--that's a big ass theater! Now I have to choose a dress. It won't be green and it probably won't be black. I hope that they'll recognize me!"

Jennifer Westfeldt
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for Wonderful Town
"I'm overwhelmed! I'm shocked actually. I was asleep. My boyfriend left at 5am to go back to L.A., so I was asleep and had already made peace with the fact that it wasn't gonna happen. [Publicist] Pete Sanders woke me up. It's shocking and really, really wonderful, no pun intended! I felt like it was a very crowded field, with so many veteran Broadway people in my category, so I didn't even think there was a chance. I was sad and shocked that Gregg [Edelman] wasn't on the list. And Ned Beatty… I'm just so grateful to have made it on the list. And to get to go to the Tonys! I was picturing myself not even being able to be there to support Donna [Murphy]. I've gotten so many nice calls. It's always these happy moments when everyone just reaches out. It's so special. You touch base with all the people you love."

Tovah Feldshuh
Best Actress in a Play Nominee for Golda's Balcony
"I'm so thrilled. It's my fourth nomination in over 26 years. Maybe this will be my lucky year. I was up early; I ran around the reservoir, climbed my 11 flights of stairs and watched it on New York 1. I thought, 'Listen, if I don't get nominated, at least I ran around the reservoir!' I've been in this community for over half my life. I'm thrilled for my friends--Swoosie Kurtz is a dear friend, Kevin Kline and I are both parents at Spence--two of my daughters got nominated today--Jennifer Westfeldt, who played my daughter in Kissing Jessica Stein and Idina Menzel, who played my daughter in Tollbooth, which hasn't come out yet. I love New York, it's the city of my birth, so I'm thrilled to be a part of this in any way I can. I told my daughter and she started screaming and yelling. She told my mother, who's here for Mother's Day, and my mother said, ' Of course!' My mother's a girl from the Bronx. But I take nothing for granted in this business, especially this. This is the role of my career--what can I tell you?"

Anika Noni Rose
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for Caroline, or Change
"I was getting ready to go out, and I turned on New York 1 to find out about the trains. Literally, three minutes later, they said my name. I was just standing there with my hand over my mouth. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I called my grandmother and my brother and dad. It's a beautiful day, it's a beautiful day! This is huge! It's funny because there were so many times when I was like this should be my time--not for a Tony but for my career--and God was like, 'No.' This is such a blessing. I'm walking around New York with a big smile on my face; New Yorkers think I'm crazy."

Michael Cerveris
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for Assassins
"The best thing about the Tony nominations is that they happen while you're sleeping. But I was awakened by friends--lots of e-mails, text messages, phone messages. Now there are 100 ways to communicate with each other! This is the best part of the whole process as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't really feel like a competition. It's just sort of a nice acknowledgement especially this year, to be nominated with so many friends. This is such an ensemble show. I would have happily not been nominated alone if it meant we could all share one big acknowledgement as a company. We depend on each other so much and support each other so much and all of our performances are truly accumulations of what everyone else is doing as well. I talked to Denis O'Hare and have been trying to call the other guys. Denis said that his second thought was, 'Oh my God! Now I have to find an outfit for this, an outfit for that…' Me too. I guess jeans are not gonna cut it for the Tonys, huh?"

Audra McDonald
Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominee for A Raisin in the Sun
"I was at my in-laws in Pennsylvania when I found out. A friend from California had gotten up really early and called me. I was thrilled. It's never old hat to me, and I never expect it. It's always a great ego boost when it comes. I didn't do much after that. I got my kid out of bed, and we drove back into the city. I called Sanaa [Lathan] to congratulate her. It was a very normal day for me. [Performing in a straight play] is something I've been working really hard at, and it's been difficult, so this is great. It doesn't diminish the awards I've gotten for musicals, though. It's all thrilling."

Stephen Schwartz
Best Original Score Nominee for Wicked
"I'm delighted that the show was recognized. Obviously, there were some oversights that I feel bad about. Some people who did really good work in our show didn't get recognized and to be perfectly honest, people from other shows who did really good work didn't get nominated either. But I'm still very happy. Doing an original musical on Broadway is extremely challenging and we had a lot of rough waters to navigate. To come through them well and to be recognized now with all the nominations is amazing. This is an unusually strong year. There are some years where some things are foregone in terms of one big musical that'll come in and win everything. But this year, there are a lot of strengths. I'm glad I'm not a betting man, or someone that has to set the odds. In many places, it's very tough to call!"

Jerry Mitchell
Best Choreography Nominee for Never Gonna Dance
"If any of the voters need to see the dances, I'll come over to their houses one at a time and I'll bring [Never Gonna Dance stars] Noah [Racey] and Nancy [Lemenager]! This morning, I went to the gym and then I came home and sweaty and stinky and ate my egg white breakfast with my boyfriend and listened to the nominations. It was very exciting. I loved Never Gonna Dance. It was such a joy to do those dances. To be remembered for it means so much to me. My heart and soul went into this choreography and the show was all about dance, so this nomination holds a lot of weight for me."

Donna Murphy
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for Wonderful Town
"I sleep fitfully. I wake up every few hours and drift in and out of sleep. That's my sleep pattern! So I wasn't planning on getting up until 11 or so--I was up late, as usual. But I was lying in bed this morning thinking, 'It's entirely possible you won't get nominated. Just stay in bed. It is what it is.' I think I was praying in a more focused way that Jennifer [Westfeldt] was going to be acknowledged. Then I got a bunch of messages on my machine and e-mails. The thing that made me whoop and holler the most was the news that Jennifer did get nominated. I was thrilled for her. Now we get to go to the parties together! It's such a great group of ladies in my category. I always think back to Barbra Streisand. I mean, she didn't win for Funny Girl, so what does it all mean anyway?! What it means this year is that there are five fantastic ladies in terrific performances and I get to be amongst them. And now I have to find a dress!"

Karen Ziemba
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominee for Never Gonna Dance
"I feel terrific! It's exciting that Never Gonna Dance is gonna be represented! I'm very proud of this show and just very glad that it's out there, even though it's not with us anymore. I have RCN cable now, so I don't get New York 1, so I couldn't watch the nominations this morning. But I got some early phone calls from friends. Then I went to do a voiceover this morning and the producer said that they watched NY1 and said that when Jesse L. Martin read off my name, he smiled. He said, 'You must know him!' I just did Threepenny Opera with him last summer! I'm starting rehearsals this week for Guys and Dolls at Paper Mill, so I'm not gonna have too much time to think about the Tonys. I remember in 2000 [when Ziemba was nominated and ultimately won a Tony for Contact] that I was rehearsing a concert of South Pacific for Lincoln Center Theater. We were rehearsing in the two weeks before the Tonys, so I didn't have time to find a gown or anything. But it all worked out alright. Sometimes it's better to be busy then to worry about things too much. That way you don't get too crazy in your head!"

Kristin Chenoweth
Best Actress in a Musical Nominee for Wicked
"I am so happy. I was in bed asleep. I said to my friend, Anne, 'Please call me and wake me up if it happens.' And she did. Then my agent and my manager called, so I got up three times. I sort of forgot--I was doing Candide all last week, so I thought I'm not even going to get nervous for this! In my groggy state, I just said I was so happy. I called my mom in Texas, and she already knew! She was on the Internet. I'm thrilled that the show got so many nominations!"

Denis O'Hare
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for Assassins
"I really really didn't think I was gonna get nominated. It's a controversial play and a controversial part and I didn't think there was any momentum. And I was fine with that. I just felt like it's someone else's turn. I was so happy Marc Kudisch got nominated for a Drama Desk, Michael [Cerveris] for an Outer Critics… I wanted other people nominated for Tonys. Spread it around! So, I didn't prepare anything. I slept, but my cell phone kept going off. I finally listened to my messages and the first one was from [Roundabout Theatre Artistic Director] Todd Haimes calling to say congratulations. I'm most pleased that the show got a bunch of nominations. It's such an important show. If the awards can help bring in people would wouldn't normally see it, then that's great. It's weird not being able to compete as a new musical, though. I wish that Stephen [Sondheim] and John [Weidman]'s work could have been recognized, but this is the next best thing."

Doug Wright
Best Play Nominee for I Am My Own Wife
"I'll admit I was watching New York 1 and saw the nominations this morning. Then the phone started ringing! It's always flattering when there's speculation in the press, but I take nothing for granted. I'm most pleased that Moisés Kaufman and Jefferson Mays were nominated because this was really a collaboration between what we call the three wives. I'm also thrilled to be nominated with Nilo Cruz, who is a dear friend. I feel like we're coming of age together. I'm a big fan of The Retreat from Moscow. I think it's very adult and smart, and I've only heard good things about Frozen, and now that it's on Broadway, I'll have a chance to see it. I'm excited to be in the company of these esteemed colleagues."

John Tartaglia
Best Actor in a Musical Nominee for Avenue Q
"I set my alarm for 8:30 cause I knew New York 1 was gonna air the nominations. Then I woke up every hour during the night. I was so nervous! My heart was beating so fast. I had the VCR set to record in case I missed it. Then I turned it on and they said, 'We're now going to the Hudson Theatre…' and they dissolved and immediately said, 'John Tartaglia for Avenue Q' and I almost peed myself! I screamed out loud. My body was shaking. I almost kicked the cats off the bed. This is huge. It's overwhelming. I still can't really get used to it. I'm just so relieved. Everyone was so anxious and so nervous. This show is a Cinderella story. We opened off-Broadway, got amazing reviews, moved to Broadway, got amazing reviews again. It's really a little rags to riches story. I just have to get through tonight [Tartaglia is making his Carnegie Hall debut] and wake up tomorrow and start fresh and new and just enjoy it. Savor each moment as they say."

Michael McElroy
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for Big River
"I was at the grocery store! I got a call from one of the [Broadway Inspirational Voices] choir members congratulating me, and I said, 'For what?' I had no idea the nominations had already come out! No clue! It still hasn't sunk in. I watched the Tony Awards when I was in junior high school and high school, and I remember seeing Sunday in the Park with George and thinking this is what I want to do. Now I have glimmers of wanting to skip down the street. I'm so proud to be a part of such a beautiful production that shows that everyone can be included. It's incredible to have been a part of on Broadway and to continue to be a part of it with the tour. It's overwhelming."

Jack O'Brien
Best Director of a Play Nominee for Henry IV
"I've waited over 20 years to do a classical play in this city. Nothing could touch me as much as this has. I'm so proud of the production. I'm proud of everyone involved in it. Everyone soared right across the board. We had commitment to the quality that we were all aiming for and I'm very proud. I had a fantasy at one point that I'd go through my entire career without winning a Tony Award. That could have been wonderful, but now that my record's been ruined [O'Brien won in 2003 for Hairspray], I might as well take as many as I can!"

Winnie Holzman
Best Book of a Musical Nominee for Wicked
"I woke up this morning and had acupuncture. There's a doctor in Tarrytown that I heard about from a friend of mine who was supposed to be excellent. So I had my appointment this morning and it was great--I'm completely relaxed! The nomination is, of course, very nice. The real thrill for me is the opportunity to have a show on Broadway that is so embraced by the audiences. To have them clearly love it so much is so rewarding. I don't know how to describe it, but it's so fulfilling. Not to pooh-pooh the awards, but truly that is the reward. It's nice to get nominated but it's really wonderful to feel like people are happy and excited about your show. It's a real honor. But I'm also excited to go to all of the parties!"

John Cariani
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominee for Fiddler on the Roof
"I feel it didn't really happen. I'm going to wake up. All the clichés are true. I have a friend visiting, and she knew they were coming out this morning. I told her I wouldn't watch. I was basically fake sleeping in the other room. The cast has been saying, 'You might be nominated.' But I told them not to say that. A lot of them have called this morning and said, 'I told you so!' There are all these things that it feels silly to say--like the phone's been ringing off the hook--I just can't believe that it happened and that it's real."

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