The 2004 Tony Awards
Presented live from Radio City Music Hall
Sunday, June 6th on CBS.

	Michael Cerveris was presented with the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. See Video The Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical was presented by Phylicia Rashad and Sean "Puffy" Combs.
Michael and his sister, Marisa Cerveris
	Michael: "Man, this is a picture that I never thought that I would see - me and Puff" Sean Combs: "Yeah" Michael: "Yeah, exactly. For both of us. We're both thrilled. Thank you for proving that you don't actually have to kill someone to get something like this - you just have to pretend to on Broadway. And that's a wonderful thing to learn."
"If anybody has seen our show, our funny and passionate and ultimately truly patriotic show you'll realize that it's almost impossible to pick out a single performance in that show. I'm lucky that it fell this way to me tonight but every one of our principals absolutely deserves to be here. Every one of our ensemble could be a principal in any other show . Our swings have saved our show any number of times already.
	I also have to acknowledge the other nominees in this category. Denis O'Hare is the actor that I hope to be someday.
Michael McElroy has the voice of an angel and the spirit to go along with it.
	John Cariani is the sweetest, most genuine guy you could ever meet.
Raul Esparza is going to be up here any day now I'm sure of it.
	I don't have time to thank everybody else but thank you to my family and everyone who has been a part of my journey to this point.
Thank you so much."

Michael posted the additional thanks on the official Tony Website:

Additionally, I'd like to thank the League and the Wing and the Tony voters who chose me for this acknowledgment. Todd Haimes, Jim Carnahan and all the staff of the Roundabout for their steadfast support of this production and their courage in bringing it to Broadway--twice. Joe Mantello for choosing me to take on this role and for his guidance and vision and for creating this astonishing ensemble on every level. Jonathan Butterell for NOT making us dance, Paul Gemignani for demanding and inspiring the best in us musically, Jules Fisher, Peggy Eisenhauer, Robert Brill and Susan Hilferty for making us look so darkly beautiful. Paul Ford, Nick Archer and our extraordinary musicians. Billy Barnes, John Krause, Nichole Larson, Joe Hickey, Daryl, Ralph and the entire staff and crew at Studio 54 for treating us so wonderfully. Everyone at Boneau/Bryan-Brown for walking me through the crazy side of Broadway three times now. Gary Gersh and Richie Jackson and all of Innovative Artists for their unswerving support and encouragement over the years. Michelle Zeman for her support and for archiving everything so splendidly on her website. My colleagues and friends who sustain me best and remind me that there is so much more to life than business. And most of all, my father and mother, who lit whatever fire burns in me to attempt all this; and my supremely talented and wise sister and brother who inspire and comfort with the quality of their lives in and out of the arts.

Thanks to John Weidman, who is the most witty, thoughtful, audacious and passionate book writer in musical theatre. Also he's a mensch. And I would not even be in musical theatre were it not for Stephen Sondheim. Twenty-five years ago, my dad took me to see my first Broadway show, Sweeney Todd. It set the bar impossibly high and I have had only one spoken goal in my whole career and that was to be in the cast of a Sondheim show on Broadway, working with Stephen Sondheim. Steve, you are the reason I sing.

Also in that production was Victor Garber who left me some very big, bloody boots to fill. Thank you, Victor, for your inspiration over the years. It's an honor to follow in your footsteps.

And lastly, the individuals whose company I am deeply honored to share on stage every night. If I earned this wonderful recognition at all, it is only by trying to be as good as each of the following daring, smart, funny, and soulful actors: Becky Ann Baker, James Barbour, Mario Cantone, James Clow, Merwin Foard, Eamon Foley, Mary Catherine Garrison, Alexander Gemignani, Neil Patrick Harris, Kendra Kassebaum, Ken Krugman, Marc Kudisch, Jeffrey Kuhn, Anne L. Nathan, Denis O' Hare, Chris Peluso, Brandon Wardell, Sally Wilfert, and of course, Trevor.

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