Top Acting Tips from Tony Nominees

Backstage asked some of this year’s Tony nominees for their best pointers on perseverance, the entertainment industry, and stage acting. Check out the advice from Jeff Daniels, Cynthia Erivo, Laura Benanti, George C. Wolfe, Leslie Odom Jr., Zachary Levi, and more in this exclusive video!

Breakdown:
0:02 - Cynthia Erivo, Leading Actress in a Musical, “The Color Purple”
0:30 - Beowulf Boritt, Set Designer, “Thérèse Raquin”
0:46 - David Furr, Featured Actor in a Play, “Noises Off”
1:03 - Alex Lacamoire, Musical Director, “Hamilton”
1:34 - Zachary Levi, Leading Actor in a Musical, “She Loves Me”
2:20 - Adrienne Warren, Featured Actress in a Musical, “Shuffle Along”
2:30 - Saycon Sengbloh, Featured Actress in a Play, “Eclipsed”
3:00 - Jennifer Simard, Featured Actress in a Musical, “Disaster!”
3:58 - Sergio Trujillo, Choreographer, “On Your Feet!”
4:20 - Jeff Daniels, Leading Actor in a Play, “Blackbird”
5:41 - Christopher Fitzgerald, Featured Actor in a Musical, “Waitress”
5:55 - Leslie Odom Jr., Leading Actor in a Musical, “Hamilton”
6:17 - Jonathan Groff, Featured Actor in a Musical, “Hamilton”
6:55 - Laura Benanti, Leading Actress in a Musical, “She Loves Me”
7:16 - David Rockwell, Set Designer, “She Loves Me”
7:45 - David Korins, Set Designer, “Hamilton”
8:10 - Pascale Armand, Featured Actress in a Play, “Eclipsed”
8:26 - George C. Wolfe, Director and Playwright, “Shuffle Along”
9:04 - Brandon Victor Dixon, Featured Actor in a Musical, "Shuffle Along"

*More Acting Tips*

[Stucrompton]

awesome!! i got my first ever show tomorrow! i can do this, i love it

[joesatva]

I would say as an actor the best thing you could do is to be yourself and try not to imitate ... because the best gift you can give, either on stage or in front of the camera, is to offer who you are.
Liberate yourself from all inhibitions, be grounded, know what you want and who you are in the scene, and you want to make your scene partner or partners feel and stay connected with them.

[harrymurray]

True words by Zachary Levi, ''You can be the most talented person in the world, but if no one sees your talent, I dont know what you do''. Sometimes this is the most difficult part, but as sure as God lives I will succeed.

[briantwiss]

Auditioning for a role this October for the first time. Slightly terrified, but optimistic.

[waribokos]

This gives me so much confidence in my craft

[IndigenousBronze]

I really needed to hear this. Very motivational indeed!

[SoulPapiii]

every advice counts
especially from the successful

[TheSwintonShow]

So inspiring!! And so on point! Thank you all for your reflections!

[Seasider]

Love this on so many different levels and it's humbling to also be close friends with some of the people featured in this video and to have watched their career grow firsthand well before they became stars. Such a beautiful craft that can truly change the world.

Is it just me or does that piano music in the background make this video extra special!? What's it called?

[Stevesk]

I'm returning to the stage after over a year, soon. Playing Sam Hendrix, in Wait Until Dark. Looking forward to it.

[JorgeChapa]

Straight up motivation! Thanks for sharing this

[fredcovers]

Leslie Odom Jr and Xtopher Fitz! Groffsauce and Laura Benanti!!!!

[KuyaManzano]

Acting is my life.Tho to make a good living out of it becomes a giant challenge. Do you agree?

[spamskanal]

Why is this 'music' in the background? Are you afraid of people concentrating too much on what is said in this video? It is disturbing therefore annoying.