On The Tony Awards Red Carpet

It started with the fans across the street. People like Rebecca Arunasalam and Aisha Akhtar, who stood by metal barricades to watch the stars parade down the red carpet outside Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 Tony Awards. Rebecca had never been to a Broadway show, and are currently Dental students at NYU. They were there to see a celebrity.

Steve Vaughn wanted to get home to Washington. He'd been standing for and hour and a half. His wife wanted to wait. So, they waited. They had tickets that night to see Avenue Q. They were waiting to see a celebrity. They got their wish.

Soon the nominees arrived. Brian D'Arcy James was the first. More soon followed. Some with puppets, some in costumes, most in sophisticated tuxes and elegant gowns from the finest designers like Badgley Mischka (Sutton Foster) or Caroline Herrera (worn by Lauren Graham). As thousands looked on and snapped pictures, the crowd cheered and shouted and watched the celebrities.

Roars for Dolly. Roars for Constantine. Double roars for Liza. In fact, two spectators had to be escorted back to their spot when they got TOO excited by Liza Minelli. It must be Broadway. There's Will Ferrell. There's Jane Fonda. Here's Anne Hathaway. There's Angela Lansbury. It must be the Tony Awards.

Photos by William Town, Broadway Magazine.