Emmy Award-winning actor Sarah Paulson has returned to Broadway after more than a decade, starring as Toni Lafayette in the play “Appropriate.” The production, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, has received eight Tony Award Nominationsincluding Best Revival of a Play and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for Paulson.
Paulson, who joined CBS Mornings with Jacobs-Jenkins on Friday, said her Tony nomination is particularly meaningful to her because she started her career in theater and grew up in New York. From a young age, she dreamed of performing on Broadway, so receiving a Tony Award nomination feels extra special to her.
“I keep having to pinch myself a little bit. I can't believe it's happening,” she said.
Performing the play, which includes eight performances a week, is both an athletic and physical challenge for Paulson, but she says her passion for the work keeps her going.
“This is something I love to do more than anything in the world,” she said.
'Appropriate' centers on Lafayette, who returns to her late father's home with her two brothers and discovers some disturbing family secrets. The play explores themes of family dynamics and race relations.
Jacobs-Jenkins said he started writing the play in 2009 and noted that “Appropriate” is ultimately about the concept of family and belonging.
“Families are ultimately something you choose, right? We ultimately have to choose each other,” he said. “The family you know, when you really go through your tree, there are often stumps or branches missing. And usually the reason why that's missing is because there's a sense of shame, a sense of disownment, a sense of avoidance. piece, in a way, tries to capture the phenomenon of how we ultimately feel part of something.
The 77th annual Tony Awards airs Sunday, June 16 at 8:00 PM EDT on CBS and Paramount+.
