Photo credit: Lapacazo Sandoval, Paramount Hotel.

Dust off your tap shoes, polish your tiara and send your best tuxedo to the fancy dry cleaners; it's the annual Tony Awards celebration, also affectingly coined the "gayest award show in earth."  The word "gay" being open to your own definition and persuasion. 

The continued creative contributions of African, Hispanic and African-American artists help shape the high standard that marks a Broadway experience. 

Despite whatever stylized or contextual means "our" people appear on stage, we shine and audiences savor and bask in that special, nay magical, illumination. 

Above, that is the handsome face that had been granting wishes, singing and dancing and along the way, earning his first Tony nod (Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role). 

His name is James Monroe Iglehart and he's nominated for his work in the Musical "Aladdin" which racked up five nominations:  Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical - Chad Beguelin; Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre - Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin including

 Iglehart aforementioned nod.

We connected at the Tony nominee event (hosted at the Paramount hotel) where the impressively tall Iglehart keeping bending down to shake hands and soak up the heart felt congratulations---coming at him with the speed of a looney tunes' Tommy gun---with ease and a comforting grace.

He's a man with a strong presence no doubt why he was originally cast in the role.  When he smiled at me, well, I felt like I was was being hugged by a cool teddy bear.

"I'm sorry that I don't have time to sit down and really chat," said the smiling Iglehart. "The pre-Tony days are buzzing by so quickly. When my wife and I heard my name called, wow, it was one of those moments right out of a movie.Time stood still and then ... well...she and I were just beaming." 

"Judging by your fans in this room," I offered and continued. " Mr. James Monroe Iglehart you might want to start crafting a speech at the very least, brother, your a genie, grant yourself a wish!"

"Too kind.," quipped Iglehart. "I started watching the Tony Awards at 17," shared the towering nominee.  "As the years passed, I grew to know many nominees and performers.  My wife and I have been together since high school.  We met at show choir.  She turned to me and said 'you know, aside from saying our vows and I do, this is the best moments of our lives.' And you know what is.  It really is." 

The Tony Awards will be broadcast live on June 8, on CBS, at Radio City Musical Hall. www.TonyAwards.xom