TV Exclusive: Interview with Lea Michele & Jeff Daniels

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Two stars of stage and screen were on hand on Tuesday morning, May 4 to announce the nominations for the American Theatre Wing's 2010 Tony Awards®. Jeff Daniels, a 2009 Tony Award-nominee for his performance in God of Carnage, joins "Glee" and Spring Awakening star Lea Michele did  the honors in a live webcast on TonyAwards.com.

Broadway Beat then spoke to the pair for an exclusive interview!

Daniels and Michele will reveal the recipients of nominations in each of the 26 competitive categories. Productions that opened during the 2009-2010 Broadway season on before the April 29 cut-off date may be eligible for Tony Awards this year. In addition, there will be an announcement of the Regional Theatre Tony Award recipient, and of any non-competitive awards that the Tony Awards Administration Committee may choose to bestow.

After receiving a Tony nomination for originating the character of "Alan" on Broadway in Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage (Best Play, 2009), Jeff Daniels recently returned to the cast. His previous Broadway credits include Fifth of July, The Golden Age, and Redwood Curtain. He has also appeared in many noteworthy Off Broadway productions.

As Founder and Executive Director of Michigan's Purple Rose Theatre Company, he has written fourteen plays, including Guest Artist (Runner Up, Steinberg New Play Award) and Across the Way (Finalist, Steinberg New Play Award). As an accomplished singer-songwriter, proceeds from his recordings support his theatre.

Daniels has appeared in over fifty films, including The Squid and the Whale (Golden Globe Nomination), Something Wild (Golden Globe Nomination), The Purple Rose of Cairo (Golden Globe Nomination), Gettysburg, Pleasantville, Terms of Endearment, The Hours, Dumb and Dumber, Fly Away Home, and Paper Man.

At just 8 years old, Lea Michele made her Broadway debut as "Young Cosette" in Les Misérables. Since then, Michele has shared the stage with Broadway greats Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime, as well as Alfred Molina and the 20th anniversary cast of Fiddler on the Roof. She starred as "Wendla" in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Spring Awakening.

Michele can currently be seen starring on television in "Glee" as perfectionist firecracker Rachel Berry, who is convinced that show choir is her ticket to stardom. She was honored with a 2010 Golden Globe nomination as Best Television Actress - Comedy or Musical for her work on the show's first season, and her portrayal of Rachel recently earned her a 2009 Teen Choice Award nomination.

She has performed solo concerts to sold-out crowds at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York and at the Upright Cabaret in Los Angeles. She played "Eponine" in the star-studded production of Les Misérables at the Hollywood Bowl.

On the small screen, Michele has appeared on "Third Watch" and "Guiding Light