Tony Awards Close-Up: Meet Special Honoree Sally Ann Parsons

Costume shop proprietor Sally Ann Parsons is one of three who will receieve a 2016 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. These annual honors celebrate individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories. Below, watch as she explains why she never thought she'd be in this position!

Parsons and her husband, James Meares, founded Parsons-Meares in 1980 after working many years with the brilliant Ray Diffen. From squatting in an abandoned school building, the business grew to become one of the premier costume shops in New York City, producing costumes for, among others, Sophisticated Ladies, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express, Will Rogers Follies, Victor Victoria, Guys and Dolls, Wonderful Town, Kiss Me Kate, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wicked, Spiderman - Turn Off the Dark, Aladdin, and most recently Hamilton. Since James's death in 2008, Sally Ann has been the sole owner, often with more than 50 dressmakers, craftspeople and artists working on a single project. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of costume technology, she received the 2009 TDF Irene Sharaff Artisan Award.

The American Theatre Wing's 70th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony Award winner James Corden, will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 12, 2016 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City.