At the Non-Equity Jeff Awards Ceremony on June 4, 2012, a Special Jeff Award will be presented to the Theater on the Lake of the Chicago Park District in honor of the theater's 60th anniversary in June 2012 and in recognition of its long contribution to the vitality of the city's theatre scene.

Today we're featuring 'The Stash' Christian Borle, nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Peter And The Starcatcher.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Artie Siccardi, awarded the Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. We begin with Audra McDonald, nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.

On May 2, all of the 2012 Tony nominees met the press at the official Tony Nominee Brunch. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the entire event and our very own Walter McBride brings you yet another special photo feature below - each of the nominees in the spotlight!

Today, we're excited to present our special annual Tony Nominees Photo Booth Portraits shot by Walter McBride. How many future Tony winners can you spot below?

Stay tuned for exclusive BWW interviews leading up to the big night and in the meantime, check out behind the scenes photos from today's event!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Jessie Mueller, 'Cats,' '[title of show],' David Cromer's 'Rent' 'The Marvin Gaye Story,' 'Fame' seeks a tenor and more....

'I'm actually shocked- quite shocked! And enormously thankful and honored. My husband and I were in a dead sleep and my sweet neighbor downstairs came screaming up the steps my name. And she woke us up and said I'd been nominated and I said 'what?!' And I said 'I don't belive you!' So I made my husband check online because I didn't believe her. And I just collapsed. I think we might be taking a Zipcar to Chick-fil-A today in Paramus. We both love it and we've been jonesing for some Chick-Fil-A so this might be the day!'

'I'm feeling so very excited and overwhelmed! It's a lot to take in. I'm so honored but I really wasn't expecting it! I'm so thrilled and so grateful. I got a call from my agent this morning, so that's how I found out. I wasn't watching the broadcast on TV. I think my boyfriend and I will definitely be going out tonight to celebrate. In the meantime, there are lots and lots of phone calls to make and people to talk to!'

'What can I say other than that I'm delighted! I woke up this morning and my wife said '8:30 huh?' and I said, 'Oh! Maybe we should watch.' It's really not everyday that an erotic diversion gets a nod from the Tony Awards. I think that's pretty unusual. I've already celebrated by sitting down at my writing table and going to work! I'm going to see CLYBOURNE PARK tonight, so that will be my celebration. That and a martini.'

'I'm so excited for the show! 10 nominations is a really nice round number. My husband and I were watching NY1 this morning and simultaneously trying to get our twins out the door to go to music class. So, we were wrangling them and watching the nominations at the same time. My husband Scott Landis is a producer for NICE WORK and for VENUS IN FUR so we were especially thrilled. We're a quadruple nomination household! The cast is performing on David Letterman on Thursday so we have a rehearsal for that. I'm thrilled that i'll get to see them!'

The 2012 Tony Awards Nominations Announcement was co-hosted this morning by Tony winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Parsons. The Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from the Beacon Theatre, on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 10, 2012. Click here for the complete list of nominations! Click here for the nominations by the numbers. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the announcement conference bright and early this morning and caught up with stars Jim Parsons and Kristin Chenoweth immediately following the announcements. Revisit the exciting morning below!

'I'm feeling pretty high right now- it's wonderful! I'm so happy for the production and all of the people in the cast even though they weren't recognized. I feel like the play is getting some important recognition because of this. My publicist Mandy called me on the phone to give me the news this morning. I chose not watch the TV. I've done that before and it makes me a nervous wreck- it seems that 'L' comes too late in the alphabet for that. I have to do the show tonight and then I'm taking the cast out for drinks- and trust me, they're big drinkers!'

'This is tremendously exciting for me. Of course, I'd have like to have more of my company joining me, as in this show what I do is only possible because of Elena and Ricky and the rest of the company effort. We are a very tight ensemble and I am proud to represent the work we've all done. I get to celebrate today by spending time it in studio recording the Evita cast album, so that's a real treat!'

Stockard Channing, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for OTHER DESERT CITIES 'I feel great its such a good day! I got woken up with the news, but that was fine! It's not an easy thing to wake me up early! I work the night shift. This nomination really means a lot to me because I really love this play. It has been a very big part of my life for quite a while so to have it recognized like this is a thrill. There's no time to celebrate since I have a show to perform tonight, but I think that will be a celebration in itself.'

'It's wonderful. Very excited. I was woken up with the news so I didn't even have to get nervous, which was nice. But since I found out it's a whirlwind - my phone and Facebook page and email have been blowing up with hundreds of messages, some from people I haven't heard from in several years. But my agent says that my first order of business is to get myself cleaned up so I supposed I have to go out and buy some new clothes today!'

'I'm doing pretty good! Although I just had an experience on the New Jersey Turnpike that put things into perspective for me. There was a terrible accident right in front of us! It definitely put things into perspective. I'm elated about all of this. I'm elated to be in the show and to have this marvelous cast surrounding me- to get to work with Kelli, and Michael, and Kathleen. It's all a wonderful gift as always. I happened to have turned on the TV this morning and there it was in front of me. It knew it was coming but I had forgotten they were today! I'm opening wonderful emails from friends and then I'm gonna go do this wonderful show that I'm in. It's been an esspecially great week for me because I just celebrated 25th wedding anniversary too!'

'I feel so grateful. it's been an absolute joyous year for me - a roller coaster, really, that I thought might end but I guess not! I woke up just in time to watch the broadcast online with my finance and puppy. I was really nervous as I was watching and when they said my name there was a big of a reaction as you can expect in my apartment for just having woken up. Now I plan to take it easy and catch up on my DVR! '

'I'm feeling quite happy right now! It's quite a nice surprise to wake up to! I got the news this morning from my agent, who also happens to be a close friend. It's always such an honor to be acknowedged and to have your work recognized. Especially when you've been around a while, its a thrill to be able tio change things and reinvent things. I feel deeply honored. There might have to be an extra special glass of cabernet with dinner tonight to celebrate!'

'I cannot believe it! This so outrageous! To be making my Broadway debut and to be nominated for a Tony Award... I sing and perform because I love it and I never even considered the awards or being nominated. I never even thought about it! This morning I was watching the news and they announced four categories and then cut back to the hosts. So I ran to my computer to look up who else was nominated and that was 10 or 15 minutes later. I didnt get any calls so I thought I didn't get anything. Then I watched the video and my name was the first one! My picture popped up and I started shaking. I might have to have a vodka orange juice. I'm going to breathe it in and take some time and evaluate my life and my career and thank all the people who helped me to get to this point. It's amazing that this is the mecca for performance and to be nominated out of all those people is a big deal.'

'We are over the moon. The work has spoken for itself, even through the adversity, and I just couldn't be prouder of the cast and the show. I was going to try to play it cool this morning, but I was too excited so I was up early watching the broadcast. It is my first nomination! I couldn't believe my name was called - I rewound the broadcast on my DVR just to be sure. I think we'll have a little celebration at work tonight!'

We'll be talking to nominees all day for their reactions! Click here for the complete list! Audra McDonald for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS 'I am honored and grateful and I'm super thrilled for the production as a whole to get so many nominations. I am so proud of this production and thankful to the Tony nominating committee for recognizing all aspects of the show. I got the news via text message. As usual, it was up at 6:15 for me to get the kids to school and I was back in bed by 8! Will was here though so it was nice to roll over when I got the news and say 'Hey I got a nomination!' Then we both conked out again. When we finally got up I asked him to be my date for the Tonys - he said yes! - so I guess that was our little celebration. Now it's back to being a mom for the day and get ready for the show tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at the theater tonight to congratulate them.'

Grant Olding for Best Original Score for ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS 'This is just unbelievable! I just I can't believe the score has been recognized. You see, we don't have honors for this category in England so just to be acknowledged by the community in New York for my work is such an honor and a thrill. I was actually at an award's ceremony when I found out and I had 35 texts and emails with the news when I finally looked at my phone. I was completly shocked and am looking forward to coming back for the awards soon. '

James Corden, Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for One Man Two Guvnors "I'm absolutely thrilled to be nominated for a Tony Award and to see my name on a list with these four American acting legends is overwhelming. I'm eating a cookie right now, so it's a very nice Tuesday! I was watching the announcement on the TV. Getting up at 8:30 is far too early, but I have a one-year-old so I was already up convincing him that eating crayons is a bad idea. It's so overwheming to be on the list with those people. I'm really thilled for Tom Edden! I have to do a show tonight and there's no time to celebrate when you have a one-year-old. There's no time for celebration!"