Family Celebrates Billy Porter's Tony Award Win
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Broadway's elite were front and center last night in New York for the Tony Awards.
Even better, a Pittsburgher took home one of the top honors.
Billy Porter's family is celebrating after he won the Best actor Tony Award for his role in "Kinky Boots."
As he walked the red carpet last night, he had a message for his hometown.
"Hey Pittsburgh. I love you all. Thank you for being so supportive. My momma's having a party right now at her place," Porter said.
What a party it was.
While Billy's name is in Broadway lights, Sunday night it was scribed on a cake and printed on T-shirts. There were a lot of nervous moments leading up to the big announcement.
About 10:30 p.m. was the moment the kid from Reizenstein Middle School, CAPA High School and Carnegie Mellon University dreamt about his entire life.
Moments later, his mom and dozens of supporters hung on every word of Billy's acceptance speech.
"This is the original dream. Theater saved my life. You know, I have been doing it a long time and it's such a pleasure and such a gift," Porter said during his acceptance speech. "I want to thank my family. The best sister a brother could ever have, Mary Martha Ford and my mother."
"He's been on this road a long time. A long time. But through thick and thin he stuck with it. He stayed with it. I mean, there were a lot of times when he wanted to quit, but he did not quit," his mother, Clorinda Ford, said.
But, it was Billy's sense of humor that brought the house down.
"To my co-star Stark Sands, you are my rock, my sword, my shield. Her grace gives me presence.I share this award with you. I'm gonna keep it at my house, but I share it with you," Porter said.
RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Entertainment News
More Reports From Rick Dayton
