Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall has a lot to celebrate this year. After recently receiving the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her off-Broadway play Hot Wing King, the P-Valley creator is now nominated for her first Tony Award for her work on Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
Although Hall could easily take home the Best Book of a Musical Tony on Sunday night, the writer tells ABC Audio that winning awards has never been her focus as a creative.
“I appreciate an award… but I usually give it to my mom, my dad,” she reveals. “My [Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play] is in Mississippi, chillin’ on the shelf. And I think it’s because awards don’t necessarily — for me — make me a better writer.”
Hall explains that while “it’s good to be recognized, and it’s good to be honored,” winning awards doesn’t equal success to her.
“It don’t help you write the next thing. I tell you that,” she laughs.
However, this time around may be different. Hall shares that after such a tough year because of the pandemic and the killings of Black unarmed men and women, she feels it’s important to take a “moment” to pause and “celebrate.”
“Because I feel like a lot of times we don’t get an opportunity to just celebrate ourselves, and celebrate our accomplishments,” she explains. “I think because of everything that has happened this year…that if I won, I would be popping my Champagne and doing my little twerks before I do my acceptance speech.”
Hall continues, “I would be very, very happy, ’cause I think this year…taught me a lot about being present in your life and prioritizing happiness and your joy.”
The Tony Awards airs Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
