Bernadette Peters Responds to Cole Escola's Tony Awards Look With Her Full Chest | Playbill

Tony Awards Bernadette Peters Responds to Cole Escola's Tony Awards Look With Her Full Chest

The Tony-winning Broadway legend, icon, and star took note of the Oh, Mary! writer and star's homage to her at the 78th Annual Tony Awards.

Cole Escola and Bernadette Peters

Get ready, queens. Bernadette Peters has weighed in on her Tony Awards tribute. The 78th Annual Tony Awards were full of memorable moments and touching tributes, but none was more sensational than Cole Escola's precious nod to Bernadette Peters. 

Escola began their really great day in a beaded "Cinderella blue" custom gown by Wiederhoeft, sporting a brassy up-do reminiscent of Peters' signature curls (an elegant upgrade from the shake-and-go styles they toss tossed about in their YouTube parodies of the Sondheim star). 

Dedicated fans of Peters found the homage instantly recognizable to the look she wore at the Tonys in 1999, where she collected her second statuette for Annie Get Your Gun. The William Ivey Long-designed costume piece was featured in her performance from the revival. With no time to change, Peters was still donning it when she returned to the Tony stage to accept the award for Best Actress in a Musical. 

 READ: Cole Escola Becomes 1st Openly Non-Binary Artist to Win Leading Actor in a Play Tony Award

When asked about the inspiration for their regalia in the Tonys press room, Escola simply said, "The first idea is the best idea. Why fix it if it ain't broke?" 

The thoughtful tribute was not lost on Peters herself, who sent the following (adorable) response to Playbill:

"I thought they looked absolutely lovely, but when I wore it, I wore my chest hairs in a different pattern. But more importantly, congratulations to Cole on the Tony!"

In addition to a historic win for Escola, Oh Mary! director Sam Pinkleton was honored for Best Director of a Play.

Oh, Mary! is currently running at the Lyceum Theatre. Escola plays their final performance as Mary Todd Lincoln June 21. Tituss Burgess takes up Mary's heart-patterned bloomers yet again for a six-week run beginning June 23. 

Three-time Tony honoree Peters is back on Broadway in the extended engagement of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends which closes at the Friedman Theatre June 29).

Production Photos: Oh, Mary! On Broadway

 
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