Ah, it's great to be back on the boards.
I know you think I jest, but before I detect murmurs amongst you like
"Why is that man from television sneaking into the theatre?"
I should point out that I'm aware that to qualify as a presenter at this affair
one must have appeared on the New York stage.
Now, the man at the stage door was very kind,
but he was reluctant to let me pass until I produced evidence that indeed I had
performed at the Royal Theatre, right down the street here, in 1958,
when I replaced Tom Yule in Tunnel of Love.
[scattered applause]
They were about as thrilled then as you are here tonight.
[laughter]
I know those are not very impressive credentials, but I figure
if Sir Laurence Olivier can stand around on television waiting for his picture to develop,
that the committee would be kind enough to let me present this special award tonight.
And it is to a very special young lady. I had the pleasure of
being the first to introduce her to the television audience, but, to be honest,
she got her start in the theatre, first as part of the fabled La MaMa troupe
and then played the eldest daughter in Fiddler on the Roof, Tzeitel,
and that part she played for three years.
She is a very unique young lady
and has that ineffable presence onstage that's the mark of a fine entertainer
and she proved that again last year
on Broadway at the Palace Theatre.
So for her outstanding contribution to concert entertainment on the Broadway stage,
it's my pleasure to present this special Tony Award to the Divine Miss M.,
Bette Midler.
You still dress like a stolen car.
[laughter]
I knew you'd say that.
You know, when Emmett Kelly dies, you're gonna come into some wonderful clothes.
I heard that one, too.
[laughter]
Thank you, thank you.
I'm glad it was you that's giving it to me.
I um... I had a whole lotta things to tell you,
Um... I can't remember any of them at the present time.
I always wanted one of these things – I've been in New York for 8 years
and I tried the Broadway stage, you know, and I didn't have too much luck with that.
A little bit. And I always wanted one of these,
and I'm glad I got it 'cause I really worked my little fanny off for it, you understand?
I did. I'm swearing to you, I killed myself to get one of these.
Now, it wasn't competition,
but it is special and I'm very glad I got it.
I would like to thank some of the people that I worked with,
most especially Mr. Aaron Russo, who did a wonderful job of producing my show.
And I would like to thank the people who came
and had a good time at it.
Oh, I'm so...
I would also like to say – I can't see the cameras – but I would...
I'm not interested in addressing my remarks at this time to you because I know that this is a theatre-going crowd.
I would I'd like to address my remarks to the people who never go to the theatre
and to the people who have never been to the theatre
and to the people who don't know what theatre is about.
If you're watching this show and you live somewhere where there is a theatre,
whether it's a legitimate theatre or a dinner theatre or a university theatre or any kind of theatre,
you must go and you must try and experience that,
because the theatre is like nothing else on this whole planet.
And...
[applause]
And the reason for that...
The reason for that
is that it is alive.
And I thank you.