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Mere hours before the 77th annual Tony Awards at Lincoln Center, Ashley Park found herself sitting in a director’s chair in her room at the 1 Hotel Central Park, surrounded by her glam team multitasking at the speed of light.
The Emily in Paris superstar — who presented Best Direction of a Play at the ceremony — is no stranger to the pre-Tonys hustle: Park is known for originating the role of Gretchen Wieners in the Broadway production of Mean Girls, receiving her own Tony nomination back in 2018.
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As her makeup artist fluttered her cheekbones with shimmer and hair was sprayed down with the last finishing touches, Park reached for her Basil Hayden whiskey cocktail in a Baccarat crystal glass and patiently sipped to not disturb her final look.
Before Park slipped into her chic Harris Reed gown, complete with gloves and Pandora rings, we caught up with the triple threat to chat about her own go-to essentials for a successful night on stage.
Here we are getting ready for the Tonys. Is there a particular show or musical that you’ve seen or that you are really excited for this year?
I am truly so excited to see all the performances tonight. The last time I was at the Tonys, or even on Broadway, was half a decade ago — so I couldn’t be more pumped to be reunited with dear friends and to cheer on those who are nominated tonight. And to get to present with Renée Elise Goldsberry, my Girls5eva sista, is the icing on top.
You’re quite the multi-hyphenate yourself, with your unforgettable work spanning from Emily in Paris to Mean Girls and everything in between. Do you have a special routine to warm up before getting on stage?
Oh goodness, I have different rituals depending on the show. While doing eight shows a week on Broadway, I would go around before each show and have each cast and crew member pick an “angel card,” which had different words of intention for each person to think of during that particular show. Staying hydrated and having lemon slices nearby whenever I have to sing live is definitely something that is a go-to habit for me.
I love how you’re sipping on a cocktail while you get ready — so chic. Is that part of your ritual to loosen up pre-show?
Haha, it’s definitely not a part of my getting-ready ritual if I’m performing live, but having a celebratory cheers on days that are very “go-go-go” is great. It feels lovely to set aside some time to take a beat, whip up a great drink and breathe in the moment and, well, sipping a cocktail from a Baccarat crystal Mason Coupe always starts the night in a classy way.
What are your top five essentials for getting ready for the Tonys stage?
I enjoy a cocktail of some sort before I leave… Basil Hayden isn’t a typical bourbon, it’s refined and approachable so it’s super easy to just whip up a cocktail. Some other must-haves are my FaceGym Pro, either my JBL or Sonos speaker to play music to start the vibes, Barbara Sturm facial products, Diet Coke, and a good night’s sleep beforehand. And, of course, being surrounded by great company.
