The 24 actors who received their first Tony Award nomination this year run the gamut from veteran theater, film, and television stars making their Broadway debut to preternaturally talented performers just a few years out of drama school. Uniting them, however, is a dyed-in-the-wool love of the theater—whether forged as a wide-eyed child in the balcony or as an ambitious young artist discovering their purpose on the job.

Ahead of this year’s ceremony, set for Sunday, June 7, at Radio City Music Hall, we at Vogue posed eight burning questions to the nominees about the performances that first made them fall in love with the art form; the notes and advice they’ve received from directors and fellow actors; how they like to spend their time before and after an evening show; and, of course, their all-time favorite numbers from the Tony Awards stage. We heard back from most of them—and compiled excerpts from their wryly funny, movingly earnest, charmingly down-to-earth answers here. Read on below.

Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys: The national tour of Pippin, as well as the soundtrack, were pivotal for me in becoming obsessed and wanting to become a theater actor. I immediately also went out and bought a Pippin-like knit silver sweater. The original cast of Spring Awakening was also heavily inspirational.

Aya Cash, Giant: I remember seeing Eric Bogosian’s subUrbia at some tiny black-box theater in San Francisco when I was in high school and thinking, “Yup, I wanna do that.”

Hannah Cruz, Chess: I was a senior in high school when we took a class trip to see Patti Lupone in Gypsy at the St. James. I remember exactly where I was sitting in the mezzanine. I had no idea you could do what Patti was doing on that stage. I felt the hook sink into me and I’ve been obsessed with this art form ever since.

Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot: My mother helped out with the plays at my elementary school, and in my first show, I got to play Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk. I don't remember much, but I do remember that I got to rescue the goose that laid the golden egg (who I had a major crush on), and that pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show: Without question, it was Michael Crawford on the original cast recording of The Phantom of the Opera. I never actually saw him perform it live—I heard the music on an LP when I was young, growing up in Wales, and it completely transported me. I became obsessed with it. There was something about his voice that felt cinematic, emotional, and dangerous all at once. I remember lying there listening to it and being able to visualize the entire world purely through the music and storytelling. It felt so grand and theatrical, but also incredibly intimate. That album opened up my imagination in a massive way.

Marla Mindelle, Titaníque: Annie! I was belting Tomorrow from Annie at age three. I was a screaming redhead who wanted to be a screaming redhead, so it was musical theater inception as early as I can remember.

Layton Williams, Titaníque: Billy Elliot was the first musical I ever auditioned for and I played the title role for two years, making my West End debut. It was almost 20 years ago and I’ve never looked back.

Christopher Abbott, Death of a Salesman: Nathan [Lane]’s line, “Is there any cheese?” I don’t know why, I think about it every morning.

Susannah Flood, Liberation: Oh, God, well, this is going to sound so corny—so actor-y—but my parents were acting teachers, and my dad taught from The Seagull, and so I often think of the Nina line from Act 4: “When I think of my vocation, I’m not afraid of life.” Ugh, God. I’m annoyed with myself, but I stand by it.

Lesley Manville, Oedipus: Even before I knew I was going to play Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, I remembered some of the delicious lines that she has from my memory of being in the original production, when I played Cécile and the inimitable Lindsay Duncan played Merteuil. One that stands out (and I can still hear Lindsay saying it), when Valmont is suggesting he needs to take time in the pursuit of his new lover, is: “The century is drawing to its close, Vicomte.”

June Squibb, Marjorie Prime: “Gypsy, girl, you got it made.”

Layton Williams, Titaníque: I had the honor of playing Angel in Rent and singing “Measure your life in love” has stuck with me ever since. What a beautiful lyric and mantra to live by, eh?

Christopher Abbott, Death of a Salesman: Massage gun.

Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels: The quiet.

Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot: Pictures of my wife and son. And peanut M&Ms.

Susannah Flood, Liberation: A drawing one of my best friends from high school did in crayon on a Café Un Deux Trois (R.I.P.) placemat after she saw the show. Of a vagina, of course…because anything else would really be a letdown.

Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show: A pink cloth with a repeated cartoon print of a little girl wrestling an alligator that says, “DO ONE THING EVERY DAY THAT SCARES YOUR FAMILY.”

Caissie Levy, Ragtime: There’s a photo I have of both of my late grandmothers, laughing and crying and clapping at my wedding, just after my husband stepped on the glass under the chupah, and it’s so joyful and captures each of them so beautifully. They, along with my mother, are who I modeled the character of Mother after, so I love seeing them each day in my dressing room, smiling back at me.

Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime: My Shaina [Taub]. She’s my whole world. I love her so much, and I’m so glad we got to do this show together. We have become so close, and we’ve both been through so much together. She truly is like a sister to me. We uplift and support one another. The laughs we have are unmatched. And she’s just the cutest little bookworm ever.

Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime: I am sort of a tincture-and-tonic king, so my dressing room is full of little things to help with my… seemingly constantly exhausted body. Hard to pick a favorite, but right now I’d say this tuning fork tuned to 136.1 Hz that I bang on a piece of rubber and hold to my head or my cheeks or the center of my chest. It has really helped with a lot of things—focusing me, making sinus headaches feel less severe. It vibrates away pains. It’s genuinely helpful.

Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!: I am an amateur birder, so my ideal activity is walking aimlessly around Central Park with my bird and plant identification app. It is so important to get outside in general, but especially when you are in a dark theater for so long.

Nicholas Christopher, Chess:

6:30am: Wake up
7:00am: Wake my kids up, feed and walk the dog
7:30am: Help with making breakfast and/or get my girls dressed
7:50am: Everyone brushes their teeth while we listen to E-40’s “Tell Me When to Go” (“Let me see you show ya grill!”)
8:00am: Drive my four-year-old to school
10:00am: Love on my wife
11:00am: Gym
1:30pm: Breakfast
2:30pm: Shave, shower, mini vocal warm-up
4:00pm: Leave for the theater
5:30pm: Vocal warm-up / catch up with my amazing dresser, Marissa
6:15pm: Check in with Lea Michele
7:00pm: PLACES for the top of show!

Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!: Up at 9, a long walk with the dog and a friend—then an afternoon with my kids, helping with a project, or writing with a colleague. Maybe solve one household dilemma: fix something or make an appointment. Then make a good, healthy sheet-pan dinner for the crew and get to work in time for a long warmup and some chitchat before half-hour.

Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw: Doing as little as possible.

Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show: Keeping things calm and grounded. Easy mornings; gym before lunch; maybe a walk around New York with Lala, my pooch; gentle vocal warmups, vocal steaming, lots of water; and a long siesta before I go to the theater. I try not to overtalk on show days. Theater is athletic—especially a role like Frank—so I treat it a bit like an athlete preparing for a match.

Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys: Right now it’s Greek yogurt with berries, banana, flaxseed, and peanut butter!

Aya Cash, Giant: Ideally, I have eaten enough before the show that I don't need a post-show meal, but inevitably I end up at home with salami and Goldfish crackers.

Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show: Whatever Harvey Guillen has upstairs in his dressing room to feed me.

Lesley Manville: A martini and chips, preferably at Sheekey’s. They make the best.

Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): Thai food. Basil fried rice and/or Tom Kha soup.

Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime: Recently I have been obsessed with these Momofuku brand ramen noodles and some cut-up cucumber. The tingly chili flavor—so good. And I like a little sweet treat: maybe a cookie, maybe a green tea ice cream mochi. I like to give my body exactly what it yearns for when I’m doing eight shows a week. No limits!!!!

June Squibb, Marjorie Prime: Anything at Joe Allen’s, but especially their liver and onions.

Nicholas Christopher, Chess: My favorite note I ever got from a director was when I thought it would be cool to shave my beard down to just a mustache. He said I looked like a ’70s porn star. Then, after the performance, he said it oddly worked for the piece.

Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!: “Don’t worry, your wig is doing most of the work here.”

Caissie Levy, Ragtime: To always play the opposite. If you want to cry, try not to. That’s what we do in life.

Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime: Maybe to be careful on the stairs. I was going down the stairs in rehearsal and somehow went flying in the air trying to get to Joshua [Henry] for the “Sarah, come down to me” moment. I face-planted in front of everyone in that rehearsal room. It was so freaking funny because people were halfway singing, halfway concerned.

Lesley Manville, Oedipus: When I first met and worked with Mike Leigh when I was 22, he told me that I was very good. No one had ever said that to me before. Not so much a note, but an affirmation that was much needed, that I acted on, and that I remind myself of often because he’s been the biggest influence on my career.

Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): The power of posture. One of the first things you should investigate when playing a character is how they stand and carry themselves physically. Thank you, Schele Williams!

Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): Michael Greif, the director of Dear Evan Hansen, told me to notice the jewelry on Cynthia’s hands. Instead of saying, “THEY’RE RICH, YOU ARE POOR, BE SAD ABOUT IT,” he guided my own brain into landing on that thought naturally. Truly a genius.

Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels: Don’t eat the catering salad.

Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw: Emma Thompson said something I liked when we worked together that I think she learned from her dad. I’m probably messing up the quote, but it was something along the lines of, ”Always act as if there’s a fire in your dressing room.” I understood it as being about freeing yourself from caring too much about the outcome of your work while you are doing it.

Marla Mindelle, Titaníque: Sometimes I have panic attacks because I’m so nervous to go on stage and not be perfect, but someone once said, “It’s not brain surgery, it’s musical theater.” To be fair, I should’ve become a brain surgeon—I’d be able to afford a home in Turks and Caicos.

Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): Don’t wait for a job to work. Create because you can, not because someone’s given you permission to.

Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): Jacob Elordi once said in an interview that you have to pretend the audition room is a murder scene and it is your job to enter the room covered in blood. Fantastic.

Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!: Can we talk about the 1997 Tony Awards?! We have Lillias White leading the women of the cast of The Life singing “My Body,” Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking doing the “Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago, AND the iconic opening number of Titanic. My VHS tape of that was WORN OUT!

Hannah Cruz, Chess: Jennifer Holiday in the Dreamgirls performance in 1982. I think that altered everyone who watched it.

Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show: I remember being completely electrified watching Hugh Jackman host the Tonys. He brought this extraordinary mixture of charisma, joy, humor, and total command of the room. It captured everything I love about theater—that sense that absolutely anything could happen.

Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!: I mean, obviously it’s Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur doing “Bosom Buddies.” Thank you for this reminder to put that on the dream board for me and my pal Rachel Dratch.

Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show: Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple. Hands down. Will never forget it.

Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): AUDRA MCDONALD MAMA ROSE I COULDN’T BREATHE TRULY PERFECT UNREAL 10/10!!!!!!!!