William Ivey Long Touts Anna Wintour's 'Stagecraft' for Tonys Red Carpet

American Theatre Wing chair and Tony-winning costume designer William Ivey Long (currently represented on Broadway by IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY and CABARET) recently explained to Page Six his choice of Vogue editor Anna Wintour to spruce up the Tony Awards red carpet this weekend.

"Anna doesn't just know fashion," he said. "She knows show business and stagecraft. Her father edited London's Evening Standard, which supported the Olivier Awards. She's grown up with theater."

Long added, "I've been watching the red carpet change. Listen, I'm a costume designer. I've had more than 10 Tony nominations. I dressed Cinderella. I know about fashion. And I know she can make all the pieces come together."

Describing how he booked Wintour for the gig, Long said, "I didn't do that e-mail stuff. I sent her one of my personal letters festooned with feathers. I'm from North Carolina. People from the South know how to do things."

Wintour has met with several of this year's nominees, including FUN HOME's young actors Emily Skeggs and Sydney Lucas, as well as HAND TO GOD's Steven Boyer. Vogue will be paying for their gowns, etc., and all their accessories.

Tony Award winners Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming will host the 69th Annual Tony Awards, broadcast live from Radio City Musical Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 7, 2015, at 8pm EST on CBS. The Tony Awards, which honors theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride