OCU Professor Talks About Alums Nominated For Tony Awards

Theater folks look forward to this night every year, but now Oklahomans have not one, but two reasons to watch.

The 2015 Tony Awards are just over a week away and two locals are up for the same award. That award up for grabs is the top prize and is Actress In a Leading Role.

Two Oklahoma City University alums, Kristin Chenoweth and Kelli O'Hara, are up for the award. Both credit their time at OCU for where they are today.

4/28/2015 Related Story: Two Oklahomans Among Nominees For 2015 Tony Awards

Not only the school, but they also credit their teacher Ms. Florence Birdwell, who we sat down with and asked her what's her secret.

“The most important thing are words. And don't have words and you don't understand the words and you don't say the words honestly, then they cross you a little bit off, just little bit off, you got to have it all together,” said Florence Birdwell, former OCU Theater teacher. "What does that word mean. Really what does that word mean? Look it up in the dictionary. Know exactly what you're saying. So that you never have to stumble over a word what a meaning is. You have to know." 

"Everything you hear here. Everything you read here. So you can store it so you know a lot. If you're good you've got to know a lot,” Birdwell said.

We will have our entire sit-down leading up to the Tony Awards on June 7 right here on CBS. And you do not want to miss Ms. Birdwell, especially her story from when Kristin first performed for her and what Kristin said made her heart drop to the floor.