INDIANAPOLIS — SarahGrace Mariani is fulfilling a childhood dream.
The Indianapolis native dreamed of becoming a dancer/singer/actress. She accomplished that goal and is part of the cast for "The Outsiders," the newly-minted Tony Award winner for Best Musical.
"It feels so crazy," Mariani said. "And good and overwhelming and exciting. I just can't believe it still."
Mariani and the cast performed on Sunday's Tony Awards telecast and then left the theatre.
"So, we ran back to our personal theatre, took our costumes and wigs off and watched us win in the basement of the Jacobs Theatre," Mariani said.
Mariani and her fellow cast members found themselves celebrating the biggest prize on Broadway.
"It's crazy, especially because a year ago, I was like, 'I'm not sure if it's going to happen for me,'" Mariani said. "Truly, a year ago, and now we're here, and we just won the Tony for Best Musical. And, I'm in it. It's crazy. It's crazy to me."
"The Outsiders" opened on Broadway in April 2024.
"It is the story of this rival group of kids, set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967, and they're dealing with lots of issues regarding social class and race and mental health and family and chosen family and acceptance. It feels like a very important story," Mariani said.
Mariani plays the role of Marcia.
"She's Cherry's best friend. Cherry is Ponyboy's kind of love interest, but not really. He's just infatuated with her. So Marcia is her best friend. She's the classic, sassy best friend know-it-all. She's super fun to play," Mariani said.
Mariani has enjoyed becoming a friend of actress Angelina Jolie, who co-produced "The Outsiders."
"She is wonderful. She came to the show through her daughter, Viv, because Viv saw it out in La Jolla when they were doing an off-Broadway run, loved it so much, came five times and brought her mom," Mariani said. "That's how the conversation started with our other producers. She and Viv were very involved in the process. They were with us every day in rehearsals and previews and opening. Just so kind and grounded and really, really smart. Angelina herself is just the kindest, most wonderful collaborator and now friend, which is now a wild thing to say."
Mariani recalls the first time she wanted to be in show business.
"I wanted it since I was a child. I can actually distinctly remember my dad dropping me off for my very first performance when I was 3 years old," Mariani said.
She was in theatre at Heritage Christian School and danced at Jordan Academy of Dance in Indianapolis. She attended Florida State and then moved to New York. Her first professional job was "Phantom of the Opera." Eventually, she landed with "The Outsiders."
"I always said that I wanted to be an original Broadway cast member, and now I am," Mariani said.
Mariani is appreciative of the encouragement she receives from home.
"My family has been very supportive. I think they believed in me more than I did. Seeing the success now, especially with the four years of the pandemic and maybe thinking about giving up for the first time in my life. Watching my parents watch me walk through that was really difficult. Now it feels special. My sisters, too. My niece watched me on the Tony Awards. She calls me Gaga. She was like, 'Is that Gaga?' It's special," Mariani said.
Mariani and the cast perform eight shows during a six-day work week in what is now the "Best Musical on Broadway."
It has been quite a ride for this talented Hoosier.
"I'm really content," Mariani said. "I'm really happy with my life right now. It is what I've always wanted to do. I don't know how many people get to say that their childhood dream actually came true. It feels really rare. I'm just holding onto that. I'm not taking that for granted."