Layton Williams on His Tony Nomination, Titanique’s “Cinderella Story”

It’s a sunny, hectic afternoon in New York City when Layton Williams is approached by a total stranger on the street. “Sorry, I thought that guy was crazy and about to attack me, but actually, he saw the show last night. Work!” the actor tells Ticketmaster with a giddy, and perhaps slightly relieved, laugh.

As it turns out, getting stopped by strangers mid-interview is just one of many pinch-me New York moments the Bury, England transplant has tried to get accustomed to in the lead-up to the 79th Tony Awards on June 7, 2026.

Just a few weeks earlier, it was in the middle of Midtown Manhattan as he headed home from performing for the first time on TODAY that Williams found out — almost by accident —that he’d officially become a Tony nominee for his scene-stealing role as the Iceberg in Titanique. (More on that in a bit.)

Now, Williams is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in Featured Role in a Musical at the Tonys, but he’s navigated the emotional rollercoaster of an awards season before. In fact, he’d already won an Olivier Award for originating the role of the personified Titanic-sinker on London’s West End before crossing the Atlantic. But being welcomed — and celebrated — on Broadway with such fervent acclaim is still a new sensation for him.

Accolades from the Broadway community also seem like a fittingly unexpected climax to the story of Titanique, a madcap parody of the 1997 Oscar-winning movie Titanic featuring the music of the one and only Céline Dion. What started 10 years ago as a wild idea between Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli at a dinner theater in L.A. eventually became an underground sensation. No, literally: the show marked its first performances in an old basement owned by the sketch comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade before making its way Off-Broadway to The Asylum Theater and, eventually, to the bright lights of Broadway.

Now, the “kooky-crazy” little jukebox musical about Rose, Jack and Céline boasts four Tony nominations, including Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for author-turned-star Mindelle and Best Book of a Musical alongside Williams’ nod.

“This show is like the Cinderella story of New York,” Williams says. “It’s been Off-Broadway, at the bottom of grocery stores… but it’s so nice to come here and see how people have received it in different ways and followed the show from, like, literally the basement to Broadway. So me just getting to kind of shimmy on in and just, like, hop into it whilst it’s in its Broadway moment? I’m like, ‘Won’t say no!’ It’s kind of a gag.”

Below, Williams opens up to Ticketmaster about the story behind his Tony nomination, why the Iceberg is a misunderstood villain, the “trio of divas” he’s channeling as the character and more.

Congratulations on your Tony nomination! How did you find out you were nominated?

Thank you so much. Crazy. It was kind of a weird, long day ’cause we were recording the TODAY show. And I don’t think I really knew how the structure of the day worked. So I kind of had a moment where I thought, “Oh, never mind, it didn’t go my way, didn’t get a nomination.” And I was on my way home in the taxi just kind of like, “Well who did, then?” And then I realized the livestream had not actually finished! So I just jumped out my cab and I found out in the middle of the street.

What a New York moment!

Exactly. I just kind of screamed to New York, and everybody just thought I was another crazy one!

Now that you’ve had a couple weeks to process the news, what does your Tony nomination mean to you?

Honestly, I feel like just being in the rooms with all of these incredible artists and people that have… honestly, some people have worked for decades in this country, it’s just such an honor to come here as a newbie and get this recognition straightaway. I feel like I’ve won the lottery. I’m like, “Really, guys? Like, OK! Work!” So, it truly feels like an honor. And I had a similar moment last year at the Oliviers, which was just as shocking but they were my peers. And then to come [to Broadway] and have this reception, it’s just, like, completely blown my mind. So it’s very humbling.

Titanique also scored three other nominations, including Best Musical. How does it feel for the show to be recognized as a whole?

I feel like the company has just been on cloud nine. Like, we knew we were kind of part of something special, but to get that kind of boost and like, “Thumbs up! They think we’re special too!,” everyone’s been going out there and giving it their all. And I mean, everyone’s a superstar, so it’s just such an honor to kind of just sit back, watch everyone slay the stage and you know, be a Tony-nominated musical. You can’t take that away from us again, so yeah, it’s fab.

Titanique obviously started as a hit Off-Broadway, but you actually came from the West End. What has it been like for you making the leap across the pond to Broadway?

The first thing that was really apparent to me was, you know, this show is like the Cinderella story of New York. It’s been Off-Broadway, at the bottom of grocery stores, etc. but when it came to the West End, we just knew it as this fabulous hit. So in my eyes, when I got here, I was like, “Guys, come on, we’ve got nothing to worry about. This is an Olivier Award-winning show!” But it’s so nice to come here and see how people have received it in different ways and followed the show from, like, literally the basement to Broadway. So me just getting to kind of shimmy on in and just, like, hop into it whilst it’s in its Broadway moment? I’m like, “Won’t say no!” It’s kind of a gag.

Coincidentally, you’re also the only cast member to cross the Atlantic the same way that the Titanic tried to…

Oooo! Wake that up! And I actually made it to New York, thank god. The iceberg b—h did not bring me down. Do you know what? They tried, though. I got here during the storm, so literally, my flight got cancelled three times, so very nearly didn’t make it but thankfully I did.

You play a litany of roles in the show, starting off as the Seaman…

Honestly, I literally play about six roles so it’s silly at this point. So I actually start the show off as a tour guide, welcome everybody into the Titanic Museum, crack a few jokes, let everybody know the tone of what is about to go down. Then I do a quick change — literally 20 seconds, if that — into Seaman, and he’s just a yes man to Frankie Grande, who is the captain of the ship. And I just say, “Yes, sir. OK, sir. Are you sure we should be going that fast, sir?” And then, a couple of roles in between that — a little Peabo Bryson and a Seamus — then the real gag, for me anyway, is when Miss Tina-slash-Iceberg makes her entrance.

Well yes! So is the Iceberg considered a villain or is she just simply misunderstood?

Simply misunderstood! I’m so sorry, it’s not my fault you bumped into me. Like, I’m just stood there minding my business and trying to get my life. But do you want me to give you a cheeky 11 o’clock number and shut the show down? Well, let’s go! [Laughs]

And your big number is obviously “River Deep, Mountain High.” Tell me about stealing the show with that.

[Laughs] You said it, not me! Quite that. Honestly, it’s just so much fun. Like right now, for example, I have been at it all day. Like, moment and moment, as you can imagine. But as exhausted as one is, you just get there and it’s like, “OK, this mic is on and it’s time to shut this s–t down.” It’s such a joyous, fun moment that no matter what or how I’m feeling, I’m always able to pull it out the bag, thank goodness. It’s camp, it’s crazy. The audience do not know what to do with themselves, ’cause they’re like, “What the f–k is going on?” But after a few beats, they’re like, “OK, yeah, we get it. Let’s go!”

You mentioned you’re taking inspiration from Tina Turner for that song.

Tina Turner is a huge inspo — wig, costumes, the lot. We also have a little RuPaul moment, there’s sprinkles of Céline [Dion] in there. It’s the three divas, truly.

Are you a big Tina Turner fan?

Oh my god, I studied her during rehearsals for, like, her -isms and the way that she hits choreo. There was actually a moment during the rehearsal period when our choreographer [Ellenore Scott] took the dancers and the background vocals aside and was like, “OK guys, so this is the choreo…” and I was like, “Umm, ‘scuse me? Tina would never not do her own choreo.” I basically added myself into it, so that’s why it’s so extra.

Did you have any experience doing drag before tackling Miss Iceberg?

Not, like, as Layton. Only on Halloween, I’d say. Hallo-queen, I call it. But I played Angel in RENT, so that kind of set me up. I’ve done Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. So lots of my parts give, like, a nod to that. I’m no stranger to a cheeky heel and a little fishnet.

Considering so much of the show’s music is by Céline Dion — and that you rocked an “I Heart Céline” shirt during your TODAY show performance on the day the Tony nominations were announced — do you have a favorite song by Céline Dion?

I know it’s corny to say… actually, no, what’s one of the songs that’s not in the show that I really wish was? “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” — that’s one of the songs that’s not in the show that I’m like, “Oh, what a bop.” Yeah, that would be it.

This feels like an appropriate time to ask: What do you, Layton, say to taking chances?

I say take all the chances, honestly. If I didn’t take a chance even on this, on a whim messaged my agent and literally said, “Hey, this could be fun. Thoughts?” I wouldn’t be sat here making my Broadway debut as a Tony nominee, so take them chances, girl. Go to that open audition. Text your agent. Do what you need to do and reach for the stars!

In the iconic words of S Club 7…

Oh my god, I’ve actually got a horror story about that song. So when I was a kid, I used to go to Haven Holidays, do you remember that? We went to the caravan in Wales and I tell… I don’t think there’s a Haven Holidays here, is there? [Ed. note: Nope, it’s a UK thing.] Anyway, long story short, I sang [S Club 7’s “Reach”] a capella but I started in the wrong key. So just on the [sings] “I got you and you’ve got me,” when I tell you I was looking out and was like, “Someone send help because this is not going how I thought it would go.” So that song haunts me to death.

Oh my goodness. A couple years ago, I actually flew all the way to London just to see their 25th anniversary tour.

Are you being serious? Do you guys really love S Club? That is so funny and so niche.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I may be their biggest fan in all of America.

OK, work! Well I’m like the biggest Pussycat Dolls fan. You guys don’t really rock with them like we do, but the U.K.? We’re standing on business. We love the Dolls.

Do you have any hints for what we can expect from you at the Tonys? Do you have your outfit planned?

Can you imagine the stress levels of, like, trying to pin that down? However, you know I’m going to serve a look, some drama. It might even be, like, a carpet look and an afterparty look — you know I’m going to give you the most. And I’m actually excited to perform. Like, can you imagine? Perform at the Tonys? It’s crazy, so I’m just going to soak it all up and do my thing.

And maybe channel some Pussycat Dolls energy for the carpet?

Always. Always. Be careful what you wish for!

Titanique tickets are available on Ticketmaster.