Oswego Native Wins Tony Award

A former Oswego resident won big at Sunday's Tony Awards.

Oswego graduate Ryan Hugh Mackey was among the producers of "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" a Broadway sleeper hit that took home the prize for Best Musical.

Friends and family gathered at the Oswego home of Mackey's brother, construction worker Chris Mackey, to watch the show, according to the Beacon News. 

Following the awards show, which was hosted by mega-star Hugh Jackman, Mackey took to social media to thank the educators who helped shape him, including retired Oswego High School teacher Donna Kramer Barnes.

"A special shoutout to Dave and Donna Kramer Barnes, and Mike and Karen Ferguson for their inspiration, support and guidance during my formative years. They're great at what they do/did and inspired me and countless others to keep going," Mackey wrote. 

On Twitter, Mackey called the win a "dream come true." 

Mackey, who headed to New York more than a decade ago to pursue his dream, told the Beacon that walking onto the stage at Radio City Music Hall to accept his award was "surreal."

Illinois was well represented at the 68th Annual Tony Awards, as Evanston native Jessie Mueller won the award for best lead actress in a musical for playing a young Carole King in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

Mackey isn't the only Oswego-area native to receive accolades in the entertainment industry. Earlier this year, Oswego High School graduate Edgar Barens was nominated for an Oscar for his HBO documentary "Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall."