Moments of thanks have begun for several of the 2026 Tony Awards special honorees. Among them is longtime production manager Jake Bell, a recipient of a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. In advance of the June 7 Tonys ceremony, Bell offered an acceptance speech for his special award, reflecting on a legendary career that spans decades. Watch his speech below.
Bell’s journey began in stage management before he spent 35 years leading producer Cameron Mackintosh’s technical and production teams, overseeing the global mountings of “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Misérables” and “Miss Saigon.” In 2002, Bell founded his own company, managing hits like “Wicked” until retiring in late 2025.
See Bell’s Tony speech below and be sure to tune in to the full Tonys broadcast on June 7.
