by Rod Jones
Musical theater star Kelli OāHara received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during a ceremony today at Ļć½¶Šć University.
OāHara won the Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical this year for her role in Broadwayās āThe King and I.ā She earned her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and opera from Ļć½¶Šć in 1998.
āI just always wanted to do what Iām doing so badly. This is above and beyond what I would ever need, just like that other thing,ā OāHara said, referring to her Tony Award. āYou donāt know what to dream for and hope for when youāre just wanting to do it. If you hold onto that, and never forget that, you will win ā your heart will remain peaceful.ā
Ļć½¶Šć President Robert Henry presented the honorary doctorate, noting many of OāHaraās accomplishments.
āAs we say here at Ļć½¶Šć, if youāve got it, flaunt it,ā Henry said.
Lauded as āBroadwayās golden girl and luminous starā by The New York Times, OāHara is a six-time Tony Award nominee for her performances in āSouth Pacific,ā āThe Pajama Gameā and āThe Light in the Piazza,ā āNice Work if You Can Get Itā and last year for āThe Bridges of Madison County.ā
Among her film and television credits include āSex & The City 2,ā āBlue Bloods,ā āAlexander Hamilton,ā āNUMB3RSā and numerous live performances on national television shows.
She has released two solo albums, āWonder in the Worldā and āAlways.ā Her cast album recordings for āThe Pajama Gameā and āThe Light in the Piazzaā earned Grammy nominations.
