A group of former co-stars supported Lea Michele as the “Glee” actress was celebrated with a portrait at Broadway institution Sardi’s.
On April 16, the 39-year-old star had her hand-drawn caricature added to the walls of the famed restaurant, known for celebrating the theater world with its portraits. The honor comes as Michele stars on Broadway in “Chess,” opposite Aaron Tveit, Nicholas Christopher, and Hannah Cruz, who were all on hand for the event.
They were hardly the only collaborators of Michele’s to show their support for her at Sardi’s, however, as familiar faces from “Glee” and “Spring Awakening” were also there for the festivities.
Lea Michele’s ‘Glee’ Reunion
Making the event a bit of a McKinley High reunion were “Glee” stars Kevin McHale, Alex Newell, Darren Criss, and Jonathan Groff, the latter of whom also starred with Michele in “Spring Awakening.” Lea and Jonathan’s co-star in that musical, Skylar Astin, also happily posed with the group in footage shared by PEOPLE.
Other photos from the event showed even more “Spring Awakening” co-stars, as John Gallagher Jr., Brian Charles Johnson, Phoebe Strole, Gideon Glick, and Jennifer Damiano were all at the celebration. The show’s Tony-winning director Michael Mayer also joined them.
Additional attendees included designer Michael Kors, “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Broadway stars Judy Kuhn, Gracie Lawrence, and Hannah Cruz.
According to PEOPLE, Michele’s parents, husband Zandy Reich, and their two children also attended.
Lea Michele’s Powerful Speech
After a touching speech from Groff, who pointed out that Michele first debuted on Broadway in Les Miserables 31 years ago this month, Lea herself addressed the crowd.
“To say that I’ve been waiting my whole life for this is not an exaggeration,” she said of the Sardi’s honor, after eating there before shows as a kid.
“While other kids were dreaming about going to Disney World, I was dreaming of coming here to Sardi’s,” Michele said, per PEOPLE. “I’m just so overwhelmed with gratitude.”
“I’m so grateful to share this day with my family, especially my children,” she continued, before sharing that she’s recently started introducing her son to Broadway.
“To see his eyes light up and to see his heart open to this world has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” said Michele. “All I hope for my children is that they find something that brings them the same joy and purpose and sense of belonging that the theater community has given me.”
Michele stars in “Chess” on Broadway through Sunday, June 21, before Joanna “JoJo” Levesque steps in to take over the role of Florence Vassy.