“Many artists paint the same subject over and over,” Harvey Fierstein told Playbill back in October, “but theatre artists really do that. We go out there with this aim of making this one the best.”

It appears Fierstein’s latest attempt may be close to his best as the revival of his Torch Song Trilogy, renamed simply Torch Song, has been nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. According to the Tony Award Committee’s new ruling, Fierstein himself is eligible in the category alongside lead producer Richie Jackson.

“Richie was brought to the show when he was 17 by his mom,” Fierstein tells Playbill in the video above. “Part of the reason was the scene between the mother and Arnold.”

The play changed the producer’s life, and now he hopes it has changed a few more. “The theatre turns knowledge into understanding,” Jackson says.

The revival opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre, where the original Broadway run (which starred Fierstein) opened in 1982. Directed by Moisés Kaufman, this production starred Michael Urie as Arnold Beckoff, Ward Horton as Ed, Michael Hsu Rosen as Alan, Roxanna Hope Radja as Laurel, Mercedes Ruehl as Mrs. Beckoff, and Jack DiFalco as David.

Watch the full video interview above!