Helen Mirren and other Tony noms gave high schoolers a sweet surprise

Dame Helen Mirren and other Tony nominees gave a number of Long Island high school theater students a surprise of Broadway proportions.When Broadway producer Rob Hinderliter was asked to attend the 13th annual East End Arts Council Teeny Awards on Sunday as a presenter, he had to reluctantly decline. The Teenys, which recognize outstanding performances in East End Long Island high school theatrical productions, are always held on the same day as the Tonys.

The 29-year-old Long Island native was a two-time Teeny nominee back in 2004, and on this past Sunday night he became a three-time Tony nominee for being a producer on "An American In Paris," "On The Town," and "You Can't Take It With You."

However, Hinderliter couldn't just say no to the Teenys.

"Though I didn't take home either of the two awards that day in 2004, the East End Arts Council and The Teeny Awards, along with my high school drama teacher, Linda Howard, are what started the fire in me to perform and be involved in the Entertainment industry," he told HuffPost Live in an email.

Instead, Hinderliter put together a video so could he could present digitally, and he brought a few friends along with him. To help present were Tony nominees Tony Yazbeck ("On The Town") and Dame Helen Mirren ("The Audience"). Mirren would go on to win the Tony for Best Actress in a Play later that night.

Anita Boyer, one of the coordinators of the Teeny Awards, told Newsday the students went crazy when they saw Mirren.

In an email to Hinderliter she wrote, "As I was leaving I saw some of the nominees who did not win in that category and I gave them a hug and they said, 'Whatever, Helen Mirren said my name!'"

Hinderliter says he remembers how it felt to not win a Teeny back in 2004, but the Broadway producer is proof you don't need an award to be a winner.

Check out the full video here:

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