Ariana DeBose will return as host of the 77th Tony Awards in June.
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This marks the third time The West Side Story star has hosted the awards show, on June 16 at the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center. DeBose will also choreograph the opening number for the show and serve as a producer.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance to host the Tonys one more time at Lincoln Center. I’m excited to collaborate with the team to create an incredible celebration of this season’s achievements on Broadway for our community and for everyone at home,” DeBose said.
The broadcast will be split into two parts, with a pre-show, entitled The Tony Awards: Act One, on Paramount’s free streaming service PlutoTV and feature select awards presentations. The host for the pre-show has not yet been named. The main broadcast will air live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT.
At last year’s Tony Awards, which took place at the United Palace theater in Washington Heights, DeBose had the challenge of leading unscripted awards show.
She opened the show with a wordless, acrobatic dance number that included leaping down flights of stairs in the United Palace theater lobby. She later acknowledged the strike, saying, “I’m live and unscripted, you’re welcome,” and appeared to ad-lib introductions.
The show was scheduled to take place during the writer’s strike and at several points seemed that it may not move forward, since the Writer’s Guild did not grant the Tony Awards a waiver for the televised ceremony.
Eventually, the WGA agreed not to picket the event and the Tony Awards proceeded without a script.
Before her 2022 Oscar win for West Side Story, and film roles including The Prom and Argylle, DeBose began her career in theater. She was Tony nominated for her role as Disco Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and was an original cast member in Hamilton. Her other Broadway credits include A Bronx Tale, Pippin, Motown The Musical and Bring It On: The Musical.
“We are incredibly honored to welcome Tony Award-nominated actress Ariana DeBose as this year’s host for Broadway’s biggest night, taking place for the first time at the iconic Lincoln Center. Ariana’s unique sense of artistry, creativity and talent continues to elevate the show and captivate nominees and viewers alike,” shared Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing and Jason Laks, interim president of The Broadway League.
The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and White Cherry Entertainment led by executive directors Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss. Weiss will serve as director of the Tony Awards.
