The long-delayed Tony Awards have landed two impressive master of ceremonies: Tony- and Grammy-winning singer and actor Leslie Odom Jr will host a TV special, and the awards will be hosted by Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning actor and singer Audra McDonald.
Producers of the telecast announced on Monday that Odom will host the two-hour celebration of Broadway’s return on September 26, and McDonald will host the award ceremony.
The four-hour event will be broadcast live from Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre.
Capping the evening will be the awarding of the three top awards: best play, best play revival and best musical.
Broadway theatres abruptly closed on March 12 2020, knocking out all shows, including 16 that were still scheduled to open in the spring.
The four-hour awards and special are an attempt to celebrate live theatre and serve as an advertisement that Broadway is inching back to normality.
“While we look back, my greatest hope is that this event marks the beginning of a new era for Broadway, one with renewed commitment to inclusivity and belonging as well as appreciation for the sacred experience of live theatre,” McDonald said in a statement.
This season’s nominations were pulled from just 18 eligible plays and musicals, a fraction of the 34 shows the season before.
During most years, there are 26 competitive categories.
This year there are 25 with several depleted ones.
Not everyone is happy with the way CBS is handling the awards this year.
The bulk of the Tonys, the acting, directing and technical ones, will only be accessible to Paramount+ customers with Odom’s special then airing on CBS.
