The Tonys are finally just around the corner and the hosts of the ceremony have been announced! Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning singer and actor Audra McDonald along with Tony and Grammy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated singer and actor Leslie Odom Jr. will serve as the hosts of the long-awaited ceremony celebrating the best of Broadway.
“Leslie and Audra are two extraordinary talents, who have captivated audiences from the stage to the screen,” said Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, in a statement. “They are both beloved members of our Broadway community, and we know that fans will look to them for inspiration, comfort and pure joy, as we celebrate the 74th Annual Tony Awards and the return of Broadway.”
As previously announced, the ceremony will take place over two separate programs with the live presentation of the American Theatre Wing’s 74th Annual Tony Awards beginning the evening at 7 p.m. on Paramount+, which will be hosted by McDonald.
“I’m elated that the Tony Awards are back! I am so glad that we’ve found a way to gather safely to honor and recognize all the incredible work that was done in the 2019–20 season,” said McDonald. “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.”
Immediately after the Tony ceremony, the Tony Awards will present Broadway’s Back!, a multi-platform celebration of the best of Broadway, a unique special program that will celebrate the return to live theatre with unforgettable performances and commemorate the 74th Annual Tony Awards. This special celebration will be hosted by Odom Jr.
“Broadway is a part of my DNA and I’m so thrilled to see it open back up again,” said Odom. “There are so many talented artists going back to work and doing what they love for audiences who have missed these tremendous performances. I’m very happy to host The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!”
The 74th Annual Tony Awards and The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back! will take place live from the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on Sunday, September 26 on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.
The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.