(Screenshot, tonyawards.com)
After nearly 18 months of Broadway being dark, are you ready for a four-hour Tony Awards marathon? That’s what fans have in store with the September 26 broadcast: The 74th Annual Tony Awards/The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!
The events will take place live from the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on Sunday, September 26 on the CBS, and also be available to stream live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.
The evening will begin with Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer and actor Audra McDonald hosting the live presentation of the American Theatre Wing’s 74th Annual Tony Awards at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Tony and Grammy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated singer and actor Leslie Odom, Jr. will host The Tony Awards Present Broadway’s Back!, the live concert event celebrating the return of Broadway at 9pm ET on CBS.
The live concert event will feature Broadway entertainers and Tony Award winners re-uniting on stage to perform beloved classics and celebrate the joy and magic of live theatre. The event will celebrate the re-opening of Broadway with special performances from the three Tony-nominated Best Musical contenders, followed by the live presentation of three Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Revival of a Play, and Best Musical.
“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!”
Hosted by Audra McDonald, the earlier presentation will honor the outstanding shows, performances, and artistry of the 2019–2020 Broadway season, which was brought to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. McDonald is a current Tony-nominee for her performance in Terrence McNally’s play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.
“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.”
“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.”
A limited number of tickets to attend the 74th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, September 26 at the Winter Garden Theatre are available for purchase. For more information, visit TonyAwards.com/tickets.
