Tony-nominated actress and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose will return as host for a second year in a row. The event will be unscripted due to the ongoing writers’ strike, so any banter on stage will be impromptu. The Writers Guild of America has agreed not to picket the event since its members will not be working on the show.
WATCH LIVE: Tony Awards 2023
The 76th annual Tony Awards will be available to stream on CBS and Paramount+ on June 11 at 8 pm ET. However, before the main event, an exciting pre-show will be aired, hosted by Julianne Hough and Skylar and Astin, on Pluto TV from 6:30 pm to 8 pm ET.
The Tony Awards were granted permission to broadcast after agreeing to specific requests from the Writer’s Guild — one of which required show organizers to scrap the script.
West Side Story Oscar award winner Ariana DeBose is still expected to host the ceremony in some capacity, but there won’t be any elaborate bits or pre-planned banter, opening number, or closing number. Productions are still expected to perform musical numbers during the ceremony, however.
The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards, which was founded by the American Theatre Wing in 1947, are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast – the night America watches Broadway – is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The Tony Awards have aired on CBS since 1978.
CBS has been home to the Tony Awards for more than 40 years,” said Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS. “We are proud to once again celebrate the best of theater this season, and continue our support for Broadway, the broader theater community and all the incredible artistic talents both on stage and behind the scenes who bring the shows to life.
The 2023 Tony Awards, which honor theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. This year, “Some Like It Hot” leads with 13 nominations.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was initially approached to write the opening number before the strike began, later stood in solidarity with the strikers and ceased his involvement. While the WGA confirmed that there would be no picketing at this year’s event, they encouraged their members not to attend.
Surprisingly, there are a couple of different ways cord-cutters can watch the Tony Awards live and for free (or at least at a discount). For those who don’t feel like buying and installing an over-the-air antenna, here are your best streaming options.
The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Lauren Reid is Chair and Charlotte St. Martin is President. At the American Theatre Wing, Emilio Sosa is Chair and Heather A. Hitchens is President & CEO.
