Kevin Spacey to lead Tony Awards with gentle humor

NEW YORK (AP) — The Tony Awards kick off with Kevin Spacey as its first-time host hoping to shake the telecast's post-"Hamilton" hangover. If rehearsals are any judge, the show plays to the new host's strength.

Spacey danced, sang and joked his way through a three-hour rehearsal Sunday morning with grace and self-depreciating wit. He was game enough to start the show gently mocking all four musical nominees and doing his best Glenn Close impersonation.

Those who tune in Sunday night will get to see Spacey do impersonations of former President Bill Clinton, Jack Lemmon and Johnny Carson. His Frank Underwood from "House of Cards" makes a late appearance, and he and Patti LuPone close the show with a lovely duet of "The Curtain Falls" by Bobby Darin, a role he played onscreen.

The comedy has zings for Democrats and Republicans, with Stephen Colbert due to mock President Donald Trump, a Republican, as if he were a show from Washington with a huge hair and makeup budget that will be "closing early." Spacey, as Clinton, a Democrat, will joke about fake email accounts. As Spacey, he also gets a dig in at shows that try too hard at promotion.

Spacey, who emerged as Tony host after several other celebrities turned the job down, laughs at himself in the 10-minute opening song, in which he grows comfortable with hosting duties as he connects all four best new musical nominees.

"I'm Broadway bound," he sings before leading a line of high-kicking dancers in a top hat, a tuxedo and a cane. "Your next host is found." (He also requests that his cardiologist be nearby.)

Other show highlights will be the return of the Rockettes on a Tony stage after 13 years and the decision to have all four playwrights nominated for best play Tonys appear to present their works.

Those watching will see musical numbers from nine new and revival musicals, "Bandstand," ''Come From Away," ''Dear Evan Hansen," ''Falsettos," ''Groundhog Day The Musical," ''Hello, Dolly!" ''Miss Saigon," ''Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" and "War Paint."

But one thing they won't get to hear is Bette Midler sing after talks failed to land the diva, who's starring in a hit revival of "Hello, Dolly!"