Debose to host Tonys for 3rd time
It’s a new location but the same host for the Tony Awards: Ariana Debose will make it three in a row as the master of ceremonies of theater’s most watched event, which this year moves uptown to Lincoln Center in New York City.
The Oscar winner and Tony nominee, who hosted the 2023 and 2022 ceremonies, will be back this year for the show June 16 and will also produce and choreograph the opening number.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance to host the Tonys one more time, at Lincoln Center. I’m excited to collaborate with the team to create an incredible celebration of this season’s achievements on Broadway for our community and for everyone at home,” Debose said in a statement.
Debose was widely cheered for the way she hosted last year amid the writers strike in the industry, leading a show that had no script and opening the telecast by dancing and leaping her way through the lobby of the United Palace Theatre. She earned an Emmy nomination for her work.
Debose is a theater veteran, with roles in “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” “Hamilton,” “Motown the Musical” and “Company.” She won an Oscar for her role in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” and was in “Schmigadoon!” on Apple TV+.
The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ with a show before the ceremony on Pluto TV where some awards will be handed out.
Tony nominations will be announced April 30.
Chalamet signs first look
deal: Following the success of “Wonka” and the “Dune” movies, Warner Bros. is staying in the Timothée Chalamet business. The star signed a first look deal to collaborate on future projects as an actor and producer, the studio said Tuesday.
This doesn’t mean that Chalamet can only make movies with Warner Bros., just that the studio is entitled to right of first refusal. The terms of the deal were not released, but it is a multiple-year agreement.
Chalamet, 28, recently became the first star in over four decades to be in two top-grossing films released within eight months of each other with “Dune: Part Two” and “Wonka.” Chalamet was a producer on Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All” and is also producing and starring in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.”
Sutherland to publish
book: Donald Sutherland has a memoir coming out reflecting on his life of nearly 90 years and his 60-year career as one of Hollywood’s top actors.
Crown announced Wednesday that Sutherland’s “Made Up, But Still True” will be published Nov. 12. This will be his first work as an author.
Sutherland was long considered among the best actors never to have been nominated for an Academy Award, despite appearing in several films that won. He was given an honorary Oscar for career achievement in 2017. He also has an Emmy and two Golden Globes.
March 28 birthdays: Musician Charlie Mccoy is 83. Actor Dianne Wiest is 78. Singer Reba Mcentire is 69. Actor Alexandra Billings is 62. Rapper Salt is 58. Singer Rodney Atkins is 55. Director Brett Ratner is 55. Actor Vince Vaughn is 54. Actor Ken Lawson is 51. Singer Matt Nathanson is 51. Actor Julia Stiles is 43. Singer Lady Gaga is 38.