‘Coming home’ to Broadway
‘West Side Story’ Oscar winner Ariana DeBose to host Tonys
There’s a place for us — and for Ariana DeBose, that place is on the Tonys stage. Fresh off her history-making Academy Award win, the “West Side Story” star and Broadway alum is set to host the 75th annual Tony Awards live from Radio City Music Hall next month, CBS announced Wednesday. The feat is just the latest for the star, whose whirlwind year includes earning more than a dozen different awards for playing Anita in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake, including best supporting actress at the Oscars. “I’m coming home!” the 31-year-old actress said in a statement announcing her Tonys gig. “I’m so honored to celebrate 75 years of excellence in theater, but more importantly every member of this community who poured themselves into making sure the lights of Broadway have the opportunity to shine brightly once again! This is a dream come true.” DeBose appeared in the original cast of “Hamilton” on stage as the Bullet and as Disco Donna in “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” for which she was nominated for a Tony in 2018 for best featured actress in a musical.
She also starred in Ryan Murphy’s movie adaptation of “The Prom” alongside Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden and Keegan-Michael Key, and in the musical theater parody series “Schmigadoon!” with Key, Cecily Strong, Aaron Tveit and Kristin Chenoweth.
With her “West Side Story” win, DeBose became the first openly queer woman of color to win in the category.
“Even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true,” she said during her acceptance speech. “To anybody who has ever questioned your identity ... I promise you this, there is indeed a place for us.”
DeBose followed her predecessor, Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original 1961 “West Side Story,” to an Oscars trophy for the role.
In January, she hosted “Saturday Night Live,” an apparent warmup to her Tonys debut, and is currently filming “Kraven the Hunter” for a secret role in the Marvel stand-alone film about the Spider-Man villain. The movie is expected to hit theaters in January.
Tony winners Audra McDonald and Leslie Odom Jr. hosted last year’s ceremony, the first after two years off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The 75th Tony Awards celebration is a big moment for all of us in the theater community, and in Ariana we have found the perfect host to lead this celebration,” Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, said in a joint statement.
“We can’t wait to see Ariana take the stage ... and dazzle, inspire and entertain us.”
The Tony Awards will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. on June 12.
Nominations will be announced on Monday. Eligible shows include “Six,” “Caroline, or Change,” “Company,” “The Music Man,” “Funny Girl,” “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” “Plaza Suite,” “Take Me Out,” “How I Learned to Drive” and “For Colored Girls.”