2023 Tony Awards: The Ultimate Guide
Get ready for the 76th annual Tony Awards! This year's ceremony will take place on June 11th at United Palace in New York City Find out who the nominees are, who's hosting, and how to watch the first part of the ceremony Don't miss out on this exciting event!
The Tony Awards are fast approaching and Broadway stars such as Jessica Chastain, Jodie Comer, and Josh Groban are set to receive recognition for their outstanding performances. Chastain and Comer have been nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for their roles in A Doll’s House and Prima Facie, respectively. During the Met Gala in May, Chastain playfully stated that she was in her "theater-nerd era." Chastain's portrayal of Nora Helmer in the 2023 revival of Henrik Ibsen's classic play has received rave reviews since its opening in March.
In May, the Oscar winner expressed her desire to perform in a play every other year to her agent, Joe Machota, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She revealed her love for theater and stated that she doesn't want to be away from it anymore. Meanwhile, Comer discussed the difficulties of performing in a one-woman show during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in April. She emphasized the importance of rhythm and how the performer alone can control and adjust it.
The Tony Awards of this year are scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 11 at the United Palace in Washington Heights. In December 2022, the American Theatre Wing's President and CEO, Heather Hitchens, and the Broadway League's President, Charlotte St. Martin, issued a joint statement expressing their excitement to host the Tony Awards at the illustrious United Palace for the first time. They stated that they are eagerly anticipating the celebration of the best of this Broadway season and the 76th anniversary of the Tony Awards while also looking forward to initiating a new golden age for the show in this majestic and historic theater.
Ariana DeBose, who hosted last year's Tony Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan, will return to host for the second consecutive year despite a change in venue. In an April statement, DeBose expressed her excitement to celebrate the remarkable season and the individuals who make the productions possible. She also added that she is eager to bring some uptown flavor to the Tony Awards' enchantment.
During her stint as host at the 2023 BAFTA awards, the actress from West Side Story created quite a buzz when she performed a rap that gained widespread popularity. In the rap, she paid tribute to the female nominees by giving a shout out to some of the most talented actresses such as Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, and Jamie Lee.
On Instagram, DeBose addressed the extensive social media discussion that arose from her performance, stating that the internet can be unpredictable and thanking her supporters for their affection. She shared a carousel of photos and videos related to her rap.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the 2023 Tony Awards:
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Everything to Know About the 2023 Tony Awards: Host, Nominees, Location and More
As the 76th annual Tony Awards draw near, Broadway stars such as Jessica Chastain, Jodie Comer, and Josh Groban are eagerly awaiting recognition for their performances. Chastain and Comer have been nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, for their respective roles in A Doll’s House and Prima Facie. Chastain, who plays Nora Helmer in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s renowned play, jokingly referred to herself as being in her "theater-nerd era" while walking the red carpet for the Met Gala in May. The play opened to rave reviews in March 2023.
During a May interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar winner expressed her desire to perform in a play every other year, stating that she had informed her agent, Joe Machota, of this goal. She admitted to being bitten by the Broadway bug and expressed her love for theater, stating that she no longer wanted to stay away from it. On the other hand, Comer, while appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in April, discussed the difficulties of performing in a one-woman show. The Killing Eve star highlighted the importance of rhythm and how it is up to the performer to maintain it.
The Tony Awards for this year are set to take place on Sunday, June 11 at the United Palace in Washington Heights. In December 2022, Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League, released a joint statement expressing their excitement in bringing the prestigious event to the historic United Palace for the first time. They also expressed their eagerness in celebrating the best of Broadway's 76th season and ushering in a new golden age for the show, given the magnificent and grandiose nature of the venue.
"I was filled with gratitude when I was given the opportunity to host the awards last year, and I'm even more thrilled to be invited back!" stated Ariana DeBose in April. "I can't wait to commemorate this amazing season and the individuals who put in the hard work to make it happen. Let's infuse some uptown flair into the Tony Awards' enchanting atmosphere."
During the 2023 BAFTA awards, the actress from West Side Story became an internet sensation for her impressive rap performance. She gave a shout-out to the female nominees, including Viola Davis as her "Woman King" and Cate Blanchett as a "genius," while also acknowledging Jamie Lee Curtis as representative of all of us.
On social media, DeBose addressed the extensive commentary her performance had generated. She acknowledged the fervor by stating, "The internet is wild y'all!" and shared a collection of pictures and videos related to her rap, expressing gratitude for the support.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the 2023 Tony Awards:
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When Are the 2023 Tony Awards?
This year’s show will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 11.
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Where Are the 2023 Tony Awards Taking Place?
For the first time ever, this year's ceremony will be held at United Palace in Washington Heights.
Credit: Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
How Can You Watch the 2023 Tony Awards?
The broadcast will air live on CBS and Paramount+.
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Who Is Hosting the 2023 Tony Awards?
The second year in a row, DeBose has been chosen to emcee the evening. The executive producers, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, expressed their excitement for Ariana's return to host, dance, and sing in an April statement. They even playfully referenced her BAFTA rap, which went viral.
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Who Are the 2023 Tony Awards Nominees?
The full list of nominations was announced on May 2 and can be found on the Tony Awards website.
Sara Bareilles expressed her elation on Instagram upon receiving a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actress of a Musical. She shared that the honor meant a great deal to her as her ultimate goal in entering the world of theater was to produce quality work. The recognition serves as a validation of her sincere efforts and has left her in tears of gratitude.
The musician behind "Love Song" also gave a shoutout to fellow performers whose efforts went unnoticed at this year's event.
"I see you, whether your name was called or not. Your work matters and every day you're bringing light and soul to those rooms. This work literally saves lives, so let's raise a glass to being undeniable in this world. We theater people are the winners and I feel privileged to be in the biggest, weirdest, bravest, and most hilarious boat with all of you," she wrote.
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Will the Tony Awards Be Televised?
In May 2023, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that due to the ongoing Writer's Guild strike, the awards ceremony would not be aired live. The event's proceeding was not immediately disclosed.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) recently confirmed that the Tonys will go on as planned, as the union members will not be picketing the event. However, the WGA also stated that they will not be negotiating an interim agreement or waiver for the Tony Awards. The decision was made after Tony Awards Productions agreed to modify the show's format in response to specific requests from the WGA. The WGA placed the blame for the changes on the shoulders of Paramount/CBS and their allies, stating that they have refused to negotiate a fair contract for the writers they represent.
The statement concluded: “As they have stood by us, we stand with our fellow workers on Broadway who are impacted by our strike.”
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How Can Viewers Watch the 1st Part of the Ceremony?
The excitement of Broadway's most significant event commences at 6:30 p.m. on Pluto TV, with an unveiling of the first awards and performances. Julianne Hough and Skyler Astin will lead the two-hour broadcast before the celebration proceeds on CBS.
