Neil Patrick Harris.

http://www.playbill.com/news/a...d_Annual_Tony_Awards

I wonder if he's going to be a draw. Did CBS do this?

An inspired choice. The Tonys will never draw a significant audience, regardless of who hosts. I'm just glad they found someone engaging, funny, talented AND has the theatre resume to deserve to be there.

Can't WAIT!!

quote:

Originally posted by FtWorthGuy:
An inspired choice. The Tonys will never draw a significant audience, regardless of who hosts. I'm just glad they found someone engaging, funny, talented AND has the theatre resume to deserve to be there.

Can't WAIT!!

I am also excited about Neil Patrick Harris who seems a natural at this kind of hosting gig. I have also seen some of his theatrical work and I can vouch for him being at least a terrific musical performer. He was very touching as Tobias in a production I saw in L.A. of "Sweeney Todd" starring Kelsey Grammar and Christine Baranski. He was also in the concert version with Patti Lupone, she is not so good with a lousy accent, and George Hearn which is out on DVD. Also, saw him as Mark in "Rent" and even though the L.A. cast was not as dynamic overall compared to the NYC cast I found him to be excellent and better than Anthony Rapp. I also preferred Wilson Cruz to Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

I like this idea. Neil Patrick Harris is hilarious! I read that they asked James Gandolfini to host but he turned them down, but he is still going to present at the Tonys.

I like this idea too. NPH is very funny so I wonder what he has up his sleeve come Tony night! Who knows, maybe this hosting gig will open up the doors to greater things for him like it did for Hugh Jackman!

That's an excellent choice. This could be huge for him if he pulls it off well.

Love him!!! Very happy with this choice...was hoping for Dolly Parton, which there had been some speculation about...according to a fan page of hers...but that same page did say she would perform the title song from 9 to 5, wonder and hope it will be with the show's cast...not sure if that is true, it would make less sense for the program to do that if she weren't the host though.

Again Harris will be great!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JayDF,

quote:

Originally posted by pacinofan:

quote:

Originally posted by FtWorthGuy:
An inspired choice. The Tonys will never draw a significant audience, regardless of who hosts. I'm just glad they found someone engaging, funny, talented AND has the theatre resume to deserve to be there.

Can't WAIT!!

I am also excited about Neil Patrick Harris who seems a natural at this kind of hosting gig. I have also seen some of his theatrical work and I can vouch for him being at least a terrific musical performer. He was very touching as Tobias in a production I saw in L.A. of "Sweeney Todd" starring Kelsey Grammar and Christine Baranski. He was also in the concert version with Patti Lupone, she is not so good with a lousy accent, and George Hearn which is out on DVD. Also, saw him as Mark in "Rent" and even though the L.A. cast was not as dynamic overall compared to the NYC cast I found him to be excellent and better than Anthony Rapp. I also preferred Wilson Cruz to Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel.

Kelsey Grammar played Todd?! Hahahaha!

NPH is a fine choice. Great charisma, extremely funny, with a strong background in theater. Oh, and did I mention he's long overdue for an Emmy?

List of presenters were announced today.

Those currently scheduled to present are:

Lucie Arnaz
Kate Burton
Kristin Chenoweth
Jeff Daniels
Hope Davis
Edie Falco
Will Ferrell
Carrie Fisher
Jane Fonda
Hallie Foote
James Gandolfini
Lauren Graham
Colin Hanks
Marcia Gay Harden
Anne Hathaway
Nicole Kidman
Jessica Lange
Frank Langella
Angela Lansbury
Audra McDonald
Piper Perabo
David Hyde Pierce
Oliver Platt
Susan Sarandon
Kevin Spacey
John Stamos
Chandra Wilson

Casts of Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Next to Normal, Shrek and More to Perform on Tonys

By Andrew Gans
28 May 2009

The 63rd Annual Tony Awards, which will be broadcast live on CBS June 7, will feature performances by each of the Tony-nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals, including Billy Elliot, The Musical; Guys and Dolls; Hair; Next to Normal; Pal Joey; Rock of Ages; Shrek the Musical; and West Side Story.

The three-hour broadcast will also feature special performances from three touring shows: Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde The Musical and Mamma Mia!

Playbill.com has learned that the cast of Next to Normal, led by Tony nominee Alice Ripley, will perform "You Don't Know," while the Billy Elliot performance will feature all three Tony-nominated Billys: Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish and David Alvarez.

The Tony Awards will also be simulcast in Times Square on the Clear Channel Spectacolor HD Screen from 7-11 PM and will feature the pre-telecast Creative Arts Awards and the Tony Awards broadcast. Seating will be provided in Duffy Square.

For more information visit www.tonyawards.com.

Supposedly (but unconfirmed as of yet) Billy Elliot is performing "Solidarity", West Side Story is performing "Dance at the Gym", Hair is performing "Hair", and Guys and Dolls "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat".

While the "You Don't Know/I Am the One" sequence is certainly emotionally charged and features some good music, I don't quite see how that is going to work taken out of context. "Just Another Day", the show's opener, would have made more sense to me. It's a good, exciting song and introduces all the characters.