'West Side Story' star Ariana DeBose to host the 2022 Tony Awards (original) (raw)
There's a place for her... on the Radio City Music Hall stage. The Tony Awards announced Wednesday that Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose will host the 75th annual awards show, which will air live from the venue on Sunday, June 12.
"We are thrilled to have Ariana DeBose, who has captivated audiences with her inspirational roles onstage and in film and television, host this year's Tony Awards," Jack Sussman, Executive VicePresident, Specials, Music, Live Event, and Alternative Programming for CBS, said in a statement. "After the last challenging two years there is no one better to bring the theater community together on this important night honoring the best of Broadway, and share the joys of live performing once again than this extraordinarily talented artist."
Ariana DeBose will host the 2022 Tony Awards. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
In addition to earning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her star-making portrayal of Anita in Steven Spielberg's 2021 movie-musical West Side Story, DeBose was honored with BAFTA, Critics Choice, and SAG Awards for her work.
In 2018, she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as "Disco Donna" in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, a role that also scored her a Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance and a Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show.
Before her revolutionary turns in Summer and West Side Story, DeBose captured audiences' hearts as part of the original Broadway and off-Broadway cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. Her other parts have included Jane in the original cast of A Bronx Tale, Leading Player in the Tony Award–winning revival of Pippin, Mary Wilson in Motown the Musical, Nautica in Bring It On: The Musical, and an ensemble role in Stephen Sondheim's Company. On television, she appeared in Schmigadoon! and Ryan Murphy's Netflix adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom.
DeBose also currently sits on the International Board of Covenant House advocating for homeless youth and is a board member of A is For, a reproductive rights organization started by Martha Plimpton.
Ariana DeBose in 'West Side Story'. Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios
"I'm coming home! I'm so honored to celebrate 75 years of excellence in theatre, 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!" DeBose said in a statement. "This is a dream come true, and I'm excited to see you all on June 12th."
The Tony Awards will air on June 12, live from both coasts, at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT, on CBS. The show will also stream live and on demand on Paramount+, which will host exclusive content starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
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