2009 Tony Awards to be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris; Dolly, Elton and Poison set to perform
Are we gonna be watching the Tony Awards or the Grammy Awards this Sunday? If you thought it was odd for Snoop Dog to show up at the 2008 CMT Awards last year then brace yourself for the latest announcements about performers and presenters for the 2009 Tony Awards.
Dolly Parton will perform along with the cast of her musical 9 to 5: The Musical; Elton John will perform with the cast of Billy Elliot, The Musical; Liza Minnelli and Stockard Channing are each slotted for a performance and the 80's hair metal band Poison will be taking the stage along with the cast of Rock of Ages, joining previously announced performances by this year's 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.
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, The Tony Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS, Sunday, June 7th at
8/7 C.
This year's Tonys will also feature some of Broadway's favorites who are currently touring cities across the United States - Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde The Musical and Mamma Mia! - in a special segment entitled Celebrating Broadway Across America.
Becky Gulsvig, who is on tour as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, The Musical, will perform a number from the hit show.
As a special tribute to the power of the show around the country - The Jersey Boys performance will feature five different actors who are currently playing the role of Frankie Valli: Joseph Leo Bwarie, representing the Toronto company; Rick Faugno, representing the Las Vegas company, Courter Simmons, representing the national tour (which many may remember when it stopped at TPAC earlier this year) and Dominic Scaglione, Jr. representing the Chicago company, will perform a number together from the show.
Michelle Dawson, Kittra Wynn Commer and Robin Tyler, currently on stage, as the Three Dynamos at the Pioneer Center in Reno, Nevada will perform a number from Mamma Mia!
Presenters for the 63rd Annual Tony Awards include, 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, Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Lange, Frank Langella, Angela Lansbury, Samantha Mathis, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Hyde Pierce, Piper Perabo, Oliver Platt, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, John Stamos and Chandra Wilson.
The 2009 Tony Awards are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. To view the live Tony Awards pre-telecast, featuring the Creative Arts Awards, log onto www.TonyAwards.com at 7:00 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, June 7th.
