Ariana DeBose is about to do her factor on the 2024 Tony Awards — for the third time in a row.
The Oscar winner is about to host the annual award ceremony for the third yr on Sunday at New York’s Lincoln Middle. Whereas she’s no stranger to working the present at this level, the 33-year-old performer can also be no stranger to the viewers she’s about to emcee.
That is as a result of she’s a Broadway star herself. The Hamilton alum received her skilled begin in theater greater than a decade in the past and has since earned her personal Tony nomination for Finest Featured Actress in a Musical as Disco Donna in 2018’s Summer time: The Donna Summer time Musical. The Promenade actress went on to breakout Hollywood stardom as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Facet Story, incomes her first Oscar nomination and win.
However on Sunday evening, she’ll be again within the firm of her beloved theater comrades.
“I really like the group,” she tells ET’s Rachel Smith. “I received my begin on Broadway. I labored… on Broadway for 10 years and it appears like residence, so yearly that I get the chance to return again, I am actually grateful.”
This yr, nevertheless, she’s including an additional credit score to her résumé as a producer of the award present.
“It feels completely different, however once more, it’s not that completely different. I am doing all the identical issues I used to do. I am very hands-on anyhow,” she says. “However, you understand, having a seat on the desk, they’re kinda pressured to take heed to me, however fortunately everybody at White Cherry [Entertainment] and I, we now have a extremely nice collaborative course of.”
After kicking off the present final yr and not using a script amid the Writers Guild of America strike, there’ll nonetheless be a gap quantity this yr — co-choreographed by DeBose herself — however count on a contemporary have a look at the magic of theater.
“I feel this present is gonna actually attempt to like elevate what the Tonys may be. We’re making an attempt some new issues. It is an formidable Broadway season,” she factors out, “so why not attempt to give them an formidable present.”
Notes DeBose, “We’re not making an attempt to duplicate or recycle any of the magic from final yr, proper? It was of a time — I do not suppose I might do this once more if I attempted, so, you understand, we’re at Lincoln Middle this yr and it’s about taking the instruments and the house that we’re in and seeing what that may deliver to the Tonys.”
Whereas DeBose is retaining a lot of the particulars to herself till showtime, she confirmed there might be “unimaginable” musical performances and a star-studded lineup of presenters — together with Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P. Henson, and Angelina Jolie — all whereas she juggles internet hosting and 4 costume adjustments.
Finally, in fact, it is the exhibits and their nominated performers which can be on the heart of Broadway’s largest evening.
“There’s actually one thing for everybody,” she says of this yr’s Broadway season. “That is what I really like a lot is like we opened so many exhibits. I consider it was a complete of 36 productions this season, and it is wild as a result of Broadway is remodeling itself, so if you happen to’ve traditionally thought that Broadway might not be for you, I promise you, if you happen to simply give it an opportunity, there’s a present for you. Come see Hell’s Kitchen, come see The Outsiders, Illinoise, Mom Play, Applicable, Enemy of the Individuals — there may be actually the cerebral, the strictly entertaining, there may be the heartwarming and the life-changing. We’re prepared for you. Come see us.”
The 2024 Tony Awards, which might be hosted by Ariana DeBose, is airing dwell from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Middle for the Performing Arts on Sunday, June 16, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
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