THE BOOK OF MORMON to Open 2012 Tonys

The cast of THE BOOK OF MORMON will open the 66th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10th, according to the New York Post and confirmed by Tony Awards Productions.

"The 2011 Tony winner for Best Musical will launch the telecast with its song “Hello!,” which should lift the show out of the doldrums. Last week’s gross, after all, was a paltry $1.6 million. The cast, dressed as Mormons, will knock on the dressing-room doors of several stars, ending up with Tony host Neil Patrick Harris," writes Michael Riedel in the New York Post.

The evening, which will be packed with more entertainment than ever before, will feature performances by 2012 Tony Nominated Musicals including: Evita featuring Ricky Martin and Elena Roger; Follies featuring Tony nominated actor Danny Burstein; The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess featuring Tony nominees Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and David Alan Grier; Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Tony nominee Josh Young; Leap of Faith featuring Raúl Esparza; Newsies, featuring Tony nominated actor Jeremy Jordan; Nice Work If You Can Get It featuring Matthew Broderick and Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara; and Once featuring Tony nominees Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti and Elizabeth A. Davis. The evening will also include performances by Tony nominated Plays, such as: End of the Rainbow with Tony nominated actress Tracie Bennett; One Man, Two Guvnors with Tony nominated actor James Corden and Peter and the Starcatcher featuring Tony nominees Christian Borle and Celia Keenan-Bolger. The show will also feature a performance with Corbin Bleu and the cast of Godspell and Ghost The Musical featuring Bryce Pinkham, Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman.

As previously announced, presenters for the 2012 Tony Awards will include: Ellen Barkin, Candice Bergen, Jessica Chastain, Sheryl Crow, Nick Jonas, Angela Lansbury, James Marsden, Jim Parsons, Mandy Patinkin, Tyler Perry, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Plummer, Paul Rudd, Amanda Seyfried, Trey Parker and Matt Stone among others.

The Tony Awards, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will be broadcast live, from the Beacon Theatre on CBS, Sunday, June 10th, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay). The 2012 Tony Awards are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television.

Read the NYP article here.

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