The Oscars have become famous for the galmour. The MTV Video Music Awards for the onstage drama. And then there is the Tony Awards ceremony, the season closer most celebrated for its live performances. Though always full of surprises, BroadwayWorld has gotten the scoop on a number of performances audiences can expect from their favorite Broadway shows this season.
There is, of course, the previously announced number expected from Company, led by Neil Patrick Harris and featuring all-stars Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Katie Finneran, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Aaron Lazar, Patti LuPone, Jill Paice, Martha Plimpton, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jim Walton and Chryssie Whitehead, and a rendition of "I Believe" from The Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells. According to published reports, the company of Anything Goes will perform the title song from the Cole Porter classic, Daniel Radcliffe will lead a performance of "Brotherhood of Man," and the nuns of Sister Act will be raising their voices to the balcony with "Raise Your Voice," led by Patina Miller. The Scottsboro Boys are likely to will make their way onto the stage to perform "Commencing in Chattanooga" and "Go Back Home."
Priscilla Queen of the Desert's presence onstage at the show is uncertain, however is "being negotiated" according to a source for the show. "I Will Survive" is considered the obvious performance choice if given a slot and an official announcement is expected sometime this week if a performance is to happen. Also uncertain is what we can expect from Catch Me If You Can, though it seems likely audiences will be treated to a bit from Best Leading Actor in a Musical favorite, Norbert Leo Butz, who has fared well this awards season.
The biggest wildcard remains Spider-Man and if Bono, Edge and Reeve Carney will perform a number - likely "Rise Above" - together. Reps for the production tell BroadwayWorld that a Spider-Man performance is still "undetermined."
A highly theatrical number performed by Neil Patrick Harris and created by David Javerbaum will open the telecast. A former executive producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Javerbaum has won 11 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, two Peabody Awards and Television Critics Association Awards for Best Comedy and Best News Show. He wrote the book and lyrics to Broadway's Cry-Baby, and additionally collaborated on eight original Christmas songs for Stephen Colbert's 2008 television special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!. He was also the lyricist and co-bookwriter of Suburb, which was nominated for Outer Critics' Circle and Drama League awards for Best Off-Broadway Musical in 2001. He is the co-author The Daily Show's textbook parody America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction and its sequel, Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race. He has also written for The Onion and The Late Show with David Letterman,
As previously announced the evening will be hosted by Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris, and will feature appearances by: Daniel Radcliffe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Alec Baldwin, Samuel L. Jackson, Kelsey Grammer, Viola Davis, Vanessa Redgrave, James Earl Jones, Harry Connick, Jr., Christie Brinkley, David Hyde Pierce, Marg Helgenberger, Matthew Broderick, Angela Lansbury, Jim Parsons, Joel Grey, Patrick Wilson, Robert Morse and many others.
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.
The 65th Annual Tony Awards, will air live on CBS, on Sunday, June 12th 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay) and are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
For more information on the Tony Awards, please visit www.TonyAwards.com.
