BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed with multiple production sources many of the online reports and rumors surrounding the performances for Sunday nights Tony Awards. We're told that nothing is set in stone and that performances (which are already being rehearsed) may change as the week goes on.
Here's what we know as of Wednesday.
As previously reported, the show will be packed with entertainment from start to finish including a phenomenal opening and performances by Tony-nominated Best Musicals American Idiot, Fela!, Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet as well as the Tony-nominated Best Musical Revivals La Cage aux Folles featuring Kelsey Grammer, A Little Night Music featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ragtime. Also taking the stage throughout the evening will be Green Day, Glee's Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, as well as cast members from Come Fly Away, Everyday Rapture and Promises, Promises.
Today, we learned that Fela! will be performing a special number written specifically for the Tonys by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Aaron Johnson consisting of song/scene medley.
Christiane Noll will be performing part of "Back to Before" from Ragtime.
The cast of MEMPHIS will be performing a medley number including the songs "Radio" and "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll."
Additionally, it is likely that Catherine Zeta-Jones will be performing Send in the Clowns, Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge will be performing The Best of Times and that songs performed by Million Dollar Quartet include Down by the Riverside, Party, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and Blue Suede Shoes. The cast of American Idiot is expected to belt out the show's title number, perhaps with assistance from Green Day.
This year's telecast will feature a special presentation of the Tony-nominated Best Play and Best Play revivals. The presentation will feature Denzel Washington and Viola Davis from Fences; Justin Bartha, Anthony LaPaglia and Tony Shalhoub from Lend Me a Tenor; Jan Maxwell and RoseMary Harris of The Royal Family; Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson from A View from the Bridge; Laura Benanti and Michael Cerveris from In the Next Room or the vibrator play; Patrick Breen and Patrick Heusinger of Next Fall; Laura Linney and Brian D'Arcy James from Time Stands Still; and Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne from Red.
As previously announced Antonio Banderas, Cate Blanchett, Michael Douglas, Scarlett Johansson, Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren, Chris Noth, Bernadette Peters, David Hyde Pierce and Raquel Welch will also be appearing throughout the evening.
