Neil Patrick Harris Announced to Host Tony Awards on June 7

Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor, Neil Patrick Harris, will take Center Stage when he hosts the 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards® on Sunday, June 7th, live from Radio City Music Hall. The Tony Awards will air live on CBS from 8:00-11:00PM (ET/PT time delay). The Tonys are presented by The Broadway League and The American Theatre Wing.

Equally successful on stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris can currently be seen as Barney Stinson in the hit CBS comedy series, "How I Met Your Mother," a role which recently garnered him a 2009 Golden Globe nomination and two consecutive Emmy Award nominations. From his film debut opposite Whoopi Goldberg in Clara's Heart and his seminal role as the beloved titular character in "Doogie Howser, M.D.," to his recent turn in Joss Whedon's online sensation, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Harris has enjoyed a successful career spanning more than twenty years in the industry. Among his many theatrical credits include the dual role of The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald in the Tony Award-winning production of Assassins, as well as acclaimed performances in the Broadway productions of Cabaret and Proof.

"The discipline of live theatre - doing the same perfect thing night after night, eight times a week - never ceases to amaze me," said Neil Patrick Harris. "I'm truly honored to have been chosen as the Master of Ceremonies for this year's Tony Awards, and I hope to help provide a first-class evening for all."

The 2009 Tony Awards will be executive produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment.

"We are thrilled to be working with Neil on the most important theatre night of the year," said Glenn Weiss. "His love for Broadway and great knowledge of theatre combined with his on-stage presence makes him the perfect person to guide us through what is sure to be a great night," said Ricky Kirshner.

Kirshner has worked on 15 of the past 16 Tony Awards beginning as Associate Producer and working up to Executive Producer. Weiss is also director of the telecast; this is his ninth year. He won an Emmy Award for his direction of the 2005 telecast. Together as Executive Producers they have won Emmy's for the 59th, 60th and 61st Tony Award Telecasts.

The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Award®, which was founded by the American Theatre Wing in 1947, is bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast - the night America watches Broadway - is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television.

The 2009 Tonys are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Nina Lannan is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the American Theatre Wing, Theodore S. Chapin is Chairman and Howard Sherman is Executive Director. For Tony Award Productions, Alan Wasser and Allan Williams of Alan Wasser Associates are the General Managers.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment are Executive Producers of the 2009 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2009 Tony Awards.