CBS announced today that Tony Award winner James Corden, host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, will host The 70th Annual Tony Awards, live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City, Sunday, June 12 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. This will be Corden’s first time hosting the Tonys. He won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in “One Man, Two Guvnors” in 2012.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be hosting the Tony Awards,” said James Corden. “Both times I’ve worked on Broadway have been amongst the happiest times of my professional life. I consider it a huge honor to be asked to host such an incredible night. It’s gonna be fun, I can’t wait to dust off my tap shoes!”
“We are thrilled to have James Corden not only as a member of the CBS family, but as host of this year’s Tony Awards,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “James is the ultimate performer – actor, singer and comedian – and the perfect choice to host this prestigious and always entertaining live television event.”
“James is one of those rare performers whose gifts translate perfectly to both the Broadway stage and the television screen, making him the ideal choice to host the Tony Awards. The last time he was at the Tonys, he went home with one. We think he’ll have even more fun as host. This is going to be one unforgettable show,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Tony Awards, which were first held on April 6, 1947 at the Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Ballroom. The ceremony is presented by Tony Award Productions, which is a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, which founded the Tonys.
The nominations for the 2016 Tony Awards will be announced live from The Paramount Hotel on May 3.
Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producers. Weiss will also serve as director for the 17th consecutive year.
There’s a chance American Idol alum, Jennifer Hudson, will be nominated for her current role in the revival of The Color Purple running on Broadway right now. She’ll probably be performing and or presenting as well.