ACADEMY AWARD WINNER AND TONY AWARD NOMINEE ARIANA DEBOSE TO HOST "THE 75TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS(R)," AIRING LIVE COAST-TO-COAST SUNDAY, JUNE 12, ON CBS

Celebrating 75 Years of the Best of Broadway, the Tony Awards Will Broadcast Live from Radio City Music Hall to Honor the 2021-2022 Broadway Season

Broadcast Marks the First Time the Awards Show Will Be Live Across the Country

Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose will host THE 75th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS(R) from the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 12 (8:00-11:00 PM, LIVE ET/5:00-8:00 PM, LIVE PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+*.

The celebration will commence at 7:00-8:00 PM, ET/4:00-5:00 PM, PT with exclusive content streaming only on Paramount+. Hosts and further information on the Paramount+ presentation will be announced at a later date.

"We are thrilled to have Ariana DeBose, who has captivated audiences with her inspirational roles on stage and in film and television, host this year's Tony Awards," said Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming, CBS. "After the challenging last two years, there is no one better to bring the theater community together on this important night honoring the best of Broadway and share the joys of live performing once again than this extraordinarily talented artist."

"I'm coming home! I'm so honored to celebrate 75 years of excellence in theater, but more importantly every member of this community who poured themselves into making sure the lights of Broadway have the opportunity to shine brightly once again! This is a dream come true, and I'm excited to see you all on June 12," said Ariana DeBose.

"The 75th Tony Awards celebration is a big moment for all of us in the theater community, and in Ariana we have found the perfect host to lead this celebration," said Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League. "We can't wait to see Ariana take the stage on June 12 and dazzle, inspire and entertain us."

"There's a reason Ariana has been nominated and won so many awards ... and you'll see why on June 12 when she is back 'home' on a Broadway stage," said Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment.

Ariana DeBose received critical acclaim for her ground-breaking performance in Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story," for which she received Oscar, BAFTA, Critics Choice and SAG Awards for her performance as Anita. On stage, DeBose is best known for her role as Disco Donna in "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," which earned her a 2018 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, as well as a Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show and a Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance. In 2015, DeBose appeared alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda in the groundbreaking Tony-winning musical "Hamilton" as a member of the original cast in both the Broadway and off-Broadway productions, as well as the Emmy Award-winning film version. Additional theater credits include "A Bronx Tale," "Pippin," "Motown the Musical," "Bring It On: The Musical" and "Company." On television, DeBose appeared in the series "Schmigadoon!" and the adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "The Prom." Next, DeBose will star in the films "Kraven the Hunter," "Argvlle" and "ISS."

The 75th Tonys celebration will recognize all the award categories and honor the incredible artistry of the 2021-2022 season. The Tony Awards, which honor theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, is presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing and has been broadcast on CBS since 1978.

Nominations for the 2022 Tony Awards will be announced by Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry on Monday, May 9.

The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will serve as director.

About the Tony Awards

The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Award, which was founded by the American Theatre Wing in 1947, is bestowed annually on theater 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.

*Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on demand. Essential-tier subscribers will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.