Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming Host 69th Annual Tony Awards June 7

2015 Tony Awards executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss (White Cherry Entertainment) announced a portion of the line-up of performances for the 69th Annual Tony Awards. Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming will co-host the live three-hour telecast from Radio City Music Hall June 7 from 7 to 10 p.m. (CST) on CBS.

The Awards are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The entertainment-packed evening will feature more performances than ever before from 2014-2015 season Tony-nominated shows in the Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical categories. Appearing are Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope, Brandon Uranotitz, Max von Essen, and the cast of An American in Paris; Fun Home nominees Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn, Beth Malone, Sydney Lucas, and Emily Skeggs; nominees Brian D’Arcy James, Christian Borle, and Brad Oscar and the cast of Something Rotten!; nominee Chita Rivera, Roger Rees, and the cast of The Visit – in addition to Best Revival noms The King and I, with nominees Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles; On the Town, with nominee Tony Yazbeck and cast; and nominee Chenoweth, Peter Gallagher, nominee Andy Karl, and the cast of On the Twentieth Century.

Not to be forgotten, there’ll be salutes to Play nominees The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Disgraced, Hand to God, and Wolf Hall, Parts One and Two.

Stay tuned for the announcement of presenters.

Will three hours be enough? And don’t forget a fourth hour that precedes the telecast where creative and honorary awards are meted out.

And get this: No grudges are being held against the massive army of Tony nominators by Finding Neverland lead producers Harvey Weinstein and Madison Square Garden, who’re paying a hefty fee to have a prominent spot for the snubbed musical on the show, thereby reaching the wide theater-going viewership of CBS and the Emmy-winning Tony telecast to their sell-out performances.

It’s completely puzzling how it was possible to ignore the many deserving elements of this mega blockbuster – such as the performances of Matthew Morrison, Kelsey Grammer, and Laura Michelle Kelly. Furthermore, many question how 50 nominators couldn’t find value in the numerous elements of the musical – such as previous Tony- winning director Diane Paulus, featured actor Rory Donovan, and Scott Pask’s dazzling scenic design (no insult to the extraordinary and different Fun Home, but how is it nominators found its minimal scenic design superior to five-time Tony-winning Pask’s dazzling production design? Was there a blackout during their visit?).

The press released noted the largess of the Tony Awards, stating “It upholds a valued tradition of recognizing the excellence of the entire Broadway season each year.” Yes, as long as the check’s in the mail.

In addition, the telecast will feature paid “not-to-be missed performances” (not-to-be missed but not nominated) by Vanessa Hudgens and the cast of 99 percent-snubbed Gigi (it was a sin to ignore King and I nominee Catherine Zuber’s stunning costumes — but, at least Tony darling Victoria Clark received a nod) and Tyne Daly with the cast of It Shoulda Been You (but no nod for this Tony-winning stage veteran displaying her hand at high comedy in the play directed by David Hyde Pierce).

There were 10 original musicals this season. The Awards category for Musical is usually open to four, but can be expanded to five — as could the category for scenic design.

Are the nominators telling us that among the other shows — Dr. Zhivago, Finding Neverland, Gigi, Honeymoon in Vegas, It Shoulda Been You, The Last Ship (which, at least, got a nod for Sting in the Best Score category) — they couldn’t find another honoree.

After a reported “broadside” by Vogue editor and Met Museum Costume Institute’s Anna Wintour about the horrible couture on the Tonys’ red carpet, Tony-winning costume designer William Ivey Long, chair of the American Theater Wing, has brought her aboard as fashion consultant. Interesting, since, often, you might wonder about Ms. Wintour’s choice of couture. In spite of numerous efforts to make it so, the Tonys are not the Oscars. Makes for nice publicity, though.

The Tonys honor theater professionals for distinguished achievement and creative achievements on Broadway. The Awards have had a loyal broadcast partner with CBS since 1978.

For more information including the full list of nominees, a meet-the-hosts feature, photo gallery, multimedia, trivia, and the history of the Awards, including a revealing feature on Tony namesake Antoinette Perry, visit the Tony Awards website.

Be sure to visit the Tony Awards pop-up boutique at the Paramount Hotel. Follow the Tonys on the site, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Ellis Nassour is an Ole Miss alum and noted arts journalist and author who recently donated an ever-growing exhibition of performing arts history to the University of Mississippi. He is the author of the best-selling Patsy Cline biography, Honky Tonk Angel, as well as the hit musical revue, Always, Patsy Cline.

Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming Host 69th Annual Tony Awards June 7

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Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming Host 69th Annual Tony Awards June 7

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