Ariana DeBose set as Tonys host

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:05am

Just announced

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:06am

How wonderful! 

[soulmistin]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:07am

I’m just glad it’s a proper representative of the community and not another half baked comedian who was in a show once upon a time

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:09am

I'm glad it's a woman. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:10am

Sutton Ross said: "I'm glad it's a woman."

I’m even more glad it’s a POC. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:11am

I'm sure you are, but as a woman it's incredibly special. 

[ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:16am

Ariana will be a great host, shes wonderfully charismatic as both a performer and person. I doubt it happens, but I wouldn’t mind if she snuck in any of her WSS friends.

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:24am

Wow, what a perfect pick!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:33am

Fantastic news!

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:36am

Amazing choice!!!!! I just hope no one tries to blame the (inevitable) poor ratings on her. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:51am

She's enormously talented and should be a great host!

It would be really fun to get all the major ANITAs onstage together: Chita, Rita, Debbie Allen, Karen Olivo, Ariana. Though I doubt Chita & Rita will play together :)

Regardless of Tony ratings (which are never good, Hamilton/Corden year aside) –– I am curious what her name value is to the general population. She won a supporting Oscar for a musical film that hasn't been widely-seen, on a not-very-watched Oscar broadcast that was overshadowed by the slap. Like if she were to lead a Broadway show, I don't know that she means all that much more than Katrina Lenk or Rob McClure or Julianne Hough. Very intrigued to see where her career goes next. She's announced a few projects (including a seventh-tier Sony/Marvel movie).

[ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 11:59am

I’d say Chita and Rita appearing together is more likely than Karen Olivo appearing at all.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 12:03pm

Karen won't even watch the movie, she is done for now with theater and apparently anything involving a role she once played. She stated in an interview she will not be watching the Tonys in 2021, either. 

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 12:03pm

HenryTDobson said: "Amazing choice!!!!! I just hope no one tries to blame the (inevitable) poor ratings on her."

I mean, she's not exactly going to help the slumping ratings of this telecast, is she? I'm thrilled for Ariana and think she'll make it a very fun, lively evening, but if the goal was to boost ratings, then someone like a Hugh Jackman, Billy Crystal, Jane Lynch, Daniel Craig (just borrowing names from this Broadway season alone) would've made more sense. Ariana's fan base is pretty limited to the musical theatre crowd, which was already going to tune into the Tonys anyway.

Again, delighted and excited for Ariana, but from an audience-building and ratings-generating perspective, she's not exactly going to help the situation.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 12:06pm

Karen may be the Broadway equivalent of Alec Baldwin "retiring from public life" multiple times in his career: Karen did a reading of a new musical in December (and this isn't the first time they have retired and unretired).

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 12:10pm

DeBose is the obvious choice in a year where a Black, queer musical most likely splits the lion’s share of the musical awards with a beloved revival. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 12:46pm

“I’m coming home! I’m so honored to celebrate 75 years of excellence in theatre, 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 12th.”

-Ariana DeBose 

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 12:50pm

Amazing choice. I hope these awards shows have finally realized it’s better to make a great show for your audience than worry about insanely broad appeal (see this year’s Oscars). It almost always backfires. 

Theatre people love Ariana and she is certainly a more than qualified host for this gig. Can’t wait. 

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 5/5/22 at 2:30am

She winning.

Her rise in the industry is so ideal. It’s undeniably based on hard work and self-belief, and she rewarded by doing work (I assume) she truly wants to do with talent one can only dream of working with and under.

Also, she now has received so many accolades and industry respect, but she still isn’t a personality who would get mobbed on the street or something — she can live a normal life…for now.

I like her and will continue rooting for her. She’s inspiring.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/5/22 at 8:21am

She”s won so much that in my house we call her Ariana DaBOSS

[OhHiii]

Posted: 5/5/22 at 9:08am

Sutton Ross said: "Karen won't even watch the movie, she is done for now with theater and apparently anything involving a role she once played. She stated in an interview she will not be watching the Tonys in 2021, either."

Karen Olivo’s pronouns are they/them. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/5/22 at 9:20am

With her talent, I'm fully expecting a knockout opener. And I hope they showcase all the understudies/swings, too.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/5/22 at 9:39am

From West Side to the awards circuit to SNL to the Oscars to hosting the Tonys. Is anyone having a better 2022 than her? So excited for her, and the youthful energy (and hopefully audience) she'll bring to the show.