NEW YORK — Flying vampires. A musical spoof of the megahit movie “Titanic.” Another spoof, this time of golden-age Broadway musicals. And a new “Death of a Salesman,” one of America’s most decorated and mournful plays. It’s Tony Awards time.
Twenty-four Broadway shows will hope to nab at least one win Sunday across the 26 Tony categories, which can mean the difference between keeping the doors open and pulling down the curtain.
Grammy Award-winner Pink is the host of the show, which will be broadcast live on CBS and streaming for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. to both coasts on Sunday from 8–11 p.m. Eastern/5–8 p.m. Pacific.
Pink promises a big opening number — written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick — ending with about 170 people on stage, with multiple costume changes and wire work. She has tapped Amber Ruffin, a writer and performer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” to help with jokes.
In the audience will be Pink’s mother, who introduced her to musicals growing up in Philadelphia, and her two children. Her 15-year-old daughter Willow is an aspiring theater actor and encouraged her to host the Tonys.
“There will be performances from the seven best new musical and best musical revival nominees: “The Lost Boys,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Titanique,” “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “Ragtime,” and “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Other performances include original cast members of “The Book of Mormon,” celebrating its 15th anniversary, and Leslie Odom Jr. performing “Without You” from “Rent” during the In Memoriam segment.
Another show celebrating a milestone, “Chicago” at 30, will feature a performance with Pink, Queen Latifah, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alex Newell, Adrienne Warren, Julianne Hough, Whitney Leavitt, and Dylan Mulvaney. “A Chorus Line,” marking its 50th anniversary, will also get a tribute by Rachel Zegler.
The best new musical race includes “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” “The Lost Boys,” “Schmigadoon!,” and “Titanique.”
Best play nominees include “Giant” and “Liberation,” while revival categories feature “Death of a Salesman,” “Oedipus,” and “Every Brilliant Thing” for plays, and “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “Ragtime,” and “The Rocky Horror Show” for musicals.
June Squibb, 96, became the oldest Tony nominee in history and could become the oldest winner ever. Nathan Lane is also in contention for his fourth Tony Award.
