WEST SIDE STORY Oscar Winner Ariana DeBose to Host 2022 Tony Awards

Broadway’s biggest night has found its host for the 75th annual Tony Awards: Oscar winner and Tony nominee Ariana DeBose. The star will emcee from Radio City Music Hall during the ceremony, set to take place June 12 beginning at 8 PM ET, airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

DeBose won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar earlier this year for her work as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story. She also won a BAFTA, Critics Choice, and SAG Award for her performance. She was last seen on Broadway in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and played the Bullet in Hamilton.

“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!” said DeBose. “This is a dream come true, and I’m excited to see you all on June 12th.”

DeBose has also appeared in A Bronx Tale, Pippin, Motown The Musical, Bring It On: The Musical, and the 2011 New York Philharmonic concert staging of Company. On screen, the star recently appeared in Apple TV+’s musical comedy Schmigadoon!, and played Alyssa Greene in the Netflix adaptation of The Prom.  Next up, DeBose will star in Sony Pictures’ Kraven the Hunter, Argylle from Apple, and the space thriller ISS.

In addition to her work as a performer, DeBose sits on the International Board of Covenant House advocating for homeless youth, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+. She is also a board member of A is For, a reproductive rights organization started by Martha Plimpton that works to ensure that all women have access to reproductive and abortion care free of stigma.

The 2022 Tony Awards will begin at 7 PM with exclusive content streaming only on Paramount+. Hosts and further information for that presentation will be announced at a later date. As previously announced, the Tony Awards eligibility cut-off date has been extended for this season to May 4 for all Broadway productions which meet all other eligibility requirements. Tony winner Adrienne Warren and Tony Nominee Joshua Henry will announce the nominees on May 9 at 9 AM on the Tony Awards official YouTube page.

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