Among those just announced to perform on the telecast celebrating the Broadway theatre's biggest night of the year are Dolly Parton with the cast of 9 to 5: The Musical; Elton John with the cast of Billy Elliot, The Musical; Liza Minnelli; Stockard Channing; and the band Poison with the cast of Rock of Ages.
As previously announced, all of this year's Tony-nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals will perform, including Billy Elliot, The Musical; Guys and Dolls; Hair; Next to Normal; Pal Joey; Rock of Ages; Shrek the Musical; and West Side Story.
Touring productions will also be represented: Becky Gulsvig, who is on tour as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, The Musical, will perform a songs from that musical based on the film of the same name. The Jersey Boys performance will feature several actors currently playing the role of Frankie Valli in various productions: Joseph Leo Bwarie, representing the Toronto company; Rick Faugno, representing the Las Vegas company; Courter Simmons, representing the national tour; and Dominic Scaglione, Jr. representing the Chicago company. Michelle Dawson, Kittra Wynn Coomer and Rachel Tyler, who star in the North American tour of Mamma Mia! at the Pioneer Center in Reno, NV, will perform a song from that international hit.
Playbill.com has learned that the cast of Next to Normal, led by Tony nominee Alice Ripley, will perform "You Don't Know," while the Billy Elliot performance will feature all three Tony-nominated Billys: Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish and David Alvarez. The Shrek cast will also perform "What's Up, Duloc?"
Neil Patrick Harris will host the annual Tony ceremony live from Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. Presenters are scheduled to include Lucie Arnaz, Kate Burton, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Edie Falco, Will Ferrell, Carrie Fisher, Jane Fonda, Hallie Foote, James Gandolfini, Lauren Graham, Colin Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden, Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Lange, Frank Langella, Angela Lansbury, Samantha Mathis, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Hyde Pierce, Piper Perabo, Oliver Platt, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, John Stamos and Chandra Wilson. The Tony Awards will also be simulcast in Times Square on the Clear Channel Spectacolor HD Screen from 7-11 PM and will feature the pre-telecast Creative Arts Awards and the Tony Awards broadcast. Seating will be provided in Duffy Square.
For more information visit tonyawards.com.
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The 2009 Tonys are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Nina Lannan is chairman, and Charlotte St. Martin is executive director. At the American Theatre Wing, Theodore S. Chapin is chairman and Howard Sherman is executive director. For Tony Award Productions, Alan Wasser and Allan Williams of Alan Wasser Associates are the general managers.
Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment are executive producers of the 2009 Tony Awards. Weiss will also serve as director of the 2009 Tony Awards.
