By Andrew Gans
27 May 2003

Time Warner’s 24-hour news station, NY1 News, will broadcast a live pre show to the June 8 Tony Awards ceremony.

The 90-minute special, airing 6:30-8 PM ET, marks the second straight year that the cable channel has offered red-carpet coverage at Radio City Music Hall, home to this year’s Tony Awards. NY1 theatre critic Roma Torre and entertainment reporter Paul Lombardi will host the special, which will feature live interviews with many of this year’s Tony nominees, including Antonio Banderas, Harvey Fierstein, Vanessa Redgrave, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Chita Rivera.

Courtesy of NY1’s weekly theatre program, “On Stage’s Live Preview to the Tonys” will also include coverage of all the nominated productions.

As previously announced, Hugh Jackman — who will make his Broadway bow in the fall in The Boy From Oz — will host the Tony Awards. Among the Tony presenters scheduled are Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Barbara Walters, Tyne Daly, Danny Glover, Christopher Reeve, Laurence Fishburne, Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave and Joey Fantone.

Those wishing to attend the Tony Awards ceremony June 8 at Radio City Music Hall may purchase tickets by calling (212) 307-4544 or by logging on line to www.tonyawards.com.

The Tony Award nominations for the 2002-03 Broadway season were announced 8:30 AM (ET) May 12 at Sardi's restaurant by John Lithgow and Melanie Griffith.