The awards show, which honors theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. This will be the second year that the show will be broadcast live from the Beacon, part of the Madison Square Garden portfolio of venues. 

The official eligibility cut-off date will be April 26 for all Broadway productions opening in the 2011-2012 season.

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

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment are the executive producers of the 2012 Tony Awards. Weiss will also serve as director of the awards program.

For more information on the Tony Awards, visit TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards and follow @TheTonyAwards on Twitter. *

At The Broadway League, Nick Scandalios is chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is executive director. At the American Theatre Wing, Theodore S. Chapin is chairman and Heather Hitchens is executive director. For Tony Award Productions, Alan Wasser and Allan Williams of Alan Wasser Associates are the general managers.