New presenters include Gabriel Byrne, Julie Chen, Harry Connick, Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Mandy Patinkin, David Hyde Pierce, Lily Tomlin and John Waters. The eight artists join previously announced presenters Alec Baldwin, Kristin Chenoweth, Glenn Close, Richard Griffiths, Laura Linney, John Lithgow, Liza Minnelli, Mary-Louise Parker, Daniel Radcliffe, Brooke Shields and Marisa Tomei.

The 2008 Tony Awards will feature performances from the casts of Rent and The Lion King. The original principal cast of Jonathan Larson's Rent will join the show's current company to celebrate the the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical's lengthy run, which ends Sept. 7 at the Nederlander Theatre. The current company of the Tony-winning musical The Lion King will also perform on the Tony telecast to celebrate the show's 10th anniversary; in fact, the Disney musical will open the telecast with "Circle of Life."

Stage and screen star Whoopi Goldberg will host the 62nd Annual Tony Awards, which will be presented June 15. CBS-TV will broadcast the event live from Radio City Music Hall, 8-11 PM ET. (Red-carpet arrivals will begin at 6 PM).

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. CBS has broadcast the annual event since 1978.

For more information visit www.TonyAwards.com.