Ariana DeBose to host Tony Awards for second straight year

Ariana DeBose, the star of the stage who won an Oscar for the 2021 film remake of “West Side Story,” will host the Tony Awards this June, filling the role for the second straight year, organizers said Wednesday.

The decision positions DeBose, 32, as a constant for the Tonys as the annual celebration of Broadway brilliance branches out, moving to Washington Heights’ United Palace from its traditional setting in Midtown Manhattan.

“I was honored to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back,” DeBose, who hosted from Radio City Music Hall last year, said in a statement. “Here’s to adding some uptown flavor to the magic of the Tony Awards!”

Onstage, DeBose has appeared in “Hamilton,” a revival of “Pippin” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” the last of which earned her a Tony nomination.

Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing, said in a joint statement that DeBose is “unstoppable – an Award-winning actress, powerhouse vocalist and commanding dancer.”

“We are thrilled to welcome back one of Broadway’s brightest lights to dazzle, inspire and illuminate this year’s Tony Awards,” they said in the statement.

Nominees for the 76th annual Tony Awards are scheduled to be revealed May 2. Shows must open by April 27 to be eligible for contention.

The show will be broadcast by CBS, which has aired the Tonys since 1978, as well as the network’s streaming platform, Paramount+. The Tonys have seen lagging ratings in recent years — a common trend for awards shows.

This year’s ceremony is scheduled for June 11. Its location has been seen as a nod to Broadway’s efforts to diversify its audience.

Washington Heights served as the setting for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash 2008 Broadway hit “In the Heights,” which was adapted into a well-reviewed 2021 film.