Cynthia Erivo to Host 2025 Tony Awards Ceremony
Cynthia Erivo will host the 78th annual Tony Awards this June.
This marks the first time hosting the ceremony for Erivo, who is a Tony Award winner for her starring role in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple, which also led to Emmy and Grammy Awards. Erivo is nominated for an Academy Award at this year’s Oscars ceremony for her role as Elphaba in Wicked.
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“I am so proud and excited to take on this glorious honor,” Erivo said. “I am looking forward to ushering the theatre community at large through a night that celebrates the wonderful performances we have witnessed throughout the year. I hope I can rise to the occasion.”
The Tony Awards will be held on Sun. June 8 at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast live to both coasts on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Erivo rose to fame playing Celie in The Color Purple on the West End and Broadway, and went on to star as Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film Harriet (for which she earned an Oscar nod for her performance and for her original song, “Stand Up”), as Aretha Franklin in the 2021 television series Genius: Aretha, and in the 2018 films Widows and Bad Times at the El Royale. She recently starred opposite Idris Elba in the Netflix feature film installment of Luther: The Fallen Sun.
In addition to her Academy Award nomination, Erivo received Golden Globe, SAG, Critics Choice, NAACP and BAFTA nominations for her role in the Wicked. The second Wicked film is scheduled to be released Nov. 21. Erivo also recently wrapped production on the second season of Poker Face.
“Through performances on both stage and screen, Cynthia has extended the magic of musical theater to millions of new fans around the globe — and that is exactly the mission of the Tony Awards,” said Heather Hitchens, president & CEO of the American Theater Wing and Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League. “Her talent defies gravity and boundaries, and we are beyond thrilled to welcome her home to Broadway for what will be a joyful and inspiring celebration of the theatrical artform. We hope audiences are ready to leap to their feet, cry tears of joy, and maybe even get up and dance.”
“Cynthia is a remarkable talent and with her deep roots in the theater community, we are honored to have her host this year’s Tony Awards on CBS,” said Mackenzie Mitchell, vp, specials at CBS. “There is no doubt with her innate creativity and captivating presence, she will deliver an unforgettable evening highlighting the extraordinary achievements of this Broadway season.”
Ariana DeBose hosted the last three Tony Awards ceremonies, including the unscripted 2023 ceremony, which took place amid the Writers Guild of America strike.
Nominations for the Tony Awards will be announced Thursday, May 1.
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