Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin have been tapped to host the Tony Awards preshow broadcast on Pluto TV on Sunday.
Like the main broadcast, this part will not be in the script, according to sources familiar with the case. The WGA did not exempt the Tony Awards from the awards ceremony, but said the union would not take the show as long as the producers did not use a script.
In light of that decision, Ariana DeBose, who was tapped to host the main broadcast, is now only expected to do the opening number, according to sources.
Presenters, typically Broadway actors and other celebrities, are expected to attend the broadcast and present the awards. However, the show won’t be using a teleprompter to guide them or introduce the awards, sources say. Instead, presenters only have cue cards with the list of nominees, which is all they need to read at this point.
The WGA has also asked nominees who are part of the guild not to attend the awards ceremony.
The preshow broadcast, which will feature the first round of Tony Awards, will air on Pluto TV from 6:30-8:00 PM ET and 3:30-5:00 PM PT, via the Pluto TV Celebrity Channel. The main broadcast airs coast-to-coast on CBS and Paramount+ from 8-11pm ET and 5-8pm PT.
Hough, known for her Dancing with the stars performances, starred in the play POTUS on Broadway last season and Astin, a star of Pitch perfectlythe role of Georg in the musical arose Spring blossoms. Astin is also one of the stars of the CBS series So help me Todd. Hough hosted the preshow with Darren Criss last year.
The Tony Awards will be held June 11 at the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights. The official after-party, usually held at the downtown Plaza Hotel, is expected to be held outside the United Palace Theater.
