Over 40 additional presenters have been announced for the 2006 Tony Awards ceremony, which will be held June 11 at Radio City Music Hall.
New presenters include James Naughton, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Harvey Fierstein, Tom Skerritt, Ana Gasteyer, Audra McDonald, Bebe Neuwirth, Bill Irwin, Christine Ebersole, David Hyde Pierce, Hal Holbrook, Harry Belafonte, Harry Connick, Jr., Harry Smith, James Earl Jones, Janis Paige, Jim Dale, Joanna Gleason, Joe Pesci, John Tartaglia, Jonathan Pryce, Josh Lucas, Julianna Margulies, Julie Andrews, Kristen Bell, Lauren Ambrose, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Louise Parker, Michael McKean, Neil Patrick Harris, Norbert Leo Butz, Oliver Platt, Patricia Neal, Paul Rudd, Paul Shaffer, Rosie Perez, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sara Ramirez, Stanley Tucci, T.R. Knight and Victoria Clark.
These artists join the previously announced Alfre Woodard, Anna Paquin, Bernadette Peters, Cynthia Nixon, Glenn Close, Hank Azaria, Julia Roberts, Kyra Sedgwick, Liev Schreiber, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Ruffalo, Chita Rivera and Ralph Fiennes.
Nominations for the 2006 Tony Awards were announced May 16. The Drowsy Chaperone, the new musical that pays homage to musical theatre lovers, received 13 nominations, the most for any production of the season. The Color Purple ・based on the film and book of the same name ・also did well, snagging 11 nominations, and the hit revival of The Pajama Game, which marked the Broadway debut of Harry Connick Jr., received 9 nominations. Crowd favorite Jersey Boys ・based on the life and music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons ・earned 8 nominations. Plays that received multiple nominations include the Lincoln Center Theater revival of Awake and Sing! That Clifford Odets drama, set in the Bronx in the 1930's, received 8 nominations, while the new Alan Bennett play The History Boys ・featuring its entire original London cast ・nabbed seven nominations.
The 2006 Tony Awards will be broadcast live on CBS-TV June 11, 8-11 PM ET; check local listings. The Tony Awards are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.
For more information visit www.tonyawards.com.