The 79th Annual Tony Awards will be hosted by pop star P!NK on Sunday, June 7, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. According to the official announcement, the evening will feature a star-studded committee of Broadway veterans, including Cicely Tyson, original 'The Book of Mormon' cast members Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, and Rory O'Malley,and Tony winner Nikki M. james. The ceremony will open with a numbber featuring over 170 Broadway performers, written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Mark Sonnenblick.

Cicely Tyson joins a host committee of original Broadway stars

The announced lineup goes beyond P!NK's hosting duties. As the Tonys' press release details, Oscar-nominated actress Cicely Tyson will appear alongside Tony Award nominees Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, and Rory O'Malley — all original cast members of 'The Book of Mormon' — and Tony winner Nikki M. James, who originated the role of Nabulungi in the same show. Tony Award winners Trey Parker, Matt Stone (creators of 'South Park' and co-craetors of 'The Book of Mormon'), and Robert Lopez (co-writer of 'Frozen' and 'Avenue Q') will introduce the opening number.

A 170-performer opening number written by Pasek, Paul, and Sonnenblick

The opening number, performed by over 170 Broadway performers, is written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (the Oscar- and Tony-winning duo behind 'La La Land', 'Dear Evan Hansen', and 'The Greatest Showman') together with Mark Sonnenblick. Choreography is by Sarah O'Gleby. The Tonys have a history of memorable opening numbers , with past winning special songs including 'It's Not Just for Gays Anymore' (2012) and 'Bigger!' (2014). As the announcement notes, Tim Murray and Isaac Josephthal serve as creative consultants for this year's show.

Why the Tonys are betting big on a live preshow on Pluto TV

The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+, but the Tonys are also launching a live preshow exclusively on Pluto TV, the free ad-supported streaming service. This move, according to the announcement, is part of a broader effort to reach audiences who do not subscribe to traditional cable or premium streaming platforms. The preshow strategy follows a trend among awards shows trying to capture younger, cord-cutting viewers without alienating the linear-TV base.

What the full presenter lineup — still unannounced — may reveal

The press release promises a 'full list of presenters' will be announced in the coming weeks. That list will likely signal which productions the Tonys are positioning as frontrunners and whether the show seeks a younger demographic or leans into Broadway's traditional audience.. Also left unstated: whether any of the current season's hit shows — such as the new musical 'The Outsiders' or the revival of 'Merrily We Roll Along' — will perform excerpts. The open question is how the ceremony balances honoring Broadway legends like Tyson with promoting the current crop of nominees.