Last year, Tony producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner had the challenge of putting on the live ceremony , amid the writer’s strike, with the aid of host Ariana DeBose. This year, the longtime Tonys producers have the benefit of a script and with DeBose, who choreographed the opening number. They also have a new space, with the the Lincoln Center’s David H.
Koch Theater for the first time on June 16, after being held at the United Palace theater in Washington Heights last season and other venues before that. The change of venues has brought up a certain amount of logistical challenges, and solutions. For example, Weiss, who also serves as director of the ceremony, says the ceremony this year will not have a wall that comes down between production numbers and awards, and instead will show choreographed transitions with the cast coming on stage and sets changing in front of the audience.
“We’re trying to present theater more like theater on television, and that, to me, is really exciting,” Weiss said. There’s also a plan to continue to highlight plays, which have been a big part of this past season of Broadway, and rumblings of a performance by . Weiss and Kushner, who produce the Tony Awards as part of White Cherry Entertainment alongside the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, spoke with about plans for this year’s ceremony, including how they choose what shows to perform, plans for co-producers on the broadcast and what else to expect.
It’s been .
