ACADEMY AWARD WINNER AND TONY AWARD NOMINEE ARIANA DEBOSE RETURNS TO HOST "THE 77TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS(R)," AIRING LIVE SUNDAY, JUNE 16, ON CBS AND PARAMOUNT+

The Tony Awards to Broadcast Live from The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City for the First Time

CBS and Pluto TV Partner to Present "The Tony Awards: Act One"

Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose returns to host THE 77TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS(R) for the third time, from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Sunday, June 16 (8:00-11:00 PM, LIVE ET/5:00-8:00 PM, LIVE PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs)*. DeBose will also serve as producer and choreograph the opening number for this year's show. DeBose hosted the 76TH and 75TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS, the former for which she earned an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Variety Special.

Additionally, CBS and Pluto TV will once again partner to present THE TONY AWARDS: ACT ONE, a pre-show of live, exclusive content leading into THE 77TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS. The celebration commences when the first round of Tony Awards is presented to audiences on Pluto TV, the leading free streaming television service (FAST). Viewers can access the show on their smart TV, streaming device, mobile app or online by going to Pluto TV and clicking on the "Pluto TV Celebrity" channel (no payment, registration or sign-in required). Hosts and further details about THE TONY AWARDS: ACT ONE will be available in the coming weeks.

"I couldn't pass up the chance to host the Tonys one more time at Lincoln Center. I'm excited to collaborate with the team to create an incredible celebration of this season's achievements on Broadway for our community and for everyone at home," said DeBose.

"We are incredibly honored to welcome Tony Award-nominated actress Ariana DeBose as this year's host for Broadway's biggest night, taking place for the first time at the iconic Lincoln Center. Ariana's unique sense of artistry, creativity and talent continues to elevate the show and captivate nominees and viewers alike," shared Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing and Jason Laks, interim president of the Broadway League.

"The third time is definitely going to be a charm for a host who is as charming and insanely talented as Ariana DeBose!" said Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment.

The 77th celebration will recognize all the award categories and honor the incredible artistry of the 2023-2024 season. The Tony Awards, which honor theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing and have been broadcast on CBS since 1978.

Nominations for the 2024 Tony Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 30.

The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will serve as director.

About Ariana DeBose

Ariana DeBose is best known for her groundbreaking performance in Steven Spielberg's reimagining of "West Side Story," for which she received an Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics Choice and SAG Awards for her role as Anita. In winning her Oscar, she became the first openly queer Afro Latina to win an Academy Award. Recently, DeBose starred in the feature films "Argylle" and "Wish." Upcoming films include "Kraven the Hunter" and "House of Spoils." Also, she will executive produce and star in "Two and Only." DeBose had a breakout role in "Schmigadoon!," and received critical acclaim for her performance in the adaptation of the hit-Broadway musical "The Prom." On stage, DeBose is best known for her role as "Disco Donna" in "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," which earned her a 2018 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, a nomination for a Drama League Award for "Distinguished Performance," and won her a Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show. In 2015, DeBose appeared in the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical "Hamilton" as a member of the original cast in both the Broadway and off-Broadway productions, as well as the Emmy Award-winning film version. Additional theater credits include the role of Jane in the original Broadway cast of "A Bronx Tale," "Pippin," "Motown The Musical," "Bring It On: The Musical" and "Company." Her television credits include "Blue Bloods," on the Network, "The Breaks," OLTL's "Star Crossed Lovers" series and Season 6 of "So You Think You Can Dance," where she was a top-20 finalist.

About the Tony Awards

The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Kristin Caskey is Chair and Jason Laks is Interim President. At the American Theatre Wing, Emilio Sosa is Chair and Heather A. Hitchens is President & CEO.

Sponsors for The Tony Awards include: Carnegie Mellon University - the first-ever, exclusive higher education partner; City National Bank - the official bank of The Tony Awards; Playbill; Rainbow Room - the official partner of the Tony Nominee Luncheon; Sofitel New York - the official hotel of The Tony Awards; Baccarat - the official partner of the Tony Awards.

About Pluto TV

Pluto TV, a Paramount Company, is the leading free streaming television service delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience of 79 million monthly active users. The Emmy(R) Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels, in partnership with over 400 international media companies, offering a wide array of genres, languages and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids and much more. Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV's growing international footprint extends across three continents and over 35 markets.

About the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Designed by the renowned architect Philip Johnson especially for George Balanchine and New York City Ballet, the David H. Koch Theater, originally named the New York State Theater, opened in 1964, and was the second major venue to open at Lincoln Center. Home of New York City Ballet and host to performances by artists from across the globe, the David H. Koch Theater is considered one of the world's greatest performing arts venues.

*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.