With the 73rd Annual Tony Awards only less than a week away, the Broadway community is eagerly getting ready for one of its most important nights of the year, which will take place this upcoming Sunday, June 9th. And as is the case with every major awards show, some high-profile celebrities will be in attendance. We’ve put together a list of some of the most famous faces that we’re excited to see walk the red carpet at Radio City Music Hall this weekend.
James Corden
This English actor, known for his late-night show The Late Late Show with James Corden, which airs on CBS, is hosting this Broadway bash for the second time, having also led the evening back in 2016. Known for his whimsical and quirky “Carpool Karaoke” and “Crosswalk: The Musical” videos, Corden is no stranger to theater, having originated the role of Timms in Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys. Additionally, Corden won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance as Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors, and he appeared as the Baker in the 2014 film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Corden is just as passionate about theater as he is hilarious, and we’re excited to see how he performs at this Sunday’s telecast.
Tina Fey
How grool! Funny lady Tina Fey was just announced as one of the presenters for this year’s Tony Awards. Although Fey made a name for herself through her incredibly sharp and witty comedy on NBC’s Saturday Night Live and by creating, producing, writing and starring in 30 Rock, Fey also has roots in theater. She was an active participant in her local community theater growing up, and she graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in drama. Fey’s most prominent theatrical contribution, though, is writing the book of the musical Mean Girls, based on her 2004 film of the same name, a venture for which she was nominated for Best Book of a Musical last year.
Darren Criss
Also presenting at this year’s awards will be actor Darren Criss. An Emmy and Golden Globe winner for his lead role as assassin Andrew Cunanan in FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Criss rose to prominence by playing the eponymous role in A Very Potter Musical, a parody musical written by StarKid Productions, a musical theater company that he and friends began at the University of Michigan. Since then, Criss has appeared on Broadway as J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, as well as numerous television shows and films.
Regina King
Actress-director Regina King will act as a presenter at the Tonys this Sunday. Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world this year by Time, we’re looking forward to King bringing her clout to the awards show. The winner of an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards, King has shined in films like If Beale Street Could Talk and Ray, as well as television shows such as American Crime and Seven Seconds.
Adam Driver
May the force be with Kylo Ren this week, as Adam Driver is nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for playing Pale in this season’s revival of Lanford Wilson’s Burn This. Although Driver began his adult life as a member of the United States Marine Corps, he subsequently studied drama at Julliard. He came into the public eye by appearing as Adam Sackler on HBO’s Girls, and as the main antagonist in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. This isn’t Driver’s first foray on Broadway, though. In 2010, he played Frank Gardner in Mrs. Warren’s Profession, and in 2011, he played Basil Anthony in Man and Boy.
Laurie Metcalf
Laurie Metcalf won Tony Awards in both 2017 and 2018 (for her performances as Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House, Part 2 and B in Three Tall Women), and she’s looking to grab her third consecutive award for playing former presidential candidate Hillary in Lucas Hnath’s Hillary and Clinton. In the early ‘90s, Metcalf won three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Aunt Jackie in Roseanne. She has also appeared in television shows such as Frasier, Desperate Housewives and The Big Bang Theory, as well as films like Scream 2, Lady Bird and the Toy Story franchise.
Ben Platt
Ben Platt won’t be waving through a window when he presents at the Tony Awards this Sunday. Only 25 years old, Platt won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his take on the title role in Dear Evan Hansen. Also known for his film appearances in Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2 and Ricki and the Flash, Platt has become a noted recording artist, having headlined a concert tour and collaborated with artists like Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda. Platt also appeared on Broadway as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon.
Sutton Foster
We get a kick out of Sutton Foster, and we’re sure she’s going to show off her best stuff as a presenter at this year’s Tonys. Although Foster has been charming audiences in the starring role of Liza Miller on TV Land’s Younger for five seasons (the sixth premieres next week), Foster is first and foremost a Broadway mainstay. On Broadway, Foster has played Sandy in Grease, Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jo March in Little Women, Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone, Inga in Young Frankenstein, Princess Fiona in Shrek, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes and Violet in Violet, as well as appearing in the ensembles of Les Misérables, Annie and The Scarlet Pimpernel. And next year, Foster will be returning to the Great White Way in the iconic role of Marian “the Librarian” Paroo, opposite Hugh Jackman, in The Music Man.
Bryan Cranston
Breaking Bad’s very own Walter White is going to be at this year’s Tonys, as he is nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for portraying Howard Beale in Network, a play based on the 1976 film of the same name. Cranston is best known to the public for his television career, which also includes runs as Hal in Malcolm in the Middle and Dr. Tim Whatley on Seinfeld. The actor has had a prosperous stage career as well, having been a producer of Finding Neverland and winning a Tony Award in 2014 for his performance as President Lyndon Baines Johnson in All the Way.
Annette Bening
The kids will be all right when we catch Annette Bening at this year’s Tonys. Bening, who has garnered four Oscar nominations over the years for her performances in The Grifters, American Beauty, Being Julia and The Kids Are All Right, is nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her performance as Kate Keller in All My Sons. The last time Bening was on Broadway, back in 1987, she was nominated for a Tony for her portrayal of Holly Dancer in Coastal Disturbances. We’re looking forward to seeing if Bening can win the prize this time around.
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