Ariana DeBose Delivers Show-Stopping Mashup of Broadway Hits to Open Tony Awards 2022 — and References ‘West Side Story’
usmagazine.comShe’s back on Broadway! Ariana DeBose, who got her start acting on the Great White Way, has since become a massive movie star — even winning an Oscar.
Now, she’s returning to her theatrical roots as the host of the 75th annual Tony Awards.DeBose, 31, donned a dazzling all-white ensemble while opening the Sunday, June 12, awards show with a mashup of major Broadway hits.
The So You Think You Can Dance alum even gave a shout-out to Lin-Manuel Miranda, who she starred alongside in the original cast of Hamilton, and sang West Side Story‘s “Somewhere” as footage from past Tony Awards played on a screen behind her.
In the 2021 film adaptation, the ballad is performed by Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original 1961 movie.Last month, the American Theatre Wing announced that the West Side Story actress — who won Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award trophies for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of the musical — would emcee the ceremony honoring Broadway’s brightest stars of the year.“After the challenging last two years, there is no one better to bring the theater community together on this important night honoring the best of Broadway and share the joys of live performing once again than this extraordinarily talented artist,” CBS executive Jack Sussman said in a statement at the time.DeBose — who joins the ranks of past hosts including Neil Patrick Harris, James Corden, Sara Bareilles, Josh Groban and Leslie Odom Jr. — had been eagerly gearing up for her hosting debut.“Ran into these two at rehearsal today.
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