James Corden is set to host the Tony Awards for the first time tomorrow.
The Broadway theatre awards will see the best dramas and musicals from the last year honoured. It’s the awards 70th outing and musical ‘Hamilton’ has broken the record books with an astounding 16 nominations.
Corden told the New York Post that he was feeling nervous ahead of the live broadcast.
“I feel sort of sick to my stomach about the thought of it,” Corden told The Post. “It’s all mind-boggling isn’t it?”
Corden has promised he’ll be singing something at the top of the show just like previous hosts Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman has done, but it might be a smaller number than previous years after the show was forced to move to a much smaller theatre.
The show has relocated to the Beacon Theatre as the massive Radio City Musical Hall was not available.
While musical Hamilton has broken records with it’s sixteen nominations it won’t be able to win them all as several of the show’s actors are nominated in the same category. It might be possible for the show to pick up 13 awards though, beating the record currently held by ‘The Producers’.
‘Hamilton’ tells the historical story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers. The musical is up against ‘Bright Star’, ‘School of Rock’, ‘Waiteess’ and ‘Shuffle Along’ in the best musical category.
In the best new play category ‘Eclipsed’, ‘The Father’, ‘The Humans’ and ‘King Charles III’ are up for the award. While the best revivals of a play award nominees includes Michael Frayn’s comedy ‘Noises Off’, Eugene O’Neil’s ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’, David Harrower’s ‘Blackbird’ and two works by Arthur Miller ‘A View From the Bridge’ and ‘The Crucible’.
Best actor in a leading role in a play features many well known actors including Gabriel Byrne, Jeff Daniels, Frank Langella, Tim Piggott-Smith and Mark Strong.
While in the best actress category Jessica Lange who starred in ‘A Long Day’s Journey Into Night’will face off against ‘Roseanne’ star Laurie Metcalfe who took on the role made famous by Kathy Bates, in ‘Misery’. Also in the running is Lupita Nyong’o for her role in ‘Eclipsed’, Briish actress Sophie Okonedo who starred in ‘The Crucible’ and Michelle Williams who appeared opposite Jeff Daniels in ‘Blackbird’
Megan Hilty who many would know from the TV show ‘Smashed’ is among the nominees in the best featured actresses in a featured role in a play for her work in ‘Noises Off’. While Jonathon Groff from the TV show ‘Looking’ is among the male contenders in a featured role in a musical for his work in ‘Hamilton’.
The awards ceremony will also feature a rare appearance by Broadway legend Barbra Streisand.
The Tony Awards can be watched live on Foxtel’s Arts channel from 8am WA time on Monday June 13th. Follow OUTinPerth on Twitter for live updates from the show.
Image: CBS Jason Bell
