Tony Award Winner Kevin Spacey to Host the 71st Annual Tony Awards
The Tony Awards has announced that Tony and Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey will host the 71st Annual Tony® Awards, live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Sunday, June 11 on CBS. This will be Spacey’s first time hosting the Tonys. He won a Tony Award in 1991 for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Lost in Yonkers. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
“I was their 2nd choice for Usual Suspects, 4th choice for American Beauty and 15th choice to host this year’s Tony Awards. I think my career is definitely going in the right direction,” said Spacey. “Maybe I can get shortlisted to host the Oscars if everyone else turns it down.”
“We are thrilled to have Kevin, who has mastered the Broadway stage, the big and small screens and the West End, host this year’s Tony Awards. His spirit and passion for live theatre makes him the perfect host, and we can’t wait to see the energy he brings to Radio City on Tony night!” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing, in a statement.
“We’re excited to be working with a witty and charming host who is not only a Tony-winning actor and fan of live theatre, he’s also a president who is a true champion of the arts,” said Executive Producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner.
“A true star of television, film and theatre, who better than Kevin Spacey to host this year’s Tony Awards?” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “With his extensive repertoire, charisma and unparalleled dedication to live theater, we are thrilled to have him join us for this prestigious television event.”
Spacey currently stars in and executive produces the Netflix original series “House of Cards.” Since the show premiered in 2013, he’s been nominated for multiple Emmys and has won both Golden Globe and SAG Award for his performance as Frank Underwood. He has won Academy Awards for his performances in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty. He was most recently seen opposite Michael Shannon in Elvis & Nixon. He will next be seen in Billionaire Boys Club, Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver, and Rebel In The Rye for director Danny Strong.
The Nominations for the 2017 Tony Awards will be announced live on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, from the New York City Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center and tune-in to CBS on Sunday, June 11 for the 71st Annual Tony® Awards.