Doing what she does best! Ariana DeBose is ready to celebrate her Broadway peers at the 76th annual Tony Awards, which she kicked off with great fanfare.
The 32-year-old opened a blank script before launching into an elaborate dance number throughout the United Palace, eventually ending up on the stage. DeBose explained that her script had no words because the Writers Guild of America is on strike.
“Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal,” she said. “Award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA. In order for this show to go on, a whole host of people had to come together in order to find a compromise. And we are all here, so to every single person who had a hand in finding that compromise, I say a full-throated thank you!”
The Tony nominee knew that audiences would wonder why this is relevant. “So now you’re asking, what’s the compromise? Well, we don’t have a script, you guys. Yeah, I’m live and unscripted — you’re welcome,” she quipped. “So to anyone who may have thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say, ‘Darlings, buckle up.’”
DeBose continued, “But in all seriousness, yes, I am unscripted as is every presenter who comes on this stage tonight. We’re just making it up as we go along. And that’s cool. Again, it’s a blessing to be here.”
She added that that the monitors on the sides of the stage will only show a countdown for acceptance speeches that go long. “But honeys, take your moment. Tonight is about you,” DeBose added.
The Oscar winner — who got her start performing in Broadway productions of Hamilton, A Bronx Tale and Summer: A Donna Summer Musical — previously hosted the 2022 ceremony, which was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last June. During the show, DeBose wowed with a show-stopping medley of Great White Way hits, including “Somewhere” from West Side Story. (The So You Think You Can…
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