TDF Stages

Two interconnected programs will celebrate the truncated pandemic season and Broadway's reopening

At long last we have a date for the 2019-2020 Tony Awards: Sunday, September 26, 2021! Ever since Broadway announced it would reopen this September, theatre fans have been wondering, what's going on with the Tony Awards? In fall 2020, The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, which jointly present the Tonys, said a ceremony would take place digitally before the end of 2020. Although nominees were revealed last October, New Year's passed with few updates. This spring, voters were finally invited to make their selections, and on September 26, 2021, we'll finally find out who won. And many of their shows will hopefully be back on Broadway!

Of course the details of the evening are a little complicated. Billed as "a multi-platform celebration of the best of Broadway," the event actually takes place in two parts. Statuettes for the 2019-2020 Broadway season will be doled out live beginning at 7 p.m. ET exclusively on the premium streaming service Paramount+. When that wraps up at 9 p.m. ET, you can switch to CBS to watch The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back!, a live concert featuring celebrities heralding the return of Broadway. But here's some important fine print: This second segment will include performances from the three Tony-nominated best musical contenders, Jagged Little Pill, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, followed by the live presentation of three major Tony Awards: best play, best revival of a play and best musical. If you want to catch all the winners, you need to watch both shows.

So, clear your schedule on Sunday evening, September 26! And bone up on the nominees for all those Tony pools. And hope you can get a free trial of Paramount+ that week if you're not already a subscriber!

Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her at @RavenSnook. Follow TDF at @TDFNYC.