It’s show time - almost! The June 7 American Theatre Wing Tony Awards® telecast is sure to be an exciting event, with more celebrity appearances and live musical performances than ever before. Neil Patrick Harris is the host. For the first time, fans can watch the show on a giant outdoor screen in Times Square.

Breaking News

On June 2, it was announced that the Tony telecast will include the following additional performances: Dolly Parton along with the cast of 9 to 5: The Musical; Elton John with the cast of Billy Elliot, The Musical; Liza Minnelli; Stockard Channing; and the band Poison along with the cast of Rock of Ages will be taking the stage.

Featured Performances

The 2009 Tony Awards telecast on CBS will feature performances by each of the Tony-nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals:

Billy Elliot, The Musical
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Next to Normal
Pal Joey
Rock of Ages
Shrek the Musical
West Side Story

Additionally, the Tony Awards will feature special performances from three current touring Broadway productions – Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde The Musical, and Mamma Mia!

Becky Gulsvig, who is on tour as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, The Musical, will perform a number from the hit show. The Jersey Boys performance will feature five current actors who are currently playing the role of Frankie Valli, in various performances – Joseph Leo Bwarie, representing the Toronto company; Rick Faugno, representing the Las Vegas company, Courter Simmons, representing the national tour and Dominic Scaglione, Jr. representing the Chicago company, will perform a number together from the show. Michelle Dawson, Kittra Wynn Commer and Rachel Tyler, currently on stage, as the Three Dynamos at the Pioneer Center in Reno, Nevada will perform a number from Mamma Mia!

And there will be a huge roster of celebrity presenters.

Live Simulcast in Times Square

For the first time ever, fans in the New York area are invited to watch the Tony Awards telecast right in the heart of Manhattan’s Theatre District. The Tony Awards ceremony will be simulcast live from Radio City Music Hall on the ClearChannel Spectacolor HD Screen in Times Square from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The simulcast will feature both the pre-telecast Creative Arts Awards and the Tony Awards broadcast. Seating will be provided in Duffy Square, the northern scetion of Times Square (Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). More info here.

Tony Night Schedule

The 2009 Tony Awards begins here at TonyAwards.com at 6:00 p.m. ET with our live webcast of the stars’ arrivals on the Red Carpet, presented by Audemars Piguet, courtesy of NY1 News.

Next, at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET, comes the exclusive live TonyAwards.com exclusive webcast of the pre-telecast Creative Arts Awards.

“The 63rd Annual Tony Awards” will be broadcast live in HD, from Radio City Music Hall on CBS, Sunday, June 7th, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay), hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.