The 79th Tony Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ this Sunday, with pop icon Pink as host. The ceremony, slated for 8‑11 p.m. ET,will feature a 170‑person opening spectacle and performances from all seven nominees for best new musical and best musical revival.

Pink’s 170‑Person Opening Number Sets the Tone

According to the event brief, Pink’s opening will be written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Mark Sonnenblick and will involve elaborrate costume changes and wire work for roughly 170 performers.. She has enlisted Amber Ruffin, a writer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” to sharpen the comedy, while Pink’s mother and two children will sit in the audience, underscoring the personal significance of the night for the singer.

Four Contrasting Shows Compete for Best New Musical

The best new musical category pits “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” – a rom‑com about opposite personalities – against the vampire‑themed adaptation “The Lost Boys.” A satire of classic Broadway, “Schmigadoon!” joins the field, while “Titanique” offers a campy re‑imagining of the 1997 film “Titanic.” The diversity of tone and genre highlights the breadth of Broadway’s current creative risk‑taking.

Giant and Liberation Lead the Best Play Race

In the best play competition, “Giant” tackles accusations of antisemitism surrounding Roald Dahl’s works, whereas “Liberation” revisits a 1970s women’s consciousness‑raising group to explore gender, race,and inequality. Both plays reflect a growing appetite for socially charged narratives on the Great White Way.

Potential Record‑Breaking Win for 96‑Year‑Old Chita Rivera

At 96, Chita Rivera stands as the oldest Tony‑nominated performer in history and could become the oldest winner, surpassing Lois Smith’s 90‑year‑old record from 2021. Her possible victory would underscore Broadway’s reverence for legacy talent amid a season of youthful experimentation.

Who Will Deliver the A Chorus Line Tribute?

Rachel Zegler is slated to lead a special tribute to “A Chorus Line,” though details of the performance remain under wraps. The tribute adds another layer of nostalgia to a ceremony already packed with nods to past Broadway milestones.