Broadway’s biggest night will have a new face leading the festivities in 2025 as two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo replaces Ariana DeBose as host of the 78th Annual Tony Awards. The American Theatre Wing confirmed Wednesday that Erivo will take over hosting duties following DeBose’s acclaimed three-year tenure from 2022-2024.
DeBose—who made history as the first Afro-Latina queer woman to host the Tonys—earned praise for her high-energy openings featuring intricate dance numbers and heartfelt tributes to theater communities. Her final 2024 broadcast drew 6.8 million viewers, marking a 28% increase from her debut year according to Nielsen ratings.
“I hope I can rise to the occasion,” Erivo stated about inheriting the role, subtly referencing her Wicked anthem “Defying Gravity” in her first public comments about the appointment. Theater executives praised Erivo’s “boundary-defying talent” while fans flooded social media with side-by-side comparisons of both performers’ showstopping credentials:
| Ariana DeBose | Cynthia Erivo |
|---|---|
| 3 Tony hosting gigs | Tony-winning actress |
| Academy Award winner | 2x Oscar nominee |
| Hamilton alum | Color Purple revival star |
The transition comes as DeBose shifts focus to her expanding film career, including February’s action-comedy Love Hurts co-starring Ke Huy Quan and upcoming Shakespeare adaptation Lear Rex alongside Al Pacino. When asked about passing the baton during a recent Moviefone interview, she remarked: “Hosting taught me how to hold space for an entire art form—that energy now fuels my screen work”.
Theater analysts note this marks the first host change since James Corden’s four-year run ended in 2016. The 2025 Tonys will air live June 8 on CBS and Paramount+.
