Hugh Jackman will return to host the 68th Annual Tony Awards, celebrating Broadway's best and brightest stars.
Entertainment Weekly reported that this is Jackman's fourth time hosting the Tonys. The announcement was made Wednesday and posted to the official Twitter page for the Tonys.
"We are thrilled that Hugh will be joining us, once again, at Radio City Music Hall to host 'The 68th Annual Tony Awards,'" said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing, in a statement. "Hugh is an extraordinary talent and loyal supporter of the Broadway community--whether he is on-stage or in the audience--and we are honored to have him back as host."
Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music and live events at CBS Entertainment, called Jackman the "ultimate performer-actor, singer and dancer."
"He does it all, second to none," Sussman said. "He is a consummate entertainer and the one you want out there hosting your live television event."
Jackman, who is best known for his character Wolverine in "The X-Men" franchise, was last on Broadway with a one-man show "Hugh Jackman - Back on Broadway" in the fall of 2011. In 2012, the "Les Miserable" actor received a Special Award from the Tony Awards Administration Committee, "recognizing his accomplishments both as a performer as well as a humanitarian."
In 2004 he won a Tony Award for his role in The Boy from Oz where he played gay singer/songwriter Peter Allen.
Jackman will be taking the torch from actor Neil Patrick Harris who previously hosted the Tonys from 2011-2013. Harris' busy schedule has reportedly left him unavailable to host this year.
I'm so proud of @RealHughJackman for hosting this year's Tony Awards and for calling me an hour ago to say, 'Suck it!'
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) February 11, 2014
The nominations for the 2014 Tony awards will be announced live on Tuesday, April 29 from New York City, according to Yahoo News.
"The 68th Annual Tony Awards" will be broadcast on CBS June 8th, 8pm ET at Radio City Music Hall.
We are so excited to announce that the @RealHughJackman will host the @TheTonyAwards for the fourth time #tonyawards pic.twitter.com/QQZoMXk0X5 — The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) February 11, 2014
