\n Ariana DeBose.<\/span> Michele Crowe\/CBS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Doing what she does best! Ariana DeBose<\/strong><\/a> is ready to celebrate her Broadway peers at the 76th annual Tony Awards<\/a>, which she kicked off with great fanfare.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old opened a blank script before launching into an elaborate dance number throughout the United Palace, eventually ending up on the stage. DeBose explained that her script had no words because the Writers Guild of America is on strike<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOur siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal,\u201d she said. \u201cAward shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA. In order for this show to go on, a whole host of people had to come together in order to find a compromise. And we are all here, so to every single person who had a hand in finding that compromise, I say a full-throated thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n The Tony nominee knew that audiences would wonder why this is relevant. \u201cSo now you\u2019re asking, what\u2019s the compromise? Well, we don\u2019t have a script<\/a>, you guys. Yeah, I\u2019m live and unscripted \u2014 you\u2019re welcome,\u201d she quipped. \u201cSo to anyone who may have thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say, \u2018Darlings, buckle up<\/em>.’\u201d<\/p>\n DeBose continued, \u201cBut in all seriousness, yes, I am unscripted as is every presenter who comes on this stage tonight. We\u2019re just making it up as we go along. And that\u2019s cool. Again, it\u2019s a blessing to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that that the monitors on the sides of the stage will only show a countdown for acceptance speeches that go long. \u201cBut honeys, take your moment. Tonight is about you,\u201d DeBose added.<\/p>\n The Oscar winner \u2014 who got her start performing in Broadway productions of\u00a0Hamilton<\/i>,\u00a0A Bronx Tale\u00a0<\/i>and\u00a0Summer: A Donna Summer Musical<\/i>\u00a0\u2014 previously hosted the 2022 ceremony<\/a>, which was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last June. During the show, DeBose wowed with a show-stopping medley<\/a> of Great White Way hits, including \u201cSomewhere\u201d from\u00a0West Side Story<\/i><\/a>. (The\u00a0So You Think You Can Dance\u00a0<\/i>alum won her first Oscar<\/a> for her role of Anita in Steven Spielberg<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s 2021 remake of the movie musical.)<\/p>\n It was announced in April that DeBose would host the Tonys \u2014 which was moving from Radio City<\/a> to the United Palace in Washington Heights \u2014 for a second year. \u201cI was honored to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back!\u201d she said in a statement at the time.<\/a> \u201cSo looking forward to celebrating this incredible season and the people who make the work happen. Here\u2019s to adding some uptown flavor to the magic of\u00a0the Tony Awards.\u201d<\/p>\n DeBose\u2019s emcee gig marks her first live performance since her rap at the 2023 BAFTAs<\/a> went viral. During the February awards show, the\u00a0Wish\u00a0<\/i>voice actress hosted the ceremony and shouted out all of the female nominees in song<\/a>, including Michelle Yeoh<\/strong><\/a>, Viola Davis<\/strong> <\/a>and Angela Bassett<\/strong><\/a> for doing \u201cthe thing.\u201d While social media users quickly criticized DeBose\u2019s musical tone and lyrics, both the actress and the BAFTAs producers defended the show bit<\/a>. However, getting up on stage on Sunday was still nerve-wracking for the North Carolina native.<\/p>\n \u201cHave I developed a little bit of stage fright<\/a>? I would be lying if I said, \u2018no,\u2019\u201d the\u00a0Prom\u00a0<\/i>actress confessed to\u00a0Marie Claire<\/a>\u00a0<\/i>earlier this month. \u201cBut I also challenge myself and I do scary things every day. And if I\u2019m afraid of something, I should probably do it.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued: \u201cI have found that trying to act as if I don\u2019t feel something is not helpful. Pretending it\u2019s not happening [is] not helpful. Yes, I performed at the BAFTAs<\/a>. Yes, the Internet had a moment about it. Yes, some things were said that I didn\u2019t appreciate and that I found very hurtful. And yes, eventually the tide turned on the Internet and people found what I saw in it<\/a>: the fun, the joy. But that doesn\u2019t mean that along that little journey, I didn\u2019t feel my feelings about having the Internet make fun of me for being me and doing what I love to do. I don\u2019t understand that part of society.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Ariana-DeBose-Explains-Why-She-s-Unscripted-at-the-2023-Tony-Awards-in-Opening-Monologue---Darlings--Buckle-Up--](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Ariana-DeBose-Explains-Why-She-s-Unscripted-at-the-2023-Tony-Awards-in-Opening-Monologue-Darlings-Buckle-Up-318.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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