Neil Patrick Harris Gets His Tonys On

How I Met Your Mother star tapped to steer the theater awards' ship

By Breanne L. Heldman May 14, 2009 6:29 PMTags
Neil Patrick HarrisStefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Neil Patrick Harris is pulling a Hugh Jackman. The How I Met Your Mother star has just been tapped to host the 2009 Tony Awards.

Theater's biggest night is shaping up to be a star-studded occasion, with Geoffrey Rush, James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden and Hope Davis all nominated in just the Leading Actor or Actress in a Play categories alone. Allison JanneyStockard Channing and American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis topline the Leading Actress or Actor in a Musical. And—oh, yeah!—Elton John and Dolly Parton also earned gongs for their contributions to Billy Elliot: The Musical and 9 to 5: The Musical, respectively.

The former Doogie Howser, M.D. is no slouch to the theater himself. He's had lead roles in productions of Rent, Assassins, Cabaret and Proof, and is currently producing the theatrical mystery show, Accomplice: Hollywood.

The big Broadway bonanza will air live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 7.

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