STR8 UP WITH A TWIST

The scoop on Tony's big night — and we're not talkin' Soprano
By EVERETT EVANSCopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Add up all the things you love or hate about the annual Tony Awards broadcast. It's still indispensable to theater fans.

I mean, when else does network TV devote three hours to the theater?

Celebrating a strong season that has generated its share of artistry as well as entertainment, this year's ceremony should make an entertaining broadcast.

At deadline, expected excerpts from nominated musicals were as follows:
• The young cast of Spring Awakening will unleash a tight medley from that rocking paean to adolescent hormones.

• Christine Ebersole will demonstrate batty fashion sense in The Revolutionary Costume for Today from Grey Gardens.

• David Hyde Pierce and the Curtains cast will strut through Show People.

• Mary Poppins will segue from its Step in Time dance spectacle to Anything Can Happen, one of the stage version's new songs.

From revivals, Raúl Esparza will sing Being Alive from Company, Audra McDonald will perform Raunchy from 110 in the Shade and there will be the inevitable One from A Chorus Line.

American Idol winner Fantasia is slated to sing a number from The Color Purple, one of last season's hits. She recently took over the starring role of Celie to enthusiastic reviews.

For the second year, the show will fly without a host, but with a slew of celebrity presenters. Among them: Zach Braff, Matthew Broderick, Harry Connick Jr., Jeff Daniels, Brian Dennehy, Harvey Fierstein, Neil Patrick Harris, Judd Hirsch, Felicity Huffman, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Bebe Neuwirth, Cynthia Nixon, Bernadette Peters, Kevin Spacey, John Turturro, Ben Vereen, Usher, Sam Waterston, Vanessa Williams — to name a few.

The Tony Awards can be found on your local CBS station tonight starting at 800P EDT/700P CDT. Tape delay on the West Coast. You get updates on the Tony Awards website.