You Should Most Definitely Watch The Tonys

Praise Broadway, it's almost Tony time. Are you ready for the Tonys? It turns out I might not be ready, because it was made official Thursday that Neil Patrick Harris and Idina Menzel would be gracing the Tonys stage with musical performances, and when I found that out I emitted a very involuntary, very weird high pitched noise.

This is hardly either Menzel or Harris' first turns on the Tony stage: Harris has hosted the show numerous times and performed as a cast member there for shows like Assassins; Menzel's practically a freaking living Broadway legend, having graced that stage almost twenty years ago for Rent and later for shows like Wicked and many more. This year Harris is performing as the lead in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, so prepare yourself to see him in some killer heels and probably a wig or two (it's gonna be awesome). Menzel is performing as part of the cast of the new musical If/Then, likely alongside fellow Renter Anthony Rapp. Both Menzel and Harris are also nominated for Tonys this year.

For people all around the country who don't necessarily have access to constant Broadway shows, the Tony Awards can be one of the strongest gateways into a deep, abiding love for Broadway — I know there are a few musical numbers I never got over seeing on that screen, and I didn't get to see my first Broadway show in the flesh until college.

Considering this year's Tonys will feature so many powerhouse performers — Alan Cumming, Sutton Foster, and Patti LaBelle will also be performing, along with the cast of Wicked in honor of the show's tenth anniversary — it seems highly likely that the Tony's June 8th telecast will enchant some newbies into the wonderful world of Broadway.

In case you were curious, here's a preview for If/Then:

And Hedwig:

And just for good measure, here's an Alan Cumming performance that still has me mesmerized:

And a Sutton Foster one:

Can you tell I'm psyched?