courtesy of broadway.com



Emmy-winning TV star and Broadway vet Neil Patrick Harris has signed on to host the 2012 Tony Awards, his third stint as emcee. The 66th annual Tony ceremony will be held at the Beacon Theatre on June 10 and telecast live by CBS-TV.

Harris and the Tony producers won Emmys for the 2009 telecast, and the actor returned to host last year’s Tony ceremony at the Beacon. He will serve as a producer of the 2012 telecast along with executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment. In a statement, Harris joked, “Not only will I be shining a spotlight on the best that Broadway has to offer, but hopefully I’ll score some free house seats to a show or five.”

Nominated for multiple Emmys and Golden Globes for his starring role as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother, Harris won an Emmy for his guest role on Glee. He has appeared on Broadway in Proof, Cabaret and Assassins and starred as Bobby in the New York Philharmonic’s staging of Company. Harris has directed several stage productions in Los Angeles, including Rent at the Hollywood Bowl.

The Tony Awards are presented jointly by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. 

Last year Harris closed the show by recapping the evenings events in rap. With the lyrical genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda (composer and lyricist of In The Heights, playing at Starlight Theatre June 5-10) on his side, the Harris delivered a wrap-up rap so new the ink wasn't yet dry on the teleprompter, including everything from the night’s biggest successes to the most well-publicized Tony snubs. Watch Harris' closeing performance is below!