Whoopi Goldberg will handle emceeing duties when the Tony Awards return next month with a solo host for the first time since 2005.

Organizers of the annual U.S. theatre honours announced the actress, comedian and talk show co-host as their master of ceremonies on Thursday.

“I’m very excited to be hosting the Tony Awards,” Goldberg said in a statement.

“I love Broadway and I’m thrilled to be doing anything for the first time. I’m gonna have a blast.”

Goldberg, who currently co-hosts the daytime ABC talk show “The View,” is no stranger to the stage, having both acted and produced on Broadway. She won a Tony in 2002 as producer of the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

The star of such movies as “The Colour Purple” and “Ghost” has also hosted the Academy Awards telecast four times.

The Tonys are returning to their single-host format after two years featuring a lineup of high-profile presenters instead. The last person to host the ceremony solo was Hugh Jackman in 2005.

Nominations for the Tony Awards, now in its 62nd year, will be announced Tuesday.

The awards gala will broacast live from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on June 15.






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