HUGH JACKMAN RETURNS AS HOST OF "THE 59TH ANNUAL TONY� AWARDS," TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL IN NEW YORK, SUNDAY, JUNE 5 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Film and stage star Hugh Jackman ("The Boy from Oz") returns as host of THE 59TH ANNUAL TONY� AWARDS, the most anticipated evening in American theater, to be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York, Sunday, June 5 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET; delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The ceremonies, presented by Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing, have been broadcast on CBS since 1978. Last year, CBS extended its 27 year relationship with the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing by signing a new six year agreement to continue broadcasting the annual TONY� AWARDS through 2010. The Tonys were founded in 1947 as a memorial to Antoinette ("Tony") Perry, the American Theatre Wing's World War II chairperson.

Hugh Jackman received a Tony Award for his Broadway debut in "The Boy From Oz." Mr. Jackman previously appeared on the New York stage starring opposite Audra McDonald in a concert production of "Carousel" at Carnegie Hall. Other stage appearances include Curly in "Oklahoma!" at Britain�s National Theatre, Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard" and Gaston in Disney�s "Beauty and the Beast." His first major U.S. film appearance as "Wolverine" in the first X-Men film was followed by leading roles in "Someone Like You," "Swordfish," "Kate and Leopold," "X-Men 2" and "Van Helsing." Jackman�s career began in Australia in the independent films "Paperback Hero" and "Erskineville Kings." In 1999, he was named Australian Star of the Year at the Australian Movie Convention. His television credits include the hit Australian series "Corelli" and "Halifax f.p.�

This will mark the eighth year that the historic Radio City Music Hall is home to the Tonys.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment return as executive producers. Weiss, who won an Emmy Award for the 2002 broadcast, will also serve as director for the fifth consecutive year. Elizabeth Ireland McCann returns as managing producer and Joey Parnes will serve as coordinating producer for Tony Award Productions.

RATING: To Be Announced