Tonys taps thesps twice

Nominees to hand out nods

By CLAUDE BRODESSER

NEW YORK -- This year's Tonycast will give new meaning to the words, "Do it yourself." The single celebrity host format of the Tonys will be pitched this year in favor of a cavalcade of celeb presenters -- many of whom are already doing double duty as actors in shows that are nominated or that will be on Broadway next season.

After two-time host Rosie O'Donnell declared she wasn't going to have time to host the whole kudocast, the American Theater Wing and the League of American Theaters and Producers considered the new format (O'Donnell still will present some of the 12 Tony awards on the CBS telecast.)

With the possible exceptions of presenters Julie Andrews, David Hyde Pierce and Jason Robards, the list of celeb presenters are actors who are also current Tony nominees.

Heading that list are the two traveling salesmen: Kevin Spacey, nommed for "The Iceman Cometh," and Brian Dennehy, star of "Death of a Salesman."

Also nominated/presenting are Stockard Channing, tapped for "The Lion in Winter," who will present with Scott Wolf, soon be entering "Side Man"; Martin Short, who was nominated this season for his work in "Little Me"; Bernadette Peters, cited for "Annie Get Your Gun"; and Carol Burnett, who'll topline the Cameron Mackintosh revue of Sondheim's "Putting It Together" next season.

The 53rd Annual Tony Awards will air June 6, from the Gershwin Theater on Broadway and will be aired on both PBS for its first hour and on CBS for the remainder.