Harris to serve as Tony Awards host

NEW YORK, May 10 (UPI) -- Actor Neil Patrick Harris will serve as host of the 2011 Tony Awards show in New York, organizers announced Tuesday.

The 65th annual presentation honoring the best in Broadway theater for 2010-11 is to take place June 12. Harris previously emceed the 2009 event.

"I'm honored and stoked to have been asked to host the 2011 Tony Awards," Harris said in a statement on the Tony Awards Web site. "It should be a great show -- we've got a fantastic mix of live performances, a few secret surprises, and since they're closed for retooling, we're using all the rigging equipment from 'Spider-Man.' What could possibly go wrong?"

"We're thrilled to have Neil back as our host," executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss said. "And we're even happier he fits in the 'Spider-Man' rigging."

The official opening for the trouble-plagued musical, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," has been delayed numerous times while creative and technical bugs have been worked out. It recently was closed so it could be reworked. It is set to officially open next month.