Tony Awards To Feature Big Names and Tight Contests

Sunday evening’s Tony Awards show features a pack of top-notch contenders, with big shows like “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “All the Way” in highly competitive categories.

The awards, to be held at Radio City Music Hall in NEw York and broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. E.T., will also feature a slew of celebrities, facing off against well-established theater stars and previous Tony winners. With Hugh Jackman hosting the event and big names like Neil Patrick Harris, Idina Menzel and Chris O’Dowd up for awards, count on it being an exciting night.

Here are the contenders in some of the top categories of the 68th Tony Awards.

Best Musical: “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” an operetta about a homicidal heir featuring strong performances and an original score, is a top favorite. Another contender, “Beautiful—The Carole King Musical,” features Jessie Mueller in a powerful performance that traces the rise of Carole King’s career. Other nominees include “After Midnight” and “Aladdin.”

Best Play: Two plays, including “Act One,” an adaptation of Moss Hart’s autobiography, and “All the Way,” a drama about Lyndon B. Johnson’s monumental first year as president, have both earned accolades. Other nominees include “Casa Valentine,” “Mothers and Sons” and “Outside Mullingar.”

Best Revival of a Musical: Neil Patrick Harris’ feature role in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” has gained a lot of attention this year for the star’s vigorous performance as a transgender German. “Les Misérables” and “Violet” are other nominees.

Best Revival of a Play: “The Cripple of Inishmaan” and “The Glass Menagerie” both were lauded by reviewers, but fellow nominees “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Twelfth Night” thrilled audiences as well.

Here are the other nominees to watch out for in top categories:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Samuel Barnett, Twelfth Night
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Chris O’Dowd, Of Mice and Men
Mark Rylance, Richard III
Tony Shalhoub, Act One

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Tyne Daly, Mothers and Sons
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, A Raisin in the Sun
Cherry Jones, The Glass Menagerie
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill
Estelle Parsons, The Velocity of Autumn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Neil Patrick Harris, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Ramin Karimloo, Les Misérables
Andy Karl, Rocky
Jefferson Mays, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
Bryce Pinkham, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Mary Bridget Davies, A Night With Janis Joplin
Sutton Foster, Violet
Idina Menzel, If/Then
Jessie Mueller, Beautiful — The Carole King Musical
Kelli O’Hara, The Bridges of Madison County