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, "BeautifulThe 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 Misrables" 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 Misrables 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,