Broadway's biggest night is almost here. The 2015 Tony Awards will be handed out Sunday evening. NY1’s Roma Torre has predictions for some of this year's big races - predictions that represent who Roma thinks will win, not necessarily who she thinks should win.
The Tony nominees are truly exceptional this year and it feels unfair to single out a winner. However, if you are in the business of predicting winners, the non-musical categories will not present much of a challenge.
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," already proven, having taken seven Olivier Awards and a handful of American honors, is likely to win Best Play; and you don't have to be a genius to predict that its star Alex Sharpe as a gifted 15-year-old with Asperger’s will take the Best Actor award.
Helen Mirren is the closest thing we have to theatre royalty, cornering the market on Queen Elizabeth roles. She took the Olivier playing the British monarch in the West End production of "The Audience," and its likely destiny will favor her for the Tony here.
Of the four shows vying for Best Revival of a Play, only one - "Skylight" - is still running. Two of the nominated shows played the bulk of their runs last year. In addition, "Elephant Man," starring Bradley Cooper, moved to London’s West End. As the last one standing, I think "Skylight" has the edge.
All of the musical revival contenders “On The Town”, “On The Twentieth Century" and "The King And I" are sensational, but as the most recent to open, "The King And I" has momentum and headed for the crown on Tony night.
For Leading Actor in a Musical look for "Fun Home’s” Michael Cerveris versus Robert Fairchild in "An American In Paris." Stepping into the Gene Kelly role, he displays some mighty versatile chops, but I think the Tony goes to Cerveris, who took a bigger leap as a conflicted father uncomfortable in his skin
Picking a best musical actress is painful. Will it be Broadway legend Chita Rivera in "The Visit,” or Kelli O’Hara, a 6 time nominee vying for her first win in “The King and I,” or “On the Twentieth Century’s” Kristen Chenoweth. Tough one, but I am going with Kristen to ride the victory train this time around.
Finally best musical is a contest between the gorgeously danced Gershwin romance “An American In Paris” and “Fun Home,” the strikingly original off-beat saga of a lesbian’s coming of age. This is a tough one, but I think “Fun Home” gets to take home that coveted Tony.