2015 Tony Award Predictions: Who Will Win, Who Should Win and Who Got Snubbed?

By Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Assistant Stage Editor
With the 69th Annual Tony Awards rapidly approaching, Emertainment Monthly has decided to sit down and predict who will win, who should win and who just got snubbed. In a year filled to the brim with surprises, snubs and Broadway veterans, there is no telling who will win an award.
Below are Emertainment Monthly’s predictions and don’t forget to tune into the 69th Annual Tony Awards on June 7th, 2015 at 8/9c on CBS hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming.

Best Musical

Will Win: An American in Paris

Should Win: Fun Home

Should Have Been Nominated: Honeymoon in Vegas or Finding Neverland

Fun Home is an innovative show that came off of a well-respected and triumphant run Off-Broadway last season. Although the cast and the music is something Broadway fans are falling head over heals for, An American in Paris seems to have a slight advantage. By combining ballet and Broadway-esque music, it seems to be the one to beat. The dark horse in this category could also be Something Rotten!. This is a category that could swing any way because all of the new musicals this season are extremely innovative and refreshing.
Although Honeymoon in Vegas closed before the nominations were announced, part of us hoped that it would snag a surprise nod. A hopeful that transferred from Paper Mill Playhouse, Honeymoon in Vegas seemed like a contender in this category from the start. Finding Neverland is another major snub this year. Coming off of its amazing run at American Repertory Theater, Finding Neverland seemed like a shoe-in to snag a nomination in this category.

Best Revival of a Musical

Will Win: The King and I

Should Win: The King and I or On the Twentieth Century

Should Have Been Nominated: Side Show

The King and I and On the Twentieth Century seem to be the revival musicals that will be battling it out until the very end. The King and I may have a slight edge over On the Twentieth Century and part of that is thanks to the stunning costumes and unbelievable cast. With one of the biggest casts on Broadway right now, the sheer talent radiating from the young children next to Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe should be recognized with this award. This category could swing either way and if either of these musicals wins, it will be well deserved.
Similar to Finding Neverland, Side Show came off of a glamorous, renowned run at the Kennedy Center last summer. This show may have closed rapidly, but the incredible set design, vocal performances and re-invention of this classic musical should have been recognized.

Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Will Win: Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century

Should Win: Kelli O’Hara, The King and I

Should Have Been Nominated: Erin Davie, Side Show

Kristin Chenoweth’s role in On the Twentieth Century seems to have been tailor made for her. She commands the stage and delivers another Tony Award worthy performance. She is a favorite within the Broadway community and the Tony Award committee (she’s hosting this years award show if that’s any indication). Chenoweth could walk away with her second Tony Award and that wouldn’t be a bad thing.
On the other hand, Kelli O’Hara is Broadway royalty. She commands the stage with each role she takes on and seems to be the poster child for every Rodgers and Hammerstein revival. O’Hara is making another splash in Lincoln Center’s jaw-dropping revival of The King and I. She has six Tony Award nominations to her name, and if any role were going to push her to win her first ever Tony Award, her portrayal of Anna would be it.
Side Show got completely shut out of this year’s Tony Award nominations, and if anyone was going to walk away with a nomination it should have been Erin Davie. She left everything she had on the stage night after night and stuck with this role for months. Davie was one of the key components of Side Show and she could’ve easily filled a slot in this category.

Best Leading Actor in a Musical

Will Win: Michael Cerveris, Fun Home

Should Win: Michael Cerveris, Fun Home

Should Have Been Nominated: Rob McClure, Honeymoon in Vegas or Matthew Morrison, Finding Neverland

Fun Home is a show that is completely awe inducing and part of that is thanks to Michael Cerveris. His incredible turn, as Bruce Bechdel is amazing and even earned him the Lucille Lortel Award when the show was Off-Broadway last season. There is no doubt he will take this role all the way and win a well-deserved Tony Award.
Both Rob McClure and Matthew Morrison gave incredible performances as the lead actors in Honeymoon in Vegas and Finding Neverland respectively. McClure showed off his dancing skills and comedic side as Jack. Night after night he left everything on the stage and he could’ve easily walked away with a Tony nomination for this role. Same thing goes for Morrison. He is the heart of Finding Neverland. For an actor who never really leaves the stage it’s surprising his hard work wasn’t sealed with a Tony nomination.

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

Will Win: Brad Oscar, Something Rotten!

Should Win: Andy Karl, On the Twentieth Century

Should Have Been Nominated: John Cariani, Something Rotten!

Brad Oscar is creating something truly hilarious in the hit, new musical Something Rotten! He is a comedic genius and owns the stage in the musical number, “A Musical.” Last year, this award went to James Monroe Iglehart for his portrayal of the Genie in Aladdin, and Oscar seems to have the same drive and charisma that Iglehart had, so it will be no surprise if the award goes to him. Although Oscar is hysterical, Andy Karl also steals the show in On the Twentieth Century with his hilarious portrayal of Bruce Granit. His scenes alongside Chenoweth are breathtaking and he could steal the award away from Oscar if given the chance.
John Cariani may have been eligible for Best Leading Actor but we couldn’t just let him get passed over. Cariani does incredible as Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten! and get should’ve been recognized in any category. He commands the stage and his dorky persona steals the show, especially when he finds the love of his life, Portia (Kate Reinders). He creates some truly heartwarming moments in the new musical and deserved to be recognized for his hard work.

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Will Win: Judy Kuhn, Fun Home

Should Win: Ruthie Ann Miles, The King and I

Should Have Been Nominated: Ashley Park, The King and I

Fun Home has taken the Broadway community by storm. Starting out strong Off-Broadway last season, fans couldn’t wait to see what the Broadway version of this soon-to-be classic musical would hold. Judy Kuhn, a Broadway legend in her own right, will most likely walk away for her moving performances as Helen.
Meanwhile, The King and I may be the most talked about revival in recent years, and part of that is thanks to the incredible cast of supporting characters. In a show that hinges upon the incredible ensemble, Ruthie Ann Miles shines in her emotional portrayal of Lady Thiang, the King’s trusted wife and a major proponent of Anna (Kelli O’Hara) teaching the children. It will be a hard decision as both Kuhn and Miles deserve the award, and it will be interesting to see which way the Tony committee goes.
The King and I continues to astound and blow audiences away, which is partially thanks to Ashley Park and her emotional, soulful, tear inducing performances as Tuptim. She astounds in this role and it was a shock that out of every nominee from The King and I cast, she didn’t receive a nod. She is a beautiful powerhouse, especially in her duets with Conrad Ricamora, and she should have been recognized for this incredible, career-defining role.

Best Original Score (Music and /or Lyrics)

Will Win: Jeanine Tesori, Fun Home

Should Win: Jeanine Tesori, Fun Home

Should Have Been Nominated: Jason Robert Brown, Honeymoon in Vegas

Jeanine Tesori is the visionary behind some of the best musicals today. She is best known for her work in Shrek: The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Violet, and now she is making a splash once again with her music and lyrics in Fun Home. Tesori is a visionary and should be recognized by the Tony Award committee for her poignant music in Fun Home. The musical would not be the same without her incredible talent. Fingers crossed she will walk away with this award.
Honeymoon in Vegas may have ended early but part of the reason the musical was a huge, early success was because of Jason Robert Brown’s passionate, hilarious music and lyrics. Although the show was shut out of this year’s Tony Awards, Jason Robert Brown seemed like a shoe-in to be nominated for this category.

Best Play

Will Win: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Should Win: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Should Have Been Nominated: Constellations

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the most exquisite pieces of modern theatre to date. This play turned heads on the West End and now it’s causing a commotion on Broadway. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time stuns and amazes audiences night after night with its killer set and lighting design, along with the impeccable acting by this all-star cast. The entire show is stunning. From the set design, to the staging to the impeccable cast, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time deserves to be recognized by winning this category.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson are two of the breakout stars in the play world this Tony Award season. The show Constellations made people swoon and caused a stir on Broadway. This new play should’ve been nominated for the incredible heart, soul and tears it brought to Broadway this season. The overall production should’ve been recognized and part of that is thanks to the cast and beautiful set design.

Best Revival of a Play

Will Win: Skylight

Should Win: Skylight

Should Have Been Nominated: The Heidi Chronicles

Skylight has landed on Broadway and it’s hard to talk about anything else. Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan are reprising their West End roles in this amazing, spectacular, heartfelt Broadway revival. The sheer talent in the cast coupled with the poetic and hard-to-resist dialogue will make this revival a shoe-in for Best Revival of a Play.
Although it closed sooner than expected, the recent revival of The Heidi Chronicles left its mark on Broadway this season. The Heidi Chronicles may seem outdated for some younger audience members, however the themes are still relevant. Feminism, women’s rights, politics and motherhood are still relevant themes young women struggle with today. Heidi is a character that can span generations of women and help showcase a constant battle of the sexes. Elisabeth Moss and Bryce Pinkham alone did an incredible job in this revival of a play, and it was a shame it did not get recognized.

Best Leading Actor in a Play

Will Win: Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Should Win: Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Should Have Been Nominated: Jake Gyllenhaal, Constellations

Alex Sharp is making a career-defining Broadway debut in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking home this award. The way he embodies a fifteen-year-old boy with such high intelligence but everyday quirks is exquisite. His performance is nothing short of extraordinary as he leaves it all on the stage and leaves his mark amongst Broadway elite actors. Considering Sharp never really leaves the stage, he is constantly running, jumping, climbing and walking his way around. His ability to deliver his lines with such heartbreak and authenticity is amazing. Its no wonder Alex Sharp is raking in every award in town and can add this Tony Award to his list.
Constellations would not have been the amazing play that it was without one of its main cast members: Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal gave a stunning, audience-loving performance in Constellations, and considering his better half in the show, Ruth Wilson, walked away with a nomination it seemed like a logical next step for Gyllenhaal to snag one as well.

Best Leading Actress in a Play

Will Win: Helen Mirren, The Audience

Should Win: Carey Mulligan, Skylight

Should Have Been Nominated: N/A

Helen Mirren shines as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience. No stranger to playing royalty, Mirren took home the 2006 Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. She is now channeling a different side of the Queen as she meets with twelve Prime Ministers over the course of her sixty-year reign. Mirren proves she is Broadway royalty as she effortlessly transforms from a young Elizabeth during her first day as Queen to the older, wiser monarch known today. Mirren stuns audiences and she will most likely be adding this to her row of awards for playing Queen Elizabeth II alone.
Carey Mulligan is the heart and soul of Skylight her emotional scenes opposite Bill Nighy are incredible as she continues to create something truly special. Coming off of an incredible West End run with this role, she knows the show inside and out and it shows every time she steps onto the stage. If anyone were to snag this award from Helen Mirren it could be Mulligan.

Best Featured Actor in a Play

Will Win: Richard McCabe, The Audience

Should Win: Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall Parts 1 & 2

Should Have Been Nominated: Bryce Pinkham, The Heidi Chronicles

Richard McCabe as Prime Minister Harold Wilson delivers an amazing performance as Queen Elizabeth’s supposed favorite Prime Minister. McCabe effortlessly portrays Prime Minister Wilson who begins as a common man and grows into his role as one of the most powerful political figures in British history. McCabe and Mirren play off of each other perfectly as they deliver some of the funniest moments in The Audience. He will surely walk away with the award for this humorous character. If anyone were to steal this Tony Award from McCabe it would be Nathaniel Parker. After winning an Olivier Award this year for this role, there is no doubt that Parker is making a career-defining turn in Wolf Hall Parts 1 & 2. The Tony Award committee could recognize this and it would be a well-deserved win for Parker.
The recent Heidi Chronicles revival would be nothing without Elisabeth Moss and Bryce Pinkham. Pinkham used his physical comedy and dry sense of humor to create some the best scenes in the play. What was really impressive was his ability to go from moments of pure comedy to shear heartbreak. Pinkham should have been recognized in this category for this incredible work as Peter.

Best Featured Actress in a Play

Will Win: Annaleigh Ashford, You Can’t Take it With You

Should Win: Annaleigh Ashford, You Can’t Take It With You

Should Have Been Nominated: Tracee Chimo, The Heidi Chronicles

Annaleigh Ashford has always had the ability to steal the spotlight in every Broadway performances she partakes in. From Wicked to Kinky Boots, Ashford has been a pivotal comedic factor in several Broadway shows and in You Can’t Take It With You she steals the spotlight once again. Her work in the role of Essie should be recognized with her first ever Tony Award win and their is no doubt she will win this award.
Tracee Chimo seamlessly transformed into four, very pivotal characters in The Heidi Chronicles. She went from Fran, a lesbian feminist who befriends Heidi in the 1970s, to Molly, Susan’s date to Scoop’s wedding, and finally into Betsy, a very pregnant woman who works with Scoop at his magazine. All her characters were vastly different in characteristics but they all have one common factor, Chimo’s incredible sense of humor and physical comedy. She astounded in all roles and should have been recognized. She was the Tatiana Maslany of Broadway this year.
For a complete list of the nominees visit www.tonyawards.com.
What are your predictions? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to tune into the 69th Annual Tony Awards on June 7, 2015 at 8/9c on CBS.