By Gordin & Christiano

Best Play: God Of Carnage
Yasmina Reza’s shallow dissection of contemporary social hypocrisy will win in a weak year, where the best new plays were seen Off- Broadway. Note: the Pulitzer Prize winning Ruined by Lynn Nottage is still playing at MTC.

Best Musical: Billy Elliot
The musical based on the movie of the same name is perfection and recently won 10 Drama Desk Awards. Billy will dance away with multiple Tonys as well.

Best Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests
The marvelously staged Alan Ayckbourn trilogy is seven hours long and boasts an extraordinary cast of British imports. However after President Obama’s recent visit the flawed revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone may be the politically correct choice. The August Wilson’s classic is gaining momentum and could surprise the Alan Ayckbourn frontrunner.

Best Revival of a Musical: Hair
The well directed revival will win in against a weak field, where the disappointing West Side Story is it’s closest competitor.

Best Special Event: Liza’s at the Palace
A miraculous performance by the incomparable legend. The voting shouldn’t even be close and she already picked up a special Drama Desk award. Her acceptance ought to be one of the evening’s highlights.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Look for the movie icon to eke out a narrow victory in a very close race with Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage and Janet Mc Teer, Mary Stuart. Fonda’s courage to return to Broadway after a zillion years will boost her over, but the other two actresses are more deserving, turning in vastly superior work and either could easily win.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King
No contest! Rush is in a league of his own. His performance is pure genius. If he doesn’t win, shame on the Tony voters.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Ripley’s unhinged housewife wins easily in over a scraggily field.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: Brian d’Arcy James, Shrek
We are going against the conventional wisdom that has the three Billy Elliot boys winning the prize. Many voters are not pleased with putting all three young actors on one line and the performances varied greatly. James is most deserving, but our choice may come up short.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
An enchanting Grand Dame! The beloved Broadway legend is having the time of her life and will deservedly pick up her fifth Tony over a strong field of competitors. She already took home the Drama Desk Award. This will be another of the evening’s highlights. BRAVO ANGELA!

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Roger Robinson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Robinson’s outstanding performance was the highlight of the flawed revival of the Wilson classic.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Olivo’s showy performance is popular with Tony voters and she will take home the Award over our personal favorite, Haydn Gwynne, the tough as nails dance instructor in Billy Elliot.

Best Performance by a featured Actor in a Musical: Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot
A solid performance by an actor who has tread the boards in numerous shows over the years. His body of work will carry him to victory.

Best Original Score: Elton John and Lee Hall for Billy Elliot
A close race with Next to Normal’s Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, but John and Hall ought to be helped enormously by the Billy sweep.

Best Book of a Musical: Billy Elliot by Lee Hall
The astutely crafted story by Hall intricately spins together many themes against a political backdrop with exception skill.

Best Direction of a Play: Matthew Warrchus, The Norman Conquests
Warrchus will win for his subtle superior staging of Conquests over his bold helming of God of Carnage.

Best Direction of a Musical: Stephen Daldry for Billy Elliot
A well deserved win by the film’s director. He brought new insights to his Broadway staging.