Tony Awards brings Broadway to your living room

By Tom Comi

There is always something special about two entertainment mediums coming together, and that’s exactly what we get Sunday night when CBS brings us live coverage of the Tony Awards (8 pm ET).

Even more cool is that there so many familiar faces from television and the movies who have been nominated for their work on the stages of Broadway, including Al Pacino, Edie Falco, Vanessa Redgrave, Josh Gad, John Larroquette, Ellen Barkin, Billy Crudup and Joe Mantello. You can also include returning host Neil Patrick Harris (pictured), who is sure to entertain viewers with his great singing ability and quick wit.

One of the best things about awards shows are the many surprises and upsets, and we’re sure to get some of that Sunday. However, if there is any given in the history of this show, you can be sure that the Tony for Best Musical is going to The Book of Mormon. Written by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, this irreverent and controversial musical is a lock to win a several coveted awards.

Another wonderful thing about the Tony Awards is that you don’t have to have seen the musicals/plays to appreciate the telecast. The musical performances from the nominated shows are just as enjoyable whether you have seen them on Broadway or not. Think of it as an opportunity to watch some of world’s best performers, many of whom are included below in the major category nominations. Break a leg!

Best Play
Good People
Jerusalem
The Motherf**ker with the Hat
War Horse

Best Musical
The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Bobby Cannavale, The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Joe Mantelle, The Normal Heart
Al Pacino, The Merchant of Venice
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nina Arianda, Born Yesterday
Frances McDormand, Good People
Lily Rabe, The Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave, Driving Miss Daisy
Hannah Yelland, Brief Encounter

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Andrew Rannells, The Book of Mormon
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Beth Leavel, Baby It’s You!
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Mackenzie Crook, Jerusalem
Billy Crudup, Arcadia
John Benjamin Hickey, The Normal Heart
Arian Moayed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Yul Vázquez, The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light, Lombardi
Joanna Lumley, La Bête
Elizabeth Rodriguez, The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Colman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Adam Godley, Anything Goes
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Forrest McClendon The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O’Malley, The Book of Mormon

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tammy Blanchard, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Victoria Clark, Sister Act
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

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Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS