Who Will Get a Nod? Broadway.com Predicts the 2015 Tony Nominees for Performances in Plays

Do you scream at the TV (in joy and/or anguish) when the Tony nominations are announced? Join the club. Yes, the nominators love to surprise anyone who thinks they have a clear crystal ball; nevertheless, here we are once again trying to predict who will get a nod on April 28. Read on for our totally unscientific (possibly dead wrong) stab at a Tony forecast, including frontrunners, hopefuls and a Broadway.com Shout Out to actors we hope the nominators will remember. Here’s our Tony cheat sheet for performances in plays!



BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY

FRONTRUNNERS

Left to Right
Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man — The three-time Oscar nominee shed modesty and comfort for this bravura star turn in which he transformed into the deformed title character without prosthetics.
Ben Miles, Wolf Hall — Playing Thomas Cromwell in this two-part marathon certainly requires endurance, but the British actor also brought wit, urgency and a delicious deviousness to the part.
Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — This recent grad nails the emotional sensitivity and demanding physicality required for his character, a high-functioning teen with Asperger’s Syndrome.

IN THE MIX

Left to Right:
Steven Boyer, Hand to God —This splashy star turn as both a troubled teen and the foul-mouthed puppet will likely earn a nod.
Hari Dhillon, Disgraced —Will this Broadway newbie, who soared as a simmering attorney on the edge, be remembered?
Jake Gyllenhaal, Constellations —The Oscar nominee's debut was sweet, intelligent and acclaimed; he seems destined for a spot.
Nathan Lane, It's Only a Play — Never count out this two-time Tony winner whose comic timing is utter perfection. 

BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT

Bill Nighy, Skylight — A nuanced, intense and laser-focused performance from David Hare's preeminent interpreter. Nominators should not overlook this master class in complexity and eloquence.

ALSO POSSIBLE
Michael Cera, This Is Our Youth; Kieran Culkin, This Is Our Youth; Larry David, Fish in the Dark; Brian Dennehy, Love Letters; Hugh Jackman, The River; John Lithgow, A Delicate Balance; Ewan McGregor, The Real Thing; Douglas Sills, Living on Love



BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY
FRONTRUNNERS

Left: Helen Mirren, The Audience — A nom is the surest bet in town for this reprise of a role that won the much-decorated actress an Oscar and continues to earn raves from critics and crowds.
Right: Carey Mulligan, Skylight —There’s no question this Oscar nominee will get a slot for her clear-eyed take on a strong woman determined to live with the difficult choices she has made.

IN THE MIX

Left to Right:
Geneva Carr, Hand to God — Her mix of piousness and sexual abandon has audiences howling and might sway nominators.
Glenn Close, A Delicate Balance — It’s unthinkable to count out this three-time Tony winner, especially in such a crisp performance.
Maggie Gyllenhaal The Real Thing — Could this Oscar nominee's quiet debut get a nod for the warmth she brought to her tricky role?
Ruth Wilson, Constellations — Glowing reviews and a graceful performance will likely win a spot for the Olivier winner.

BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT

Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles — The Mad Men star's endearing performance should be honored by nominators for its authenticity and skill despite the show’s early closing date.

ALSO POSSIBLE
Blythe Danner, The Country House; Lindsay Duncan, A Delicate Balance; Mia Farrow, Love Letters; Renee Fleming, Living on Love; Gretchen Mol, Disgraced



BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

FRONTRUNNERS

Left to Right
Richard McCabe, The Audience — Tony nominators will undoubtedly tap this Olivier-winning performance, a hilarious take on Harold Wilson, who wins over Her Majesty as well as audiences.
Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall — The recent Olivier winner commands the stage as King Henry VIII, in which he is both fierce and playfully foolish; nominators will surely give him a nod.
Bryce Pinkham, The Heidi Chronicles — The Tony nominee brings heart and charm to his role as a witty pediatrician and true friend to the title character. This should be a slam-dunk nom.

IN THE MIX

Left to Right:
Ian Barford, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time —His portrayal of a devoted but flawed father is in the running.
James Earl Jones, You Can't Take It with You — Nominators are unlikely to forget the distinguished actor as a wacky grandpa.
Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man — His elegant take on an empathetic Victorian doctor should not be overlooked.
Joe Tippett, Airline Highway — This newbie glows with quiet menace on stage; a nom would be a welcome surprise.

BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT

Micah Stock, It's Only a Play — An attention-grabbing debut in a cast of all-stars, this newcomer deserves a nom for his deadpan delivery and spot-on timing. Plus, his 11 o’clock number is tops.

ALSO POSSIBLE
F. Murray Abraham, It's Only a Play; Dylan Baker, The Audience; Bob Balaban, A Delicate Balance; Matthew Beard, Skylight; Jason Biggs, The Heidi Chronicles; Matthew Broderick, It's Only a Play; K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway; Marc Kudisch, Hand to God; Josh Radnor, Disgraced; Jerry O'Connell, Living on Love; Ben Shenkman, Fish in the Dark



BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

FRONTRUNNERS

Left to Right
Patricia Clarkson, The Elephant Man — The Oscar nominee will probably nab a spot for deftly bringing daring and compassion to the role of a strong Victorian woman who sees beneath the surface.
Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall — Her debut as the ill-fated Anne Boleyn is a shoo-in for her scheming seductiveness and irresistible swagger.
Julie White, Airline Highway — The Tony winner transformed into an anxiety-ridden prostitute trying to keep her demons at bay; nominators will surely be impressed.

IN THE MIX

Left to Right:
Annaleigh Ashford, You Can't Take It with You — It's impossible to forget this Tony nominee as a hilariously untalented ballerina.
Stockard Channing, It's Only a Play — A nod is likely for this Tony winner who has a killer side-eye and a flair for landing zingers.
Enid Graham, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — Her mix of vulnerability and volatility as a conflicted mother should be noticed by nominators.
Julie Halston, You Can't Take It with You — Will she get a slot for stealing scenes as a sloshed and snoozy guest with less than 10 lines?
Judith Ivey, The Audience — Virtually unrecognizable in her role as the Iron Lady, this two-time Tony winner always has a shot at a nom.

BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT

Francesca Faridany, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — Her grounded performance as a kind-hearted special education teacher should be remembered for its simplicity and grace.

ALSO POSSIBLE
Elizabeth Ashley, You Can't Take It with You; Lucy Briers, Wolf Hall; Rose Byrne, You Can't Take It with You; Geneva Carr, Hand to God; Tavi Gevinson, This Is Our Youth; Clare Higgins, A Delicate Balance; Jayne Houdyshell, Fish in the Dark; Megan Mullally, It's Only a Play; Caroline Neff, Airline Highway; Kristine Nielsen, You Can't Take It with You; Cynthia Nixon, The Real Thing; Karen Pittman, Disgraced; Sarah Stiles, Hand to God; Rita Wilson, Fish in the Dark