Going for 2013 Tony Gold! Handicapping the Race for Best Book of a Musical

It's Tony time on Broadway, and as always, we can't stop thinking about who'll be going for the gold on June 9! In anticipation of the 2013 nominations, which will be announced on April 30, we're clocking 14 of the top races. Take a look at our forecast, including frontrunners, hopefuls and a “shout out” to one performer or show we hope the Tony nominators won’t forget. Below, our cheat sheet on the race for Best Book of a Musical.

FRONTRUNNERS
Kinky Boots (Harvey Fierstein)
It’s the 30th anniversary of Fierstein’s first Tony wins, and he’ll definitely be back in the running for his entertaining tale of the unlikely collaboration between a saucy drag queen and an uptight shoe factory heir, both with Daddy issues.

Matilda (Dennis Kelly)
Kelly doesn’t sugar-coat Roald Dahl’s dark humor in this tale of a brilliant, unloved young girl, and his whip-smart book could lead the way to multiple Tony wins for the season’s best-reviewed new musical.

IN THE MIX
A Christmas Story (Joseph Robinette)
Robinette streamlined the plot-packed 1983 holiday movie without losing the elements (leg lamp, frozen tongue) fans wanted to see on stage.

Cinderella (Douglas Carter Beane)
Many have tried to create a workable book to accompany Rodgers & Hammerstein’s beloved 1957 score, and Beane succeeded, with sweetness and spunk.

Hands on a Hardbody
In the most heartfelt libretto of the season, Tony winner Wright gave voice to a disparate group of characters searching for the American dream.

Also possible: Chaplin (Christopher Curtis & Thomas Meehan); Motown: The Musical (Berry Gordy); Scandalous (Kathie Lee Gifford).

BROADWAY.COM SHOUT OUT
Bring It On (Jeff Whitty)
Whitty brought the same saucy wit that won him a Tony for Avenue Q to high schoolers in this cheerleading musical, keeping the action light, breezy and filled with laughs. Not easy—and he deserves Tony love for pulling it off.

Click here for more 2013 Tony forecasts!