Judy Garland News

Yes, with the lavish "Wizard of Oz" musical taking the biggest prize of all — best musical — and at least three other awards during Sunday's three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall.

It's the biggest prize because the best-musical honor counts where it matters most — at the box office. Despite sniffing from some of the critics, "Wicked" seems to have a lock on that invaluable commodity with grosses of more than $1 million each week.

If there's an upset, look for "Avenue Q" to pull it off. The feisty little musical featuring puppets and 20-something angst, has been waging a cheeky, public campaign for the top musical prize.

Here are other predictions for winners of Broadway's highest honor. But please understand — my crystal ball sometimes gets a little cloudy:

PLAY: A shoo-in. "I Am My Own Wife," Doug Wright's real-life tale of a German transvestite who outlasts both the Nazis and the Communists, already has won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. So did another contender, "Anna in the Tropics," but the Nilo Cruz play took the Pulitzer last year and its Broadway run fizzled after some surprisingly lukewarm reviews.

ACTOR-MUSICAL: The surest bet of all. If Hugh Jackman doesn't win the Tony for his juggernaut portrayal of entertainer Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz," demand a re-count. Hunter Foster, Alfred Molina , Euan Morton and John Tartaglia, although wonderful, are there to fill out the category.

ACTRESS-MUSICAL: The Tonys' toughest race. The contest seems to be between Tonya Pinkins, the embittered maid in "Caroline, or Change," and Donna Murphy , the Ohio lass who tries to conquer New York in "Wonderful Town." Look for Murphy to squeak through, although a Pinkins win is not out of the question. The "Wicked" witches, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel , will cancel each other out. And the delightful, underrated Stephanie D'Abruzzo of "Avenue Q" will have to wait for another show, one that showcases her without a puppet.

ACTOR-PLAY: Another parade of worthy candidates. Broadway often likes to celebrate newcomers and the least known in this group, Jefferson Mays of "I Am My Own Wife," will best a quartet of heavyweights: Kevin Kline , Christopher Plummer , Frank Langella and Simon Russell Beale.

ACTRESS-PLAY: The revival of "A Raisin in the Sun" is the biggest hit play, old or new, of the season. And as its strong-willed, plainspoken matriarch, the usually chic Phylicia Rashad is giving one of those perception-changing performances that win Tonys.

ORIGINAL SCORE: This is the best chance for "Avenue Q" to triumph, with its songwriting team of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx likely to beat Boy George and "Taboo," Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner for "Caroline, or Change" and Stephen Schwartz for "Wicked."

BOOK OF A MUSICAL: "Wicked." Winnie Holzman, who reworked Gregory Maguire's lengthy cult novel, should win, although Jeff Whitty's revuelike tale for "Avenue Q" could stage an upset.

REVIVAL-MUSICAL: Another difficult decision. But the buoyancy of "Wonderful Town," the Leonard Bernstein-Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical, will lift the show over another strong contender, the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of "Assassins."

REVIVAL-PLAY: "Henry IV." It's not still running, but Lincoln Center Theater's clear-headed and compelling condensation of two Shakespeare history plays is the one to beat.

DIRECTOR-PLAY: Jack O'Brien, "Henry IV." See above.

DIRECTOR-MUSICAL: Joe Mantello, "Assassins." Mantello wasn't nominated for "Wicked," which he also directed, so look for him to get votes from supporters of both shows.

FEATURED-ACTOR PLAY: Brian F. O'Byrne should have been in the lead-actor category. His performance as a serial killer in "Frozen" is that chilling and that good.

FEATURED-ACTRESS PLAY: Audra McDonald already has three Tony Awards. Now, she will have a fourth, this time for her appealing portrait of the long-suffering wife in "A Raisin in the Sun."

FEATURED ACTOR-MUSICAL: Raul Esparza gave an extravagant performance as the narrator in "Taboo," but that shouldn't stop the well-liked actor from winning in this category.

FEATURED ACTRESS MUSICAL: It's hard to beat Judy Garland and Isabel Keating masterfully portrays the legendary singer in "The Boy From Oz." Her stiffest competition is Anika Noni Rose as the defiant daughter in "Caroline, or Change."

CHOREOGRAPHY: Look for Kathleen Marshall, who makes "Wonderful Town" conga, swing and kick up its heels to take the award.

DESIGN AWARDS: Big usually wins. "Wicked" will pick up two of the three prizes here, for sets (Eugene Lee) and costumes (Susan Hilferty) but the lighting award will go to Broadway veterans Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer for their stark, striking work on "Assassins."

ORCHESTRATIONS: "Assassins" will receive the prize for Michael Starobin.