After a long awards season, it’s finally time for the final part of the coveted EGOT quartet. The Daily Trojan’s Arts & Entertainment staff selected their top picks for some of the ceremony’s major categories. The Tony Awards will air live from New York City on June 16 at 8 p.m. EDT.

Best Musical — “Hell’s Kitchen”

Leading the musical nominees with 13 nominations, this jukebox musical based on the works of Alicia Keys has been regarded by critics as an exceptional version of the jukebox genre. The cast, especially Maleah Joi Moon as Ali and Shoshana Bean’s portrayal of Ali’s mother, Jersey, is considered one of the best new ensembles on Broadway.

However, the main thing “Hell’s Kitchen” has going for it is a lack of serious competition. Fellow nominees like “The Outsiders” and “Water for Elephants” have received mixed reception at best. While dance musical “Illinoise” could pose a threat, the Tonys will likely give the trophy to the more conventional production.

— Sammy Bovitz, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical — Jonathan Groff in “Merrily We Roll Along”

Known for his recurring role as Jesse St. James on “Glee,” Jonathan Groff has the Tony for Best Lead Actor in a Musical all but secured. His performance as Franklin Shepard in a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s best-kept secret has garnered unparalleled praise from critics and fans alike. Groff’s impressive Broadway credits include “Spring Awakening” — for which he was initially nominated for the Best Actor Tony — and “Hamilton.”

Groff’s only serious competition in the category is Brian d’Arcy James, who received recognition for his performance in “Days of Wine and Roses.” Still, despite James’s five previous Tony nominations, Groff’s win appears to be nearly set in stone.

— Fiona Feingold, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical — Maleah Joi Moon in “Hell’s Kitchen”

Moon is the breakout star of the 2024 theater season. Making her Broadway debut at 21 in “Hell’s Kitchen,” Moon has proven to be a strong contender for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Portraying the “Girl on Fire” is no easy task, but Moon’s commanding stage presence and dynamic vocals give her the edge in such a loaded category.

Seasoned veteran Kelli O’Hara — who won the same award in 2015 — proves to be Moon’s biggest competition. O’Hara’s talent may be uncontested, but Moon’s star power is undeniable. Her stage presence alone makes her the category’s frontrunner.

— Fiona Feingold, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer

Best Play — “Stereophonic”

“Stereophonic,” like “Hell’s Kitchen,” has 13 nominations — but no other “Best Play” nominee has more than five. Its website boasts the production’s notable accomplishment of becoming the most Tony-nominated play of all time. The production, directed by Daniel Aukin, follows the fractured personal dynamics of a fictional 1970s band as they attempt to craft an album.

This includes five nominations for the play’s impressive cast, but “Stereophonic” also crept into some musical-dominated categories like Best Original Score and Best Orchestration due to the original songs created for the production. While some revivals star A-list actors — such as Steve Carell in “Uncle Vanya” and Jeremy Strong in “An Enemy of the People” — are worth noting, “Stereophonic” is in a class by itself when it comes to original plays.

— Sammy Bovitz, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play — Jeremy Strong in “An Enemy of the People”

Freshly adapted by Tony-nominated playwright Amy Herzog, Henrik Ibsen’s Norwegian classic from the 1800s is jolted with new and old uncomfortable American truths in the revival led by Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli. Strong’s transfixing performance as Dr. Thomas Stockmann has received raves since its debut. As the literal face of this new production, Strong breathes new life and urgency into a timeless cautionary tale.

Strong’s main competition rests in two other brilliant revival performances. Leslie Odom Jr. starred as the titular role in “Purlie Victorious” earlier this year to great fanfare, and William Jackson Harper’s work as Astrov in the Chekhov classic “Uncle Vanya” was the play’s sole nomination.

— Shouri Gomatham, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play — Sarah Paulson in “APPROPRIATE”

Sarah Paulson’s universally lauded work as Toni in the biting Southern family drama has been called everything from “astonishing” to “sinus-clearing.” The acclaimed revival is up for eight awards this year. Amid a knockout ensemble and technical audiovisual excellence, Paulson is the production’s towering force.

Rachel McAdams is Paulson’s strongest competition with her powerful Broadway debut in and as “Mary Jane,” a heartbreaking and moving work also penned by Tony nominee Amy Herzog.

— Shouri Gomatham, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer