Uncertainty is the mood on the eve of Tony Award nominations, with no clear best musical

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FILE - This file image released by Philip Rinaldi Publicity shows Denzel Washington, left, and LaTanya Richardson Jackson during a performance of "A Raisin in the Sun," at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York. This Broadway season has been rich with roles for African-Americans and audiences are responding, from the packed Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where the musical "After Midnight" celebrates Duke Ellington\'s years at the Cotton Club, to the standing-room only Circle in the Square, where Audra McDonald is channeling Billie Holiday, and to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre where Washington and Richardson share a stage with Anika Noni Rose and Sophie Okonedo. (AP Photo/Philip Rinaldi Publicity, Brigitte Lacombe, File)

NEW YORK, N.Y. – It’s Tony Award nomination time and this year that means a lot of nail-biting. Not only are there no obvious front-runners for best musical or play, but there’s also virtually no lock in the acting categories.

With the possible exception of Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Denzel Washington and Neil Patrick Harris, few performers are guaranteed a spot Tuesday when nominations are revealed. The top prize — best musical — has plenty of candidates, but most have bugged critics for one reason or another.

The nominations will be announced from The Paramount Hotel in a televised event co-hosted by the star of HBO’s “Looking” Jonathan Groff and “Elementary” cast member Lucy Liu. The Tonys will be handed out June 8 at Radio City Music Hall.

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