Most Tony pundits usually write off the hopes of a nominee if the show has been closed for a while. But is that really a fair assumption to make?

I'm not referring to productions that closed just weeks before the Tonys. Those were still fresh in the minds of voters — like "The Coast of Uptopia," which won a record tally of seven Tonys last year on June 10, four weeks after shuttering on May 13.

But if you focus just on productions that were closed for a good while prior to Tonys night, yes, it seems like they had little chance of triumphing. Below are a few of the exceptions. Note that the Tonys are usually awarded in the first half of June each year.

BEST MUSICAL OR PLAY WINNERS

"The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," best play: closed January 3, 1982.

"Travesties," best play: closed March 13, 1976.

"Hallelujah, Baby!," best musical:
closed January 13, 1968.

PERFORMANCE WINNERS

Julie White, best actress (play), "The Little Dog Laughed": closed Feb. 18, 2007.

Michele Pawk, best featured actress (play), "Hollywood Arms": closed Jan. 5, 2003.

Patricia Routledge, best actress (musical), "Darling of the Day":
closed Feb. 24, 1968.

Dolores Gray, best actress (musical), "Carnival in Flanders":
closed (after six performances) Sept. 12, 1953.
(Rumor has it that this was the shortest-lived Tony-winning performance.)

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