There are four slots for nominees in the Tony race for best play. Three shows seem like sure shots to get in. There's much sentiment behind "Dividing the Estate" by recently deceased Horton Foote, largely because none of his plays ever won the top Tony. But this one closed back in January. Front-runner is "God of Carnage," the hit comedy starring Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden, written by Yasmina Reza, whose "Art" won best play of 1998 (beating "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" — outrage!). There's suddenly a lot of buzz for Neil LaBute's "reasons to be pretty," which just opened in early April, but probably not enough to deliver a win.

Nominees will be unveiled on May 5. Winners will be announced on June 7.

BEST PLAY
(Front-runners)
"Dividing the Estate" by Horton Foote (closed)
"God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton)
"reasons to be pretty" by Neil LaBute

(Possible)
"The American Plan" by Richard Greenberg (closed)
"Impressionism" by Michael Jacobs
"Irena's Vow" by Dan Gordon
"33 Variations" by Moises Kaufman

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Photos credits: Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Booth Theatre, Lyceum Theatre

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