2015 Tony Awards Rehearsal - Editor-in-Chief Robert Diamond's LIVE Blog!

It's Tony Sunday! The greatest day of the year has finally arrived. If you're like me (and if you're reading this, you are) - you're up early, and following BroadwayWorld.com for what's going to be a FULL day of fun, excitement and TONYS TONYS TONYS! Warning! SPOILERS follow below! Warning!

The End - Thanks for joining me for another year (and putting up with shaky hot spot internet), and we'll be back live on BroadwayWorld.com tonight at 5 with our full coverage including our broadcast of the Red Carpet, pics, videos, blogs, speeches, full reports on each winner, backstage coverage and so much more!

12:30 - We're now in the dress rehearsal's 'Final Act' and Jason Alexander and Larry David are here and fans of each will be pleased. They'll present Best Musical and then ..... well, you'll have to tune in to see the rest.

12:20 - Bernadette Peters (still not aging for those keeping track) will present Best Leading Actor in a Musical to one of tonight's uber-talented leading men. For the rehearsal, it's Michael Cerveris who I'd give pretty strong odds to later as well... followed by Neil Patrick Harris (can't tell you if he's aging, it's a stand-in) for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. For rehearsal purposes, it's Chita Rivera. Most prognosticators think tonight's winner will start with a 'K'.

12:13 - Tears after that, and back in the commercial break seeing some promos for next season's musicals including DAMES AT SEA, HAMILTON, ALLEGIANCE, KING CHARLES III and PENN & TELLER ON BROADWAY.

12:05 - Phylicia Rashad, always classy and radiant and here to introduce Josh Groban and the Memorium Segment (back ON the broadcast).

12:01 - Another moving in-commercial segment devoted to this year's new Education Award -- go teachers, and hello Judith Light here to present Best Leading Actor in a Play.

11:54 - Back from break and we got a taste of the new education award -- so glad that they added this one! Then, Harry Connick Jr. will be on hand to present BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL, followed by IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU!

11:44 - In the commercial break, we're getting treated to a look back at the season's musicals -- with the audience giving loud applause to some of the shows no longer running, including SIDE SHOW, HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, THE LAST SHIP and HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME.

11:42 - A very strong showcase for the show.

11:40 - After a fun bit of speciality humor, Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski are now here to present Best Revival of a Play, and then we're back to more music with FINDING NEVERLAND introduced by stars of the show's all-star concept album.

11:30 - Jennifer Nettles is here, country and CHICAGO star to introduce the lovely Chita Rivera and the company of THE VISIT, which is followed by more commercial awards -- for best Costume Design of a Play, and Musical.

11:20 - Back from break, and Sting is in the house to talk about the American Theater Wing, followed by Brian Cranston tributing the Best Plays and announcing this year's winner. Very strong segment this year.

11:10 - A clip package has introduced 'The Year in Plays' ... always one of the toughest things to showcase on the Tony broadcast with a limited amount of time, but we've been given a good small taste via a wonderfully edited b-roll package, followed by Sutton Foster and Corey Stoll to present Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

On of the most fun continual parts of Tony rehearsal are the stand-in speeches by the 'For Rehearsal Only' winner's stand-ins which are always funny, often heartfelt and loved by the in-house audience.

Now up, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY!

11:01 - Back in commercial after a great performance by the cast of AiP. James Monroe Iglehart and Jessie Mueller are both doing a wonderful job and are back presenting Best Scenic Design.

10:51 - Dule Hill is now on stage to introduce AN AMERICAN IN PARIS!

10:50 - Kiefer Sutherland and Rita Wilson are here to present Best Direction of a Play.

10:49 - Stunning.

10:44 - Now it's Joel and Jennifer Grey to a loud ovation, introducing FUN HOME. Jennfer says she knows something about father's with complicated lives. Now, FUN HOME!

10:40 - That's certainly put the audience in the mood for champagne! A delightful song and segment! We're back to commercial, where they are presenting Best Choreographer -- certainly a tough category this year.

10:34 - It's High School Musical star, Ashley Tisdale to introduce the number for GIGI, starring of course her former co-star, Vanessa Hudgens.

10:32 - And that leads into (a stand in) for Tommy Tune, here to present Best Direction of a Musical, a category he knows very well.

10:30 - Back from break, and we're seeing highlights from the pre-broadcast honor of Tommy Tune, and we're coming back now with highlights of his speech and a special performance from a few of his many hit shows by this year's hosts and a great ensemble.

10:26 - The hosts continue to sing us out into the breaks, with some very cute segments. Presented during the next commercial? Best Orchestrations!

10:25 - That was a *BEAUTIFULLY* staged performance by ON THE TOWN!

10:20 - Misty Copeland, from the American Ballet Theatre is here to introduce the next musical number - ON THE TOWN!

10:17 - Taylor Schilling and a stand-in for Jim Parsons are here now to present Best Featured Actress in a Play .

10:15 - Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale are now on hand to present Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

10:13 - Returning from commercial, we're seeing highlights of the earlier presentation of Best Lighting Design of a Play, and Musical.

10:11 - We're being treated to the great video from SOMETHING ROTTEN! celebrating the Tony season during the break, and back in 15 seconds.

10:07 - And now our hosts are singing us back into the commercial break.

10:05 - With a GLORIOUS medley, THE KING AND I has shown exactly why the revival has been nominated. It's a wonderful showcase for a magical production.

10:03 - Taye Diggs is here (and soon to be back on Broadway in HEDWIG). He's introducing the number for THE KING AND I. For those wondering, Kelli O'Hara sounds wonderful at any and all hours of the morning too.

10:01 - Debra Messing and Anna Chlumsky are here to present Best Featured Actor in a Play.

9:59 - With a glam costume change that has the crowd cheering, Kristin and Alan are back to welcome us from the commercial break. They're warning winners about

9:57 - Now back in commercial, they're presenting the award for Best Score. For rehearsal purposes only, it's going to Sting.

9:54 - The first presenter, is a standin for Bradley Cooper, here to present Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. (Or as we call it this year, the Helen Mirren Award).

9:53 - With a tweaked version of the hilarious, and EPIC 'A Musical', led by Brian d'Arcy James and Brad Oscar, the broadcast is going to be off to a strong start.

9:46 - We're not going to spoil the clever opening, as instructed -- but first up after the opening, it's SOMETHING ROTTEN!

9:41 - Loud applause welcome this year's hosts, Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming out and onto the stage.

9:40 - It's a brilliant overture, featuring musical highlights from all of this year's nominated shows... I hope that they make this available at a later date.

9:37 - About to begin, Patrick Vaccariello, Tonys MD and his glorious orchestra are being showcased on the stage. They look and sound great.

9:32 - We're now in a commercial break before the beginning of the dress rehearsal for the actual ceremony. The hosts are reminding us that there will be a few surprises that we won't see this morning. It's a good thing that we're all planning to watch again!

9:30 - Schwartz has pre-taped his acceptance as he will be out of town this evening. He's in a tux, and was taped on the Radio City stage, so as far as pre-tapes go -- and a great speech thanking those he's worked with and previous receipients of the award.

9:28 - Mega-producer David Stone is here to present the Isabelle Stevenson Award, for those who embody the ideals of giving above and beyond their work. He's here to honor Stephen Schwartz, who wrote (amongst others), that little musical WICKED, produced by Stone.

9:26 - Still in pre-show land, it's Best Book of a Musical, one of this year's toughest categories. Again, we'll see highlights during the broadcast.

9:25 - Next, Best Lighting Design of a Musical.

9:23 - It's time for the first competitive award, first up is Best Lighting Design of a Play.

9:21 - Judith Light is here (to a rousing ovation) to present the award to this year's recipient. She is also a proud alumni of CMU.

9:20 - A clip package is now showing us highlights of past Tony winners who thanked their teachers (we're looking at you Sutton Foster) as well as some of the submissions that came in for this year's honor.

9:18 AM - Carnegie Mellon University is here on stage, to celebrate the first Tony Arts Education Award, with the Excellent in Theatre Education Award.

9:16 AM - Now we're seeing a clip package for the night's second special Tony Award, this one for John Cameron Mitchell. These awards will be taking place pre-broadcast, will highlights aired during the evening -- but we'll of course be covering them live on BroadwayWorld.com starting at 5pm with our red carpet coverage and live carpet stream.

9:15 AM - As is usual at the dress rehearsal, stand-in volunteers accept the awards and make on-the-spot speeches.

9:13 AM - Next up, is the Lifetime Achievement Award presentation to Tommy Tune this year. A clip package is celebrating his 50 years in the business with footage from many of his stage and screen roles. A stand-in is here to accept his rehearsal only award.

9:12 AM - They don't just get a special Tony, they also get a $25,000 grant from Citi National Bank.

9:11 AM - The first presentation of the night is to this year's Regional Theatre Tony Award recipient - the Cleveland Playhouse. We're now seeing a video about the theatre, with clips from some of the theatre's recent hits.

9:08 AM - James is now sharing the rules for the night, explaining how some awards will be presented now, and others during commercial breaks this evening, and both are wishing luck to all of the nominees.

9:07 AM - The welcoming speaches are over, and they're welcoming to the stage Jessie Mueller, and James Monroe Iglehart who will be hosting the Creative Arts Awards portion of the evening.

9:05 AM - Now it's Heather Hitchens turn, head of the American Theatre Wing, and co-presenter of the Tonys who is sharing more thank yous to all of those responsible for putting today and tonight together.

9:04 AM - Now, newly named President of the Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin is sharing statistics on the amazing Tony season that was, and the night that's coming up. She's also telling us about this year's newly expanded red carpet.

9:01 AM - We're in the house which is rapidly filling up with dress rehearsal guests, and right now William Ivey Long is welcoming the audience as they set up to begin the FULL rehearsal, which starts with rehearsal of the pre-show.

A reminder that in previous years, we've been asked to NOT reveal details on the opening number, closing number and "a few special surprises." Other than that, we'll be off and running momentarily!