NEW YORK — Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O’Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it’s his turn.

“Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, ‘I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.’ And I said, ‘Well, I’d rather you didn’t.’ I said, ‘I’d rather you wrote my speech,’” Fierstein says.

Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind “Torch Song Trilogy” and “Kinky Boots,” will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall.