'A Gentleman's Guide' Leads Tony Nominations
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The musical "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder,'' a comedic romp in which a poor man eliminates the eight heirs ahead of him for a title, has nabbed a leading 10 Tony Award nominations.
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch,'' a cult off-Broadway hit about a transgender East German performer, stars Neil Patrick Harris and won eight nominations, while "After Midnight,'' a musical celebrating Duke Ellington's years at the Cotton Club nightclub, got seven, tied with "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'' and a British revival of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night.''
Bryan Cranston won a nod for playing Lyndon Johnson in "All the Way,'' and Woody Allen got one for turning his film "Bullets Over Broadway'' into a musical.
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The nominations also made waves for snubbing some big names, including Denzel Washington, Daniel Radcliffe, James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Michelle Williams, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Ethan Hawke, Zach Braff, Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig.
The musicals up for the big prize in June are: "After Midnight,'' "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder,'' "Aladdin,'' and "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.'' Shows that failed to make the cut include "Bullets Over Broadway,'' "Rocky,'' "If/Then'' and "The Bridges of Madison County.''
"It's good to be acknowledged,'' said Andy Karl, nominated as a leading actor for the title role in "Rocky'' and who has transformed his body over three years into a fearsome boxer. "It's nice to know it was worth the time and effort.'' Of the lack of a best musical nomination for the show, he said he was disappointed, adding: "That's how the Tony cookie crumbles.''
"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'' was nominated for best book by Robert L. Freedman, best original score for Freedman and Steven Lutvak, best costumes by Linda Cho, best direction by Darko Tresnjak, Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations, best featured actress in a musical for Lauren Worsham, best scenic design for Alexander Dodge and for its two lead actors: Jefferson Mays and Bryce Pinkham.
The show, which was well received but sometimes struggled at the box office, has been considered an underdog this season, though Mays was considered a lock for a nomination: In each show, he plays all eight victims, two women and six men, and goes through 12 costume changes in the first act alone.
Disney's "Aladdin,'' an adaptation of the 1992 animated movie featuring a rambunctious genie, earned five nominations, including one for James Monroe Iglehart, who plays the genie.
"I know it sounds cliche, but I'm so happy to be nominated. I get to sit down at the Tonys. I'm not in the back. I'm not watching it on television. I get to sit. There's a ticket with my name on it,'' Iglehart said. "And I don't have to pay for it!''
The best new play category has James Lapine's "Act One,'' Terrance McNally's "Mothers and Sons,'' Robert Schenkkan's "All the Way,'' John Patrick Shanley's "Outside Mullingar'' and Harvey Fierstein's "Casa Valentina.''
Mark Rylance got two nods: One as a leading actor in a play for playing the evil title character in "Richard III'' and another as a featured role as a lady in "Twelfth Night.'' Stephen Fry also got a nomination for his featured role in "Twelfth Night.''
Rylance will compete in the best leading actor in a play category with Samuel Barnett, also in "Twelfth Night,'' Cranston in "All The Way,'' Chris O'Dowd in "Of Mice and Men'' and Tony Shalhoub in "Act One.''
Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel also got a nomination for her role in "If/Then,'' the only totally original new musical on Broadway this season.
She will compete in June with Mary Bridget Davies in "A Night with Janis Joplin,'' Sutton Foster in "Violet,'' Mueller in "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'' and Kelli O'Hara of "The Bridges of Madison County.''
The best play revival category includes "The Cripple of Inishmaan,'' "The Glass Menagerie,'' "A Raisin in the Sun'' and "Twelfth Night.'' There are only three options for best musical revival: "Violet,'' "Les Miserables'' and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch.''
The Tony Awards will be hosted by Hugh Jackman on June 8, who made a surprise appearance at the nominations Tuesday morning. It will be broadcast live by CBS.
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