NYU graduates of the Tisch School of the Arts, the Steinhardt School for Culture, Education and Human Development and the Gallatin School of Individualized Study received 11 Tony Awards nominations yesterday, recognizing excellence in writing, producing, music, acting, directing, scenic design and lighting design. The awards are presented annually by The Broadway Theater League and the American Theater Wing.
NYU alums shone particularly brightly in the area of musical theater. Leading the field in overall nominations was the new musical “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” with book, music and lyrics by two graduates of Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing program, Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. Tisch undergraduate drama graduates Idina Menzel and Chad Beguellin were nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical and Best Original Score Written for the Theatre respectively. Beguellin was also nominated for Best Book of a Musical. Michael Mayer, a Tisch Graduate Acting alumnus, was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical for “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”
The full list of NYU alumni nominees includes the following:
BEST PLAY
“Outside Mulligar,” written by John Patrick Shanley, ’77 (Steinhardt, BA)
“Mothers and Sons”, produced by Ken Davenport '94 (Tisch, BFA), Mark Lee '84 (Tisch, BA, Cinema Studies), Thomas Smedes, ‘85 (Gallatin, BA), and Tom Kirdahy ’85 (WSC, BA), ’88 (Law).
BEST MUSICAL
“After Midnight,” produced by Adam S. Gordon ’89 (Tisch, BFA)
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
“Aladdin,” Chad Beguelin '91 (Tisch, BFA)/'92 (Tisch, MFA)
“A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder,” Robert L. Freedman (Tisch, MFA)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE
“Aladdin,” Lyrics: Chad Beguelin, ’91 (BFA, Drama)/’92 (MFA,Goldberg DDW)
“A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder,” Music: Steven Lutvak, (Tisch, MFA); Lyrics: Robert L. Freedman
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Idina Menzel, ‘93 (Tisch, BFA), If/Then
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Beowulf Boritt '96 (Tisch Design for Stage and Screen, MFA), “Act One”
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
Jane Cox ’98, (Tisch Design for Stage and Screen, MFA), “Machinal”
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Michael Mayer '83 (Tisch, MFA), “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
This year marks the 68th Tony Awards, which will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on June 8 at 8 p.m. ET.
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