Fans of Broadway and the Old Globe Theatre were thrilled Tuesday to learn that the musical comedy “Gentlemen’s Guide to Love & Murder” had earned 10 Tony nominations — the most this season. “Guide” premiered in March 2013 at the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at Balboa Park theater before moving to Broadway.
U-T San Diego reported that the show’s leading actor nominations include UC San Diego grad Jefferson Mays and fellow cast member Bryce Pinkham.
Also noted by the U-T: “The San Diego-raised Casey Nicholaw, who won three years ago as co-director of ‘The Book of Mormon,’ was nominated as choreographer of the musical ‘Aladdin,’ which he also directs (it earned five noms overall); and UCSD grad Danny Burstein landed his fifth nomination, as featured actor in the revival of ‘Cabaret.’”
A sampling of reactions in the world press:
The musical satire “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” led the nominations for Broadway’s annual Tony awards on Tuesday, scoring 10 nods including for best musical, director and leading actor.
The comedy about a would-be heir who must “eliminate” several distant relatives who stand between him and an inheritance featured no top-name stars, but beat out several high-profile new musicals, including “Bullets Over Broadway” and “Rocky,” which were not nominated for the top prize.
The musical is the San Diego company’s latest production to make it to Broadway following such other shows as “A Catered Affair,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Full Monty.”
After months of speculation about the Tony nominees for best musical, the race is on. As widely predicted, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” was nominated, and the three other nominees – “Aladdin,” “After Midnight” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – were viewed as likely by some Broadway observers.
“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.
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” a light musical-comedy romp about a murder in Edwardian England, is the surprise recipient of 10 Tony Award nominations, the most of any show honored Tuesday at what proved to be extremely unpredictable announcements.
The musical A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder (from the same novel about murder and inheritance that inspired the Alec Guinness film Kind Hearts And Coronets) leads the nominations with 10. In addition to its Best Musical nomination and nominations for its book and score, Gentleman’s Guide drew nominations for actors Jefferson Mays (who plays those eight roles), Bryce Pinkham and Laura Worsham, along with its direction, orchestrations, and scenic and costume design.
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.
