'Book of Mormon' leads Drama Desk nominations

NEW YORK (AP) - April 29, 2011 (WPVI) -- The profane musical "The Book of Mormon" and the zany revival of "Anything Goes" received the most nominations from the Drama Desk, which honors both Broadway and off-Broadway productions.

"The Book of Mormon," by the creators of "South Park and "Avenue Q," nabbed 12 nominations, including ones for best musical, lyrics, music, direction and choreography. Acting nominations from the show went to Andrew Rannells, Rory O'Malley and Nikki M. James.

"The Book of Mormon" has been a critical and box-office darling. It has also received six Outer Critics Circle Award nominations and a Fred & Adele Astaire Award nomination, which recognizes excellence in dance.

The musical, about two Mormon missionaries who find more than they bargained for in Africa, was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of "South Park," and Robert Lopez, co-creator of the Tony Award-winning musical "Avenue Q." All three were nominated for the show's music, book and lyrics. Casey Nicholaw, who co-directed with Parker and choreographed, also was nominated.

The Cole Porter musical "Anything Goes" got 10 nominations, including for best musical revival and for Sutton Foster as outstanding actress, Colin Donnell as outstanding actor, Adam Godley as featured actor and Kathleen Marshall as director.

Other individual nominations went to Daniel Radcliffe, making his singing debut in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; Al Pacino in "The Merchant of Venice"; Geoffrey Rush in "The Diary of a Madman"; Mark Rylance in "Jerusalem"; and Edie Falco in "The House of Blue Leaves."

Nominations for best new play went to Jon Robin Baitz's "Other Desert Cities," Stephen Adly Guirgis' "The Motherf---- With the Hat," Rajiv Joseph's "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo," David Lindsay-Abaire's "Good People," Nick Stafford's "War Horse" and Adam Bock's "A Small Fire."

Nominations for outstanding musical went to "In Transit," "Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical," "See Rock City & Other Destinations," "Sister Act," "The Book of Mormon," and "The Kid."

Three other shows - "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson," "Brief Encounter" and "The Scottsboro Boys" - did not get any nominations this year because they were already considered for the 2009-2010 season.

The Drama Desk Awards will be presented during a ceremony hosted by Harvey Fierstein on May 23 at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The ceremony will be aired in June on the cable channel Ovation.

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