'Mormon' earns 14 Tony nominations

NEW YORK, May 3 (UPI) -- "The Book of Mormon," an edgy musical from the creators of TV's "South Park," was nominated for 14 Tony Awards in New York Tuesday morning.

"Mormon" tells the story of how two missionaries try to convert Ugandan villagers facing poverty and strife unlike anything the naive visitors could imagine. While one of the young men in overwhelmed, the second attempts to teach the villagers about God in a way to which they can relate and inspire them to hope for better lives.

In addition to Best Musical, the show, which features extensive profanity and scatological humor, earned nods for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Rory O'Malley and Nikki M. James, and Best Direction of a Musical for Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker.

Stars Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells were both nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

"Mormon" also earned mentions for Best Sound Design in a Musical, Lighting Design in a Musical, Costume Design of a Musical, Orchestrations, Scenic Design of a Musical, Choreography, Book of a Musical and Original Score.

Competing with "Mormon" for the Best Musical title are "Catch Me If You Can," "The Scottsboro Boys" and "Sister Act."

In the running for Best Play are " Good People" by David Lindsay-Abaire, "Jerusalem" by Jez Butterworth, "The Motherf**ker with the Hat" by Stephen Adly Guirgis and "War Horse" by Nick Stafford.

The nominees for Best Revival of a Play are "Arcadia," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "The Merchant of Venice" and "The Normal Heart."

Shortlisted for Best Revival of a Musical are "Anything Goes" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really."

The contenders for the prize for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play are Brian Bedford for "The Importance of Being Earnest," Bobby Cannavale for "The Motherf**ker with the Hat," Joe Mantello for "The Normal Heart," Al Pacino for "The Merchant of Venice" and Mark Rylance for "Jerusalem."

Nominated in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play are Nina Arianda for "Born Yesterday," Frances McDormand for "Good People," Lily Rabe for "The Merchant of Venice," Vanessa Redgrave for "Driving Miss Daisy" and Hannah Yelland for "Brief Encounter."

Up for the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical are Norbert Leo Butz for "Catch Me If You Can," Gad and Rannells for "The Book of Mormon," Joshua Henry for "The Scottsboro Boys" and Tony Sheldon for "Priscilla Queen of the Desert."

Vying for the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical are Sutton Foster for "Anything Goes," Beth Leavel for "Baby It's You!," Patina Miller for "Sister Act" and Donna Murphy for "The People in the Picture."

The awards are to be handed out June 12 in New York in ceremonies is to be broadcast on CBS.