Omahan up for Tony award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical

Andrew Rannells, 32, plays Elder Price in the smash musical “The Book of Mormon” which earned 14 Tony nominations and is the heavy favorite to win best musical. Rannels is up against fellow cast member Josh Gad as well as Norbert Leo Butz from “Catch Me If You Can.”
     Rannells' acting career began in Omaha at the Emmy Gifford Children's theatre. There, he once appeared with indy rock star Connor Oberst as a pirate. Oberst was one of the darling kids.

UPDATE: Rannels didn't win; Norbert Leo Butz did, for Catch Me If You Can. The text of NPH's funny rap summary at the end of the program is here, and the fine, fine, sailor number is here, along with the sailor number from the '88 Tony Awards for the '87 revival of Anything Goes. AKSARBENT will post the funny opening number declaring that the Tony's aren't just for gays any longer as soon as we find it online.