UC San Diego Alums Snag Tony Award Nods for Acting, Direction, Design

Four UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance alumni are among the nominees for the 2024 Tony Awards.

One, director Michael Greif, a 1985 grad, helmed the new musical by singer Alicia Keys, Hell’s Kitchen, which tied for the lead for most nominations with 13.

The other nominated Triton alums:

• Obie Award-winning director Anne Kauffman, a 1999 grad, for the new play, Mary Jane.
• Two-time Obie Award-winning actor Quincy Tyler Bernstine, also a 1999 grad, for best performance by a featured actor in a play, for the revival of Doubt: A Parable.
• Four-time Tony-nominated scenic designer and current UCSD faculty member Robert Brill, a 1988 grad, for Hell’s Kitchen.

Greif, a five-time Tony nominee, also holds the distinction of setting a Broadway record this year for directing three new musicals in one season. In addition to Hell’s Kitchen, he led the cast and crew for Days of Wine and Roses and The Notebook.

“I am delighted that the unique directing, design and acting talents of our alumni are being recognized,” said Dean Cristina Della Coletta. “They are truly making a mark on Broadway, contributing to the excellence of the field at large.” 

The Tony Awards will be broadcast at 5 p.m. PST June 16 from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Viewers can watch it live on CBS or stream live and on demand on Paramount+.