Alums Malone, Kashani nominated for Tony Awards

Two Anteaters are among those nominated for Tony Awards. Beth Malone (pictured), who earned an M.F.A. in acting in 2000, is up for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for “Fun Home,” based on Alison Bechdel’s coming-of-age memoir. During her time at UCI’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Malone played Ado Annie in “Oklahoma!” and starred as Miss Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” “Beth was a great student, a great collaborator, and has become a great actress. I anticipate this to be the first of many such awards,” said drama professor Robert Cohen, who directed Malone in “Oklahoma!” “Fun Home” and “An American in Paris” each earned a dozen Tony nominations. The latter, based on a classic film featuring the music of George Gershwin, was co-produced by Apples and Oranges Studios, which was founded by UCI alum Tim Kashani (pictured), a 1986 graduate in information & computer sciences and a 1988 MBA graduate. Kashani, who is a member of the board of directors for the UCI Alumni Association, launched the studio in 2001 to develop musicals for the stage, screen and new media. The studio also produced the 2010 Tony Award-winning musical “Memphis” as well as the Tony Award-winning revival of “Hair” on both Broadway and London’s West End. The 69th annual awards will be handed out June 7 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.