Aaron Tveit and Quincy Tyler Bernstine Win 2009 Clarence Derwent Awards

"Next to Normal" Star Aaron Tveit and Quincy Tyler Bernstine of "Ruined" are winners of the 2009 Clarence Derwent Awards, which are given each year to the most promising performers on the New York stage. The Associated Press first reported the news of the duo's win.

The winners were announced by Actors' Equity Foundation, which administers the prizes.

In "Next to Normal," Tveitt plays the son of a troubled woman dealing with bipolar disorder, while Bernstine portrays a young prostitute in Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Ruined." Among the past winners of the Derwent are George C. Scott, Calista Flockhart, Annette Bening, Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. The prizes were established in 1944 by Derwent, a president of Actors' Equity Association.

RUINED is the most acclaimed new play of 2009, having received the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Best Play award from the New York Drama Critics Circle, the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, five Drama Desk Award nominations including Outstanding New Play, five Outer Critics Circle Award nominations including Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, and two Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Play.

Tickets for the Manhattan Theatre Club and Goodman Theatre co-production of RUINED are currently on sale through June 28 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). Tickets for RUINED are available via New York City Center Box Office (131 West 55th Street), CityTix® (212-581-1212) and www.nycitycenter.org.
Tickets for RUINED are $75. www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com

Next to Normal has been nominated for 11 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley), Best Actor in a Musical (J. Robert Spencer), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Damiano), Best Original Score (Tom Kitt (music)/Brian Yorkey (lyrics)), Best Book of a Musical (Brian Yorkey), Best Director of a Musical (Michael Greif), Best Orchestrations (Tom Kitt/Michael Starobin), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Mark Wendland), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Brian Ronan).

Next to Normal is performed at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th street) on the following schedule: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm & 7:30pm. Tickets, priced $25.00 - $115.00, will be available at www.Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.