Arianda and Heck Receive Equity's Clarence Derwent Award

The Clarence Derwent Award for most promising female and male performers on the New York metropolitan scene, has gone to Nina Arianda and Bill Heck. The announcement was made by Arne Gundersen, president of the Actors' Equity Foundation, which administers the Award.

Nina Arianda was selected for her performance as Vanda in the two-hander, VENUS IN FUR, presented by the Classic Stage Company. A newcomer with only a few professional stage credits, the 25-year old performer recently received an MFA in Acting from NYU's graduate acting program. She also trained at New School University, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and HB Studios.

Bill Heck was recognized for his multiple roles in Horton Foote's THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE, presented by the Signature Theatre Company and Hartford Stage. He has worked Off Broadway and in regional theatre, including appearances at The Public Theater, Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. He also has worked extensively with Vitality Productions, based in LA. He originally appeared in THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE at Hartford Stage.

The presentation will take place at Equity's Eastern Regional Board meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2010 at the Equity offices, 165 West 46th Street, New York.

The Derwent Awards are the oldest awards on Broadway, established in 1945 by Clarence Derwent, distinguished actor and president (1946-1952) of Actors' Equity. Past recipients include Annette Bening, Kristin Chenoweth, Morgan Freeman, Zoe Kazan Allison Janney, Frances Sternhagen, Christopher Walken and Fritz Weaver.

The Judges' Panel includes Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News; Adam Feldman, Time Out NY; Susan Haskins, Theatre Talk; Harry Haun, Playbill; Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press and David Rosenberg, Back Stage.

Photo Credit: Kyle Dean Reinford

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