Cook, Davis & More Set As Drama League Presenters, New Design Unveiled

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) is pleased to announce that Broadway luminaries Barbara Cook (Sondheim on Sondheim), Viola Davis (Fences), Sean Hayes (Promises, Promises), Liev Schreiber (A View from the Bridge) and Christopher Walken (A Behanding in Spokane) will serve as presenters at The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon.

The Drama League is also pleased to unveil the all-new design for The Drama League Award. The new award is designed by the world-famous team at Society Awards, led by David Moritz, designer of the new awards for the Golden Globes, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, GLAAD Awards and many other prominent awards.

Society Awards worked in tandem with the leadership at The Drama League to create an updated but timeless refresh on the traditional theater medallion award. The new award features the Drama League medallion die-struck from solid brass and embedded in the highest quality Lucite to ensure permanent brightness. Each winner's information will be laser engraved into the acetate base.
As previously announced, The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010 (noon) in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). The event will be co-hosted by Vanessa Williams (Sondheim on Sondheim) and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals).

This season's nominees for The Drama League's four major production award categories are as follows:

DISTINGUISHED PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (9)

AFTERMATH

A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE

THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS

CLYBOURNE PARK

ENRON

NEXT FALL

THE PRIDE

RED
VENUS IN FUR

DISTINGUISHED PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (9)

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

AMERICAN IDIOT

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

COME FLY AWAY

MEMPHIS

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

Sondheim On Sondheim

DISTINGUISHED REVIVAL OF A PLAY (8)

As You Like It

Brighton Beach Memoirs

COLLECTED STORIES

The Emperor Jones

FENCES

LEND ME A TENOR

A LIE OF THE MIND

A View From The BRidge

DISTINGUISHED REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (5)

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Finian's Rainbow

La Cage Aux Folles

Promises, Promises

Ragtime
The Drama League also pays tribute to the season's best performers by including the nominees of the Distinguished Performance Award on a dais. This season's dais includes more than 50 actors from the 2009-10 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. For a full list of nominees, visit www.DramaLeague.org.

Earlier this spring, The Drama League announced the recipients of its annual special recognitions: Nathan Lane will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, Kenny Leon will be honored with the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing and Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award.
Tickets for The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon are now available by calling 212-244-9494 ext 5.

For more information, please visit www.DramaLeague.org.