David Hyde Pierce to Host The 79th Annual Drama League Awards, 5/17; Nominations Announced 4/23!

The Drama League has just announced that Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce will host The 79th Annual Drama League Awards. The Awards Luncheon will be held Friday afternoon, May 17th at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway) at noon.

Pop icon Cyndi Lauper and Emmy Award winner Mary Tyler Moore will present special awards to Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell and Tony, Drama Desk and Grammy Award winner Bernadette Peters, respectively. 2013 Awards Honorary Co-Chairs include Bobby Cannavale, Alan Cumming, Edie Falco, Judith Ivey, Nathan Lane, Judith Light, Patina Miller, Donna Murphy, Fiona Shaw, Holland Taylor, Cicely Tyson and Michael Urie.

The 2013 Drama League Nominations for Distinguished Play, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Best Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award will be announced on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Sardi's. The nominations announcement will be streamed live online at BroadwayWorld.com.

"We are thrilled to have our dear friend David Hyde Pierce hosting the best party on Broadway," said Drama League Executive Director Gabriel Shanks of the announcement. "We can't wait to celebrate the best of Broadway and Off-Broadway from this marvelous theater season."

David Hyde Pierce is currently appearing in the Lincoln Center Theater production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Broadway's John Golden Theater. Previous Broadway credits include Curtains (Tony Award), Beyond Therapy, La Bête, Accent on Youth, Spamalot and The Heidi Chronicles. He has appeared in the films The Perfect Host, Down With Love, Full Frontal, Wet Hot American Summer, A Bug's Life, Treasure Planet, Wolf Nixon, Sleepless in Seattle, Little Man Tate, and Crossing Delancey. He is known to millions for his acclaimed performance as Niles Crane on the television comedy "Frasier" (Emmy and SAG awards), and recently directed The Importance of Being Earnest for Williamstown Theatre Festival and It Shoulda Been You for George Street Playhouse.

In addition to the competitive categories, Tony, Drama Desk and Grammy Award winner Bernadette Peters will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award in recognition of her contribution to the musical theatre, presented by Emmy Award winner Mary Tyler Moore; Madison Square Garden Entertainment & The Rockettes will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award for the continuing efforts in promoting live theatre; and Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell will receive The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, presented by pop icon Cyndi Lauper.

Featuring its signature celebratory atmosphere that has distinguished it since its inception, The 79th Annual Awards Ceremony and Luncheon includes a pre-awards cocktail reception, luncheon, and awards presentation. It will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in the Broadway Ballroom (1535 Broadway) on Friday, May 17, 2013.

For more information about the Drama League Awards, please call (212) 244-9494 ext 27, or e-mail events@dramaleague.org, or visit the website at www.dramaleague.org.

First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. They are the only major theatergoer awards chosen by audience members - specifically, by the thousands of Drama League members nationwide who attend Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

The Drama League Awards honor distinguished productions, performances, and exemplary career achievements in musical theatre and directing. The first Drama League Award was presented to Katharine Cornell in 1935. Since then, the Distinguished Performance Award has been accorded to a roster of theatre legends such as Audra McDonald, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, Liev Schreiber, Sir John Gielgud, Harvey Fierstein, Cherry Jones, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Jeremy Irons, Mary-Louise Parker, Sir Ian McKellen, Bernadette Peters, and Christopher Plummer.