Jason Kravits to Host the Helen Hayes Awards in D.C.

The Drowsy Chaperone's Jason Kravits, who plays a gun-toting gangster-turned-pastry chef in the Tony Award-winning hit musical, will host the 23rd Annual Helen Hayes Awards in Washington D.C. on Monday, April 16th.  The native Washingtonian graduated from the University of Maryland and moved to New York in 1995, where he has since appeared on Broadway in Sly Fox and on television with guest starring roles in "The Practice" and "Friends."

The Helen Hayes Awards evening will begin with a chairman's reception at the JW Marriott at 6:30 PM, followed by the Awards presentation at the Warner Theatre at 8:00 PM, and the after-show Ovation Gala at the JW Marriott.  For tickets visit www.helenhayes.org / call 202-337-4572.

The recipient of thirteen major awards, The Drowsy Chaperone received the most Tony Awards of any musical -five in total, including Best Book and Best Score, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, four Outer Critic's Circle Awards including Outstanding Score and the Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.  The musical is directed and choreographed by Tony Award-nominee Casey Nicholaw (Spamalot), with music and lyrics by Tony Award-winners Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Tony Award-winners Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

"To chase his blues away, a modern day musical theatre addict known simply as 'Man in Chair' drops the needle on his favorite cast album – the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone. From the crackle of his hi-fi, the uproariously funny musical magically bursts to life on stage. We are instantly immersed in the hilarious tale of a glamorous bride and her uproarious wedding day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast (literally) and the audience (metaphorically) soaring into the heavens. Man in Chair's infectious love of The Drowsy Chaperone speaks to anyone who has ever been transported by the theater," state production notes.

Visit www.drowsychaperone.com for more on The Drowsy Chaperone.  Visit www.helenhayes.org for more information on the Helen Hayes Awards and to see a list of nominees.

Photo of Jason Kravits by Mark Rupp