Samantha Bee & Zach Braff Co-Host 26th Annual Lortel Awards

Nominations in 14 categories and 3 special awards were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2011 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will benefit The Actors Fund. A list of nominees follows below.

Now in its 26th year, the Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at NYU Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington Square in New York City, with co-hosts Zach Braff and Samantha Bee. The Awards Ceremony begins at 7 PM EST.

This year, members of the general public are welcome to view the 7 PM ceremony. Public tickets are $75.00 and will be available starting on April 1, 2011, via phone at 212.352.3101, online at skirballcenter.nyu.edu and in person at the Skirball Center's Shagan Box Office, at 556 LaGuardia Place (Tues-Sun 12-6).

Nomination highlights include leaders This Wilde Night and Other Desert Cities with 5 nominations each, Director Joe Mantello nominated for two shows this season, Laurie Metcalf and Edie Falco head to head in the Outstanding Lead Actress category, and Mike Birbiglia receives his second nomination for solo show.

Samantha Bee: Samantha Bee was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and understands that, yes, it's very clean there. Having no appreciable skill set or professional aspirations, she turned to acting and found it compatible with her lazy lifestyle. She began her career by doing numerous commercial campaigns, as well as participating in the all-female sketch troupe The Atomic Fireballs. In 2003 she joined the cast of THE DAILY SHOW WITH Jon Stewart and now holds the title of Most Senior Correspondent, having systematically eliminated all those before her. In addition to her work on THE DAILY SHOW, Bee can be seen opposite her husband, Jason Jones in the film COOPER'S CAMERA, and in the films FURRY VENGANCE opposite Brendan Fraser and in 20th Century Fox's DATE NIGHT opposite Steve Carell and Tina Fey. Samantha's first book I KNOW I AM BUT WHAT ARE YOU was released in paperback by Simon & Schuster in 2011, and she has a recurring role on the new season of HBO's BORED TO DEATH. When Bee is not working she enjoys photographing her children in foolish outfits and correcting spelling errors on menus.

Zach Braff: Zach Braff has distinguished himself from his peers-not only as an actor, but as a writer and director. With his feature writing and directorial debut, GARDEN STATE, Zach Braff reveals himself in all three capacities-acting, writing and directing. The film garnered numerous awards.

Braff can be seen this Spring in Tribeca Films THE HIGH COST OF LIVING for director Deborah Chow. The drama revolves around a man and woman who meet after a tragic accident.

Braff stage experience includes the Second Stage Theatre's production of "Trust" in 2010. This summer his first original play ALL NEW PEOPLE will debut at The Second Stage Theatre. He was also seen in New York City's Public Theater Productions of "Twelfth Night" and "Macbeth" with Alec Baldwin and Angela Bassett.

As an actor, Braff was nominated for a 2005 Primetime Emmy Award and a 2005, 2006 and 2007 Golden Globe award for his portrayal of Dr. John "J.D." Dorian in NBC's comedy "Scrubs." His filmography includes roles in

THE LAST KISS, THE EX, THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB, GETTING TO KNOW YOU and MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY in which he plays Woody Allen and Diane Keaton's son.

A native of New Jersey and graduate of Northwestern University's film program, Braff studied theater acting while writing and directing his own short films.

Lynne Meadow: This year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award has been the artistic visionary and leader of Manhattan Theatre Club since 1972, creating work that has put the company at the forefront of the American theatre. Lynne has overseen hundreds of world, US and New York premieres; directed dozens of new plays on and Off-Broadway by America's and England's finest playwrights; and accepted every major theatre award (Tonys, Drama Desks, Lortels, etc.) on behalf of the company. She has taught at Yale, Fordham, NYU, etc. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lee Reynolds Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women, the Manhattan Award from Manhattan Magazine, the Person of the Year from National Theatre Conference, the Margo Jones Award and the 2003 Mr. Abbott Award for lifetime achievement.

GARY GLASER: This year, the Off-Broadway League created the Service to Off-Broadway Award, a new award to celebrate leaders that serve the Off-Broadway community. The first recipient of this award is Gary Glaser. Mr. Glaser is a partner in the New York office of the national law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP practicing in the area of labor and employment law and litigation. He has over 25 years of experience litigating cases in federal and state court and before both federal and state administrative agencies, including both bench and jury trials and arbitrations before the NASD/FINRA, the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. He also advises clients in virtually every area of labor and employment law. In addition, Mr. Glaser has extensive experience handling the complete range of union-management issues, both in the context of conducting labor negotiations and arbitrations, by representing clients in hearings and litigation before the National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Glaser has represented the League in connection with labor employment matters for the past 5 years and has guided the Off-Broadway League through the negotiation of 3 collective bargaining agreements with various of the allied unions of Off-Broadway, and has represented several of the League's members individually in connection with various labor issues. He has served on the Off-Broadway League's Board of Directors for the past 3 years. His love for the theatre and music began when he played the role of the Cowardly Lion in his 3rd Grade Class's production of the Wizard of Oz, and it continued through his college years, when he minored in theatre and music. Mr. Glaser's goal has always been to combine his love for the theatre and music with his practice of law, and, with his service to Off-Broadway by way of the Off-Broadway League, he has succeeded.

A cocktail reception honoring the nominees will take place on Monday, April 11th, 2011 at 5PM EST at Planet Hollywood, located at 1540 Broadway.

Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors' Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee. The Lucille Lortel Awards is produced by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Additional support provided by Theatre Development Fund.

The Off-Broadway League's Lortel Awards Producing & Administration Committee (Terry Byrne, Denise Cooper, Margaret Cotter, George Forbes, Melanie Herman, Adam Hess, Catherine Russell, Carl D. White) produces the Lortel Awards Ceremony.

The Lortel Awards website, www.LortelAward.com <http://www.LortelAward.com> , will have updates and news about the ceremony, hosts and media releases. To follow the Lortel Awards and the Off-Broadway League on Twitter, please go to: twitter.com/OffBroadway_NYC ; Facebook at the Lucille Lortel Awards group.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2011 Lucille Lortel AWARDS

Outstanding Play:

In the Wake - Produced by The Public Theater; Written by Lisa Kron.

Other Desert Cities - Produced by Lincoln Center Theater; Written by Jon Robin Baitz.

Peter and the Starcatcher - Produced by New York Theatre Workshop; Written by Rick Elice.

The Coward - Produced by Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3; Written by Nick Jones.

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Produced by Second Stage Theatre; Written by Kristoffer Diaz.

Outstanding Musical:

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson - Produced by The Public Theater and Center Theatre Group in association with Les Freres Corbusier; Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, Book by Alex Timbers.

In Transit - Produced by Primary Stages, the Baruch/Viertel/Routh/Frankel Group, Jane Bergere, Jodi Glucksman, Ken Greiner, Chip Meyrelles, Christina Papagjika, and Janet Rosen; Music, Lyrics and Book by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan, Sara Wordsworth.

The Burnt Part Boys - Produced by Playwrights Horizons and Vineyard Theatre; Music by Chris Miller, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen, Book by Mariana Elder.

The Kid - Produced by The New Group; Music by Andy Monroe, Lyrics by Jack Lechner and Book by Michael Zam.

We the People: America Rocks! - Produced by Theatreworks USA; Songs by Brad Alexander (Music) and Kevin Del Aguila (Lyrics), Eli Bolin (Music) and Sam Forman (Lyrics), Joe Iconis (Music and Lyrics), Tommy Newman (Music and Lyrics), Ryan Scott Oliver (Music and Lyrics), Adam Overett (Music and Lyrics), Mark Weiner (Music) and Erik Weiner and Jordan Allen-Dutton (Lyrics).

Outstanding Solo Show:

Mike Birbiglia's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend - Produced by Ron Delsener, Mike Berkowitz, Joe Birbiglia and Mike Lavoie; Written and Performed by Mike Birbiglia.

Through the Night - Produced by Daryl Roth in association with Jana Robbins; Written and Performed by Daniel Beaty.

Outstanding Revival:

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes/Part 1: Millennium Approaches, Part 2: Perestroika - Produced by Signature Theatre Company; Written by Tony Kushner.

The Collection & A Kind of Alaska - Produced by Atlantic Theater Company; Written by Harold Pinter.

The Little Foxes - Produced by New York Theatre Workshop; Written by Lillian Hellman.

The Misanthrope - Produced by The Pearl Theatre Company; Written by Moliere, Translated into English Verse by Richard Wilbur.

Three Sisters - Produced by Classic Stage Company; Written by Anton Chekhov, Translated by Paul Schmidt.

Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience:

Gatz - Produced by The Public Theater.

Outstanding Director:

John Collins, Gatz
Anne Kauffman, This Wide Night
Joe Mantello, Other Desert Cities
Joe Mantello, The Other Place
Leigh Silverman, In the Wake

Outstanding Choreographer:

Tracy Bersley, The Witch of Edmonton
Steven Hoggett, Peter and the Starcatcher
Danny Mefford, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Annie-B Parson, Orlando
Gail Pennington Crutchfield, Freckleface Strawberry

Outstanding Lead Actor:

Desmin Borges, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher
André Braugher, The Whipping Man
Michael Shannon, Mistakes Were Made
Jeremy Strong, The Coward

Outstanding Lead Actress:

Tracee Chimo, Bachelorette
Edie Falco, This Wide Night
Elizabeth Marvel, The Little Foxes
Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place
Michele Pawk, A Small Fire

Outstanding Featured Actor:

Michael Chernus, In the Wake
Noah Galvin, The Burnt Part Boys
David PatRick Kelly, When I Come to Die
David Margulies, After the Revolution
Thomas Sadoski, Other Desert Cities

Outstanding Featured Actress:

Laura Heisler, Kin
Linda Lavin, Other Desert Cities
Deirdre O'Connell, In the Wake
Kristen Schaal, The Coward
Lois Smith, After the Revolution

Outstanding Scenic Design:

Rachel Hauck, This Wide Night
Anna Louizos, In Transit
Jan Versweyveld, The Little Foxes
Donyale Werle, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher

Outstanding Costume Design:

Gabriel Berry, The Coward
Jennifer Caprio, In Transit
Cait O'Connor, The Witch of Edmonton
Emily Rebholz, This Wide Night
David Zinn, Other Desert Cities

Outstanding Lighting Design:

Betsy Adams, When I Come to Die
Mark Barton, Gatz
Matt Frey, This Wide Night
Jesse Klug, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Ben Stanton, The Whipping Man

Outstanding Sound Design:

Mikhail Fiksel, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Fitz Patton, The Other Place
Mic Pool, The 39 Steps
Jon Weston, In Transit
Ben Williams, Gatz

Special Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Lynne Meadow

Service to Off-Broadway Award:

Gary Glaser

Nominations by Show:

TITLE TOTAL
Other Desert Cities 5
This Wide Night 5
Gatz 4
In the Wake 4
In Transit 4
Peter and the Starcatcher 4
The Coward 4
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity 4
After the Revolution 3
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 3
The Little Foxes 3
The Other Place 3
The Burnt Part Boys 2
The Whipping Man 2
The Witch of Edmonton 2
When I Come to Die 2
A Small Fire 1
Angels in America 1
Bachelorette 1
Freckleface Strawberry 1
Kin 1
Mike Birbiglia's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend 1
Mistakes Were Made 1
Orlando 1
The 39 Steps 1
The Collection & A Kind of Alaska 1
The Kid 1
The Misanthrope 1
Three Sisters 1
Through the Night 1
We the People: America Rocks! 1

About the Lucille Lortel Awards:

The Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were created in 1985 by the Off-Broadway League. The Lortel Awards recognize excellence Off-Broadway by honoring the invaluable contribution of artists to the theatre community.

Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors' Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals serve on the Voting Committee.

The awards may be given in the following categories: Play, Musical, Solo Show, Revival, Alternative Theatrical Experience, Director, Choreographer, Lead Actor and Actress, Featured Actor and Actress, Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Design. The following honorary awards may also be given: Lifetime Achievement, Body of Work (awarded to an institution), the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence, Service to Off-Broadway Award and induction onto the Playwrights' Sidewalk in front of the historic Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City.

For more information, please see www.LortelAward.com <http://www.LortelAward.com>

About the Lucille Lortel Foundation:

Lucille Lortel Foundation was created by Lucille Lortel to foster excellence and diversity in the theatre, as well as to faithfully preserve the rich history and support the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway. The Foundation has several major programs, including its general operating support program that has provided millions of dollars to small to mid-size theatres in New York City, universities, and theatre service organizations. The Foundation created and maintains the Internet Off-Broadway Data Base (www.lOBDB.com <http://www.lOBDB.com> ). For a listing of all of the Foundation's programs, previous Lortel Award nominees and recipients, information on the Lucille Lortel Theatre and Playwrights' Sidewalk, and much more, please visit www.lortel.org.

About Theatre Development Fund:

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) has played a unique role in strengthening live theatre and dance in New York City for the past 40 years. This not-for-profit service organization's programs have filled 72 million seats at discount prices (with theatre lovers who would normally not be able to attend live performance) and returned over 1.6 billion dollars in revenue to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF's membership, voucher, access and education programs as well as its Costume Collection, help to make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone. For more information, go to: www.tdf.org.

About The Actors Fund:

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund - which provides programs and services for those on stage and on screen and everyone behind the scenes in theatre, film, TV, music, dance, radio and opera - is a safety net, providing social services and emergency assistance, health services and health insurance information, employment and training programs and housing support for those who are in need, crisis or transition. Learn more about what The Actors Fund does in helping over 10,000 people every year at www.actorsfund.org <http://www.actorsfund.org>

About the NYU Skirball Center:

The Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is the premier venue for the presentation of cultural and performing arts events for New York University and lower Manhattan. Led by executive producer Jay Oliva (President Emeritus, NYU) and senior director Michael Harrington, the programs of the Skirball Center reflect NYU's mission as an international center of scholarship, defined by excellence and innovation and shaped by an intellectually rich and diverse environment. A vital aspect of the Center's mission is to build young adult audiences for the future of live performance. www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu <http://www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu> .

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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