Harvey Fierstein to Host 51st Annual Drama Desk Awards on May 21, 2006

Multi-talented actor/writer Harvey Fierstein, who recently returned to his award-winning role of Edna Turnblad in the Las Vegas company of Hairspray after completing a year as Tevye in the record-breaking Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, will host The 51st Annual DRAMA DESK AWARDS on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 9:00 PM, at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center, it was announced by Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Awards Ceremony. Fierstein will host the prestigious awards ceremony for the third year in a row.

"We are thrilled that Harvey has been able to arrange a short leave from 'Hairspray' in Las Vegas to host the Drama Desk Awards again," said Blume. "Harvey has a distinctive sense of humor and love of the theatre that make him a perfect host for our awards show which celebrates excellence in all sectors of New York theatre, including Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and not-for-profit stage productions."

William Wolf, President of the Drama Desk, an organization of professional theatre critics, writers and editors that was created in 1949, also expressed his satisfaction with Fierstein as host. "Harvey is a dynamic actor and writer who has injected a new excitement to the awards show the past two years. We are delighted that he has been able to fit this assignment into his busy schedule."

The winner of three Drama Desk Awards, Harvey Fierstein has also garnered four Tony Awards in four different categories: Actor in a Musical for Hairspray, Actor in a Play and Best Play for writing and starring in Torch Song Trilogy, and Best Book of a Musical for writing La Cage aux Folles. He won the Humanitas Award in 2000 for writing the HBO animated special "The Sissy Duckling," which is also published as a children's book. Other honors include the Drama League Award, the New York Magazine Award, a special Obie, Theater World and L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards. He has also been nominated for an Emmy ("Cheers" guest star), American Comedy Award (Mrs. Doubtfire) and London's prestigious Olivier Award (Torch Song).

The 51st Annual Drama Desk Awards will be taped and subsequently broadcast as a two hour Special nationwide on PBS stations. In New York, the program will be shown on Thirteen/WNET and on NYC-25 TV. For the fourth year in a row, the awards ceremony will be webcast by TheaterMania.com.

Nominations for the 2005/2006 Drama Desk Awards will be announced on Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 9:30 AM at The New York Friars Club, 57 East 55th Street. Nominees will be announced in multiple categories honoring excellence during the 2005/2006 New York theatre season. The official Cocktail Reception for Drama Desk nominees, where they receive their Nomination Certificates, will take place on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, from 4 to 7 PM at Café Arte, 106 West 73rd Street (between Columbus Avenue and Broadway).