Lansbury, Rose, McNally, Etc. to be Obie Award Presenters

"Founded in 1955 by Jerry Tallmer, the Village Voice Obie Awards are purposely structured with informal categories to recognize all persons and productions worthy of distinction. The Obies were the first to identify and honor such artists as Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, Denzel Washington, and Edward Albee," state press materials.

Scheduled to present Obies on May 21 are Angela Lansbury, Anika Noni Rose, Camryn Manheim, Liev Schreiber, Stephanie March, Terrence McNally and William Ivey Long.

Village Voice chief theater critic Michael Feingold served as chairman of the 2006-07 Village Voice Obie Awards Committee, which selects the Obie Award winners. His fellow judges were former Obie winners Kirsten Childs, Ain Gordon, and Adam Rapp, theater administrator Anne Dennin, critic Jeremy McCarter, and Voice theater critic Alexis Soloski.

Since the mid-1980s, The Village Voice has provided grant money, which the judges award each year to emerging theater groups and playwrights, to assist them in continuing to produce groundbreaking theater. This year, $13,000 will be given in grants and awards upholding the Voice's long tradition of championing the arts.

Presenting sponsors for the 2007 Village Voice Obie Awards are the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University and Silk Vodka. Official sponsors are Macy's, Budweiser Select, Crunch and Chinatown Brasserie.

The event is invitation only with no tickets on sale to the general public. Look for full coverage in the Village Voice dated May 23, 2007 or visit www.villagevoice.com/obies.

Photo of Anika Noni Rose by Retna Ltd.