The cast of [title of show], the original musical that will open on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in July, will host the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards on Sunday, May 18, at 9:00 PM, it was announced by Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the awards ceremony, and William Wolf, President of the Drama Desk.
The awards ceremony will be held in the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. It will be webcast live by TheaterMania.com (www.theatermania.com), the nation's leading online source for theater information and tickets. It is also expected to be broadcast live in its entirety on satellite radio's XM - 28 On Broadway.
"We are delighted that the five member cast of [title of show] will be hosting this year," said Blume. "They are a multi-talented group of performers whose zany sense of humor and sharp wit will add a new dimension to the awards ceremony. An Off-Broadway success in 2006, this clever musical will come to Broadway this year in July. Having the cast of [title of show] as host, will make for a fresh and unique program."
Wolf, who is President of the Drama Desk, an organization of theater critics, writers and editors, that honors excellence in all areas of New York theater, including Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and not-for-profit theater, commended the choice of this year's hosts. "I believe this talented group of actors in [title of show] will infuse new youthful energy to the proceedings that reflect the changes taking place in the current New York theater scene. I look forward to an exciting evening."
The cast of [title of show] includes co-creators
Jeff Bowen and
Hunter Bell, and co-stars
Susan Blackwell and
Heidi Blickenstaff along with musical director
Larry Pressgrove. [title of show] -- which kicks off the new season on Broadway -- "takes a thoroughly unique and comical look at the pleasures and perils of the artistic process as two struggling writers (Bell and Bowen) and two struggling actresses (Blackwell and Blickenstaff) take on the seemingly impossible task of creating a new musical about creating a new musical."
[title of show] will begin previews at Broadway's Lyceum Theater July 5 with an official opening scheduled for July 17. Directed by Michael Berresse and originally produced at The Vineyard Theatre in 2006, the entire original cast of [title of show] will star in the musical on Broadway.
Nominations for the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards will be announced by
Bebe Neuwirth and
Len Cariou on Monday, April 28, 2008, at 9:45 AM at the New York Friars Club, 57 East 55th Street, in Manhattan and can be viewed live via webcast from the Friars Club on www.theatermania.com. Drama Desk nominees will receive their Official Nomination Certificates at a Cocktail Reception on Thursday, May 1, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, at Arté Cafe, 106 West 73rd Street, between Broadway and Columbus Avenue.
On Sunday, May 18 – the day of the Drama Desk Awards ceremony – there will be a VIP Reception prior to the ceremony at The Hawaiian Tropic Zone, 49th St. and Seventh Ave., 5 – 7:30 PM, and a post awards reception at John's Pizzeria of Times Square, 260 West 44th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, immediately following the ceremony.
The 2007/2008 Nominating Committee for the Drama Desk Awards is composed of:
Barbara Siegel (TalkinBroadway.com, TheaterMania.com), Chairperson; Dan Bacalzo (TheaterMania.com); Robert Cashill (New York Theater News and Live Design); Celia Ipiotis (Eye on the Arts); Gerard Raymond (Back Stage and The Advocate), and
Richard Ridge (broadwaybeat.com).
Robert R. Blume is Executive Producer of the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards and Blume Media Group Ltd is the producing company.
Lauren Class Schneider is Producer and Jeff Kalpak is Director of the Awards ceremony.
Roy A. Somlyo is Consulting Producer.
The Awards production team also includes: Associate Producers (in alphabetical order)
Margot Astrachan, Corine Dana Cohen, Matthew P. Donoghue,
Jacki Barlia Florin, Steve Garrin and
Les Schecter, who is also Director of Publicity and Promotions;
Elias El-Hage, General Manager; and Felicia M. Lopes, National Development Director.
For the Drama Desk organization,
Randie Levine-Miller is Special Events Director and Producer of the Drama Desk nominations at the NY Friars Club, and
Ellis Nassour is Media Liaison.
The Board of Directors of the Drama Desk is composed of:
William Wolf, President;
Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Vice President;
Charles Wright, Treasurer and 2nd Vice President;
Joyce Hauser, Secretary;
Ellis Nassour; Michael Bracken; David Kaufman;
Sam Norkin;
Barbara Siegel, and Elyse Sommer.
David S. Stone and The Smart Family Foundation, Richard I. Kandel,
Ted Snowdon, TheaterMania.com,
Jacki Barlia Florin and
Jamie DeRoy & friends have provided major financial assistance to the Drama Desk Awards show. In-kind sponsors include The New York Times, Variety, Manhattan Bride Magazine, Gray Line/NY Sightseeing, VideoActive Productions, Production Resource Group, Sound Associates, Abrams Gentile Entertainment, Hit Show Club, Software Pronto Inc, podcastnowstudio.com and Federico Hair Salon; food and beverage sponsors include
The Hawaiian Tropic Zone, John's Pizzeria of Times Square, Arté Cafe, NY Friars Club, Tony's Di Napoli, Grey Goose Vodka, Wine Cellar Sorbet and Lubov Galleries.
