News & Views from the Drama Desk
For Release: Sunday, May 19, at 11PM (ET)
DRAMA DESK ANNOUNCES IT'S 2001/2001 AWARDS
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE VOTED OUTSTANDING NEW MUSICAL;
THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA? AND METAMORPHOSES TIE FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY
ALAN BATES, JOHN LIGHGOW, SUTTON FOSTER AND LINDSAY DUNCAN WIN TOP ACTING AWARDS
Thoroughly Modern Millie Heads List of Winners With 5 Awards,
Followed by Metamorphoses with 4 and
Private Lives and Into the Woods With 3 Each
New York, NY, May 19, 2002 - Unlike last year, when The Producers won a record number of awards, The 47th Annual Drama Desk Awards distributed it's honors for the 2001/2002 New York theatre season among a number of different productions at the gala awards show tonight, hosted by RUe McClanahan.
Thoroughly Modern Millie, the joyful new musical starring Sutton Foster, led the way with five awards, including honors for Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Lead Actress. In a tight race, Edward Albee's controversial play, The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses, which captured four awards, tied for top honors as Outstanding New Drama.
British actor Alan Bates was voted Outstanding Actor in a Play for his starring role in Fortune's Fool, edging out Liam Neeson, Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman, Dallas Roberts and Jeffrey Wright in one of the most hotly contested races of the season. John Lighgow captured the Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his starring role in Sweet Smell of Success.
On the distaff side, Lindsay Duncan (Private Lives) and Sutton Foster (THoroughly Modern Millie) were voted Outstanding Lead Actresses in a Drama and Musical, respectively.
Outstanding Revival honors went to Into the Woods (Musical) and Private Lives (Play). The venerable Elaine Stritch won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for her critically acclaimed tour de force, Elaine Stritch At Liberty. Ms. Stritch and John Lahr also won the Outstanding Book of a Musical award for the same production.
Outstanding Featured Acting awards wre presented to Frank Langella (Fortunes Fool), Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!), Kate Finneran (Noises Off!), and Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie).
Susan Strohman, who captured two Drama Desk Awards last season for her direction and choreography of THe Producers, was voted Outstanding Choreopgrapher for her contribution to the revival of Oklahoma! Directin honors went to Mary Zimmermen for her drama Metamorphoses, and to Mochael Mayer for his innovative staging of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Other award winners include Isaac Mizrahl (Costumes, The Women); Outstandng Scenigc Designers Tim Hatley (Private Lives, play) and Douglas W Schmidt (Into the Woods, Musical); TJ Gerckens (Lighting Design, Metamorphoses; and Dan Moses Schreier (Sound Design, Into the Woods).
Multiple award-winnind shows included Thoroughly Modern Millie with six; Metamorphose with four; Private Lives and Into the Woods, three each; and Fortune's Fool, The Last 5 Years, Elaine Stricht At Liberty and Oklahoma! with two apiece.
Special Drama Desk Awards had bene previously presented to: Paul Huntley, hair and wig designer, for Lifetime Achievement; Bill Rosenfeld, record producer, for his contributions to the preservation of musical theatre recordings; The Mint Theater Company (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) for rediscovering forgotten plays of merit; and The Worth Street Theater Company , (Jeff Cohen, Artistic Director, Carol Finneman, Producer) for its Stage Door Canteen shows for workers at Ground Zero.
During the awards show, the Drama Desk presented scholarships, sponsored by the Times Square group, Jamie deRoy & Friends and The Smart Family Foundation, to Jennifer Drayer and Raymond Santiago, graduating seniors at F.H. LaGuardia School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. The scholarships are given annually to promising students in the school's Drama Department who are planning to pursue careers in the theatre.
All winners received handsome Drama Desk Award trophies created by Lalique, internationally recognized since the late 1880's for it's unique crystal objects d'art, jewelery, watches and leather accessories. The Lalique Drama Desk Award is a finely fluted shell design in opal satin-finish, inspired by the Are Noveau period. Thed award stands 6.25" tall with a diameter of 2.75" and is mounted on a marbel base.
Presenters and performers at the Awards show included: Laura Benanti, John Cullum, Mos Def, Bryan d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Spencer Kayden, Hcad Kimball, John Lithgow, Andrea Martin, Jeff McCarthy, Louise Pitre, Bill Pullman, Mercedes Ruehl, Sheri Rene Scott, Elaine Stritch, Vanessa Williams, Patrick Wilson and Jeffrey Wright.
The awards show was presented by TheatreSport, Ltd. and Robert R Blume. It was produced by Lauren Class Schneider and directed by Jeff Kalpak. Sara Galvin, Jae French and Les Schecter are Associate Producers. Randie Levine-Miller ie Executive Director for the Drama Desk.
Organized in 1949, the Drama Desk is the only theatre organization whose award nominations honor Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and not-for-profit theatre productions equally in multiple categories.
In-kind sponsors of The 47th Annual Drama Desk Awards include: The New York Times, Lalique, Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, GSD Producitons, Variety, International Barter Network, Compass Restaurant & Bar, David Saity Jewelery, HitShowClub.com, St. Johns Boutique, VisionMix Creative Solutions, Stagebill Media, Times Square Group, Urinetown, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, New York Friars Club, Manhattan Bride Magazine, Watchcraft, Aurora Fine Writing Instruments, Back Stage, Columbia Broadway Masterworks, Dart Limousine Service, SmartTix and Cademartorie's Imports of Italy.
Catering and food services were provided by Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Lewis Foods (Boston Market), Lundy Bros Restaurant in Times Square, McDonald's (71st Street and Amsterdam Avenue) and Planet Hollywood.
The Nominating Comittee for the 47th Annual Drama Desk was televised live in it's entirety by NY1 News which will repeate its cablecast on Saturday May 25th at 7 PM. Roma Torre and Paul Lombardi co-anchored the coverage. The awards show will also be televised on Thirteen/WNET, New York's major public television station, on Monday, May 27, 9 to 11 PM. Midge Woosley will anchor.
The Nominating Committee for the 47th Annual Drama Desk Awards included: Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, Committee Chairman; David Finkle, Theatermania.com and The Village Voice; Susan Haskins, Theater Talk; Harry Huan, Playbill Magazine; Edward Karam, The Times of London; David Sheward, Back Stage; and Barbara Siegel, Theatermania.com and Siegel Entertainment Syndicate.
The Board of Directors of the Drama Desk is composed of David Sheward, Back Stage, President; Frank Sheck, The Hollywood Reporter, First Vice-President; Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Theatermania.com, Second Vice-President; Charles Wright, A&E Network, Treasurer; David Kaufman, The Nation, Secretary; Barbara Siegel, Theatermania.com and Siegel Entertainment Syndicate, Member-at-Large; Robert Sandia, Stagebill, Member-at-Large; David Barbour, Entertainment Design/Lighting Dimension, Past President; and Sam Norkin, Freelance theatre artist and Past President.
Click HERE for a complete list of all Winners!
Press Contact: |
Les Schecter/Matthew Donohue |
| Tel: | 212/586-2600 |
| E-mail: | lsprschecter@netscape.net |
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