Theatre Press Releases The Drama League honored three outstanding theatre luminaries at this year’s awards ceremony: Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy (Wonderful Town) presented eight-time Academy Award-winner, theatre and movie composer Alan Menken with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award in recognition of his contribution to the musical theatre; Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray) presented stage, television and movie star Rosie O’Donnell with the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award for her continuing efforts in promoting live theatre; and Tony-nominee Gavin Creel (Hair) presentedDrama League Directors Project alum and Tony-nominee Diane Paulus with The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.
The Drama League gathered together a team of Broadway’s best to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for the 78TH Annual Drama League Awards that included Nina Arianda, Christian Borle, Norbert Leo Butz, Rosemary Harris, Jeremy Jordan, Christine Lahti, Linda Lavin, Norm Lewis, Judith Light, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, and Blair Underwood. The Honorary Co-Chairs served as ambassadors for The Drama League Awards and the excellence of the New York theatre season by welcoming the attendees of the Awards Luncheon to a cocktail reception before the ceremony.
In addition, The Drama League introduced the 2012 Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project: Knud Adams, Amy Claussen, Vesselin Dimov, Shana Gozansky, Jess Jung, Swaine Kaui, Jesse Jou, David Mendizábal, Cat Miller, Patrick Walsh, and Christopher Windom.
The Drama League Awards honor distinguished productions, performances, and exemplary career achievements in musical theatre and directing. First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. They are the only major theatergoer awards chosen by audience members — specifically, by the thousands of Drama League members nationwide who attend Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. 2012 Nominees were selected from over 170 productions.
2011-2012 DRAMA LEAGUE AWARDS WINNERS
DISTINGUISHED PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Other Desert Cities
Lincoln Center Theatre
Andre Bishop, Artistic Director; Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer
DISTINGUISHED REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Death of a Salesman
Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Jon B. Platt, Columbia Pictures, Jean Doumanian,
Merritt Forrest Baer, Roger Berlind, Scott M. Delman, Sonia Friedman Productions,
Ruth Hendel, Carl Moellenberg, Scott and Brian Zerlinger, Eli Bush, producers
DISTINGUISHED PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Once
New York Theatre Workshop/Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo,
Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf, The Shubert Organization,
Robert Cole, New York Theatre Workshop, producers
DISTINGUISHED REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
Follies
Marquis Theatre
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (David M. Rubenstein, Chairman;
Michael M. Kaiser, President; Max A. Woodward, Vice President), Nederlander Presentations Inc., Adrienne Arsht, HRH Foundation, Allan Williams, producers
DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD
Audra McDonald
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSICAL THEATRE
Alan Menken
UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE THEATRE
Rosie O’Donnell
FOUNDERS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIRECTING
Diane Paulus
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