SARDI'S HOSTS DRAMA LEAGUE NOMINATIONS

****
75th Annual Drama League
Nominations Announced
****
Story By: Tony Vargas And Brian Alessandro
Photo By: Ann Watt
****

Cheyenne Jackson With Rosie Perez And Bobby Cannavale

Past Drama League honorees Cheyenne Jackson, Rosie Perez and Bobby Cannavale got up early on Tuesday, April 21st at 10 AM (by Broadway standards) early to present the nominations for the Drama League but breakfast at Sardi’s in the theater district was a welcomed activity. Rosie almost forgot to name West Side Story as a nominee – I guess she will lose her Puerto Rican card. Bobby Cannavale and Rosie had a spat on the correct pronunciation of Samuel Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot.”Bobby was the only current working actor and was nominated for his show, “The Gingerbread House,” but an audience member yelled out, “It’s fixed”!Drama League President Jano Herbosch, Executive Director Gabriel Shanks, along with a major Broadway dais, will be hosting The 75th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 15, 2009 (noon) in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). Broadway stars will be coming to the event as John Lithgow said, “This is the best party on Broadway.” The event will be co-hosted by Jeremy Irons “Impressionism” and Cynthia Nixon “Distracted.” The Drama League, with 3,000 plus members, is an association made up of theater patrons and theatre professional who according to Mr. Shanks, is “the most democratic organization on Broadway.” In contrast, the Drama Desk awards are voted on by a 6 member committee and the Tony Awards has 750 eligible voters. Voting for Drama League is done via mailed ballots or, for the last 9 years, on-line voting.This year’s special recognitions go to Sir Elton John who will be flying in for the luncheon, Arthur Laurents, Angela Lansbury and Broadway producer Herb Blodgett. This luncheon will be a sell-out due to Elton’s appearance.Tickets for the 75th Annual Drama League Awards Luncheon are $150-$450. A Special “$75 Celebration ticket” will be available for the first time ever and includes an open beer, wine and soda bar (lunch is not included). For tickets call 212-244-0494 ext. 5 or visit www.dramaleague.org.Cheyenne Jackson was one of our favorite presenters. He will be appearing June 2-14, 2009 at Feinstein with Michael Feinstein – He will sing, dance and even play the piano while Michael sings – very interesting. This well rounded musical theater performer will be returning to Broadway in September in a revival of “Finian's Rainbow.” A pity he didn’t get to play Tony on Broadway since he has the Romeo charm but, alas, he did play the star-crossed lover in a Seattle, Washington production of “West Side Story.”