Acclaimed Broadway veterans Judith Light and Christopher Sieber announced the 2014 Drama League Awards nominees this past week from Sardi’s on April 23, including such categories as Nominees for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations ceremony was also broadcast worldwide via live stream, as well (via www.broadwayworld.com).


The nominations kick off the month of celebrations leading up to the 80th Annual Drama League Awards, which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway) on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. 

 

From “Who’s the Boss?” to Other Desert Cities

Judith Light received two consecutive Tony Awards in 2012 and 2013 for her performances in The Assembled Parties and Other Desert Cities.  Other Broadway credits include A Doll's House and Lombardi (for which she received Tony, Drama League, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations, as well as a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award). Her theatre credits include Wit (NY & national tour; Helen Hayes and Elliot Norton Awards), Colder Than Here, Sorrows and Rejoicings (with a Drama League nomination), A.R. Gurney's Children, Hedda Gabler (Helen Hayes nomination), Guys and Dolls, and Company (L.A. Reprise!). 

Light’s many television credits include "One Life to Live" (for which she received two Best Actress Emmy Awards), as well as the long-running "Who's the Boss." Other appearances include "Phenom," "The Simple Life," "Law & Order: SVU," "Ugly Betty" (for which she received another Emmy nomination),  "Nurse Jackie," "The Exes,"  "Dallas," and the upcoming Amazon Studios series “Transparent.”  She has also appeared in fifteen movies for television including The Ryan White Story and A Husband, a Wife and a Lover (co-executive producer).

  Her film credits include The Shoemaker, Ira & Abby,  Last Weekend, and Save Me.   She holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and is a Board Member of various HIV/AIDS and human rights organizations, and also serves on the National Advisory Council of The Drama League.

 

From Spamalot to Matilda

Christopher Sieber received Tony Award nominations for his performances as Sir Galahad in Spamalot and Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. His other Broadway credits include Matilda The Musical, the revivals of La Cage aux Folles, Into the Woods and Chicago, as well as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Triumph of Love and Beauty and the Beast. On screen, he is best known for playing Dad to the Olsen twins on Two of a Kind.

 

Distinguished Contributions and Achievements Nominees

The Drama League recently announced the 2014 recipients for Distinguished Contributions and Achievements in the Theatre, as follows:  Kennedy Center Honoree, Tony, and Grammy Award nominee, Barbara Cook will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award in recognition of her contribution to the musical theatre; Key Brand Entertainment/Broadway Across America: John Gore will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award for their vital work of bringing New York productions to theaters across America; and Tony, Drama Desk and OBIE Award-winner John Tiffany will receive The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.  

 

80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony

The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon includes a nominees cocktail reception, luncheon, and awards presentation and will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in the Broadway Ballroom (1535 Broadway) on Friday, May 16, 2014 beginning at 11:30 a.m. GenSpring Family Offices, National Life Group and Financier Patisserie are the 2014 Sponsors of The 80th Annual Drama League Awards.

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.

The Drama League Awards honor distinguished productions, performances, and exemplary career achievements in musical theatre and directing. The first Drama League Award was presented to Katharine Cornell in 1935. Since then, the Distinguished Performance Award has been accorded to a roster of theatre legends such as Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, Liev Schreiber, Sir John Gielgud, Harvey Fierstein, Cherry Jones, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Jeremy Irons, Mary-Louise Parker, Sir Ian McKellen, Bernadette Peters, and Christopher Plummer.

Tickets for The Drama League Awards, which includes pre-event cocktails and the star-studded afternoon luncheon ceremony hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, are available by calling (212) 244-9494 or visiting www.dramaleague.org. For more information about the Drama League Awards, please call (212) 244-9494 or visit www.dramaleague.org.