Donna Murphy and Brian d’Arcy James Set to Announce Drama Desk Award Nominations

Donna Murphy (Passion, People in the Picture) and Smash’s Brian d’Arcy James will announce the nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards on April 27. The nominations, which recognize the best Broadway and off-Broadway talent of the 2011-2012 theater season, will be announced at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency. The Drama Desk Award winners will be presented at Town Hall on June 3.

Murphy is a three-time Drama Desk winner for her work in LoveMusik, Passion and Wonderful Town. She also received two Tony Awards for her work in Passion and The King and I.  She is one of three actress (the other two being Angela Lansbury and Patti LuPone) to win three Drama Desk Awards.

d’Arcy James won a Drama Desk for his work as the title character in Broadway’s Shrek. He was also nominated for his performances in Sweet Smell of Success, Port Authority, The Good Thief and The Wild Party. He is currently featured as Debra Messing’s husband Frank on the NBC series Smash.

The Drama Desk, founded in 1949, brings together writers and critics to support the ongoing development of theater in New York. The Drama Desk Awards were first presented in 1955, and includes Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway shows in the same categories.