Nathan Lane and Kenny Leon to Receive Special Awards at Drama League Luncheon

Two-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, star of the new Broadway musical The Addams Family, and Fences revival director Kenny Leon will receive special awards at the 2010 Drama League Awards luncheon to be held on May 21 in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel. Macy’s Parade & Entertainment Group will also receive an award for its Unique Contribution to the Theatre.

Lane will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, to be presented by Jerry Zaks, who directed him in Guys and Dolls and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and is a creative consultant on The Addams Family. Leon will be honored with the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing, to be presented by Fences star Denzel Washington. Betty Buckley (soon to be seen off-Broadway in White’s Lies) will present the award to Macy’s.

In addition to the special awards, competitive awards will be given at the luncheon for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical and the Distinguished Performance Award. (Nominees, including the names of 60 stars from the current Broadway and off-Broadway season, will be announced on April 20.) As previously announced, the Drama League Awards will be co-hosted by Ugly Betty stars Vanessa Williams (now appearing on Broadway in Sondheim on Sondheim) and Michael Urie (starring off-Broadway in The Temperamentals).