David Hyde Pierce and S. Epatha Merkerson to Host 56th Annual Obie Awards

David Hyde Pierce and S. Epatha Merkerson will host the 56th annual Village Voice Obie Awards ceremony on May 16 at Webster Hall. The Obie Awards honor the best of off-Broadway and off-off Broadway. The awards are structured with informal categories that often change annually. Nominations are not listed publicly and the judges may give several awards in each category.

The awards will be presented by Alec Baldwin, Andrew Rannells, Arian Moayed, Jim Parson, John Larroquette, Lee Pace, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mamie Gummer, Margaret Colin, Nina Arianda, Patina Miller, Robert Sean Leonard and Rose Hemingway. Anthony Rapp will perform "Seasons of Love" from Rent as well as additional material from his one-man show Without You.

Pierce, a Tony winner for Curtains, has also appeared on Broadway in La Bete, Spamalot and Accent on Youth. His many TV and film credits include Frasier, Wet, Hot, American Summer, Down With Love and A Bug's Life.

Merkerson was last seen on Broadway in Come Back Little Sheba. Her off-Broadway credits include F**king A, The Piano Lesson, I'm Not Stupid, The Old Settler and Birdie Blue. She is best known for her 16-season run on TV's Law & Order.