Brooke Shields and Brian d’Arcy James to Host the Drama Desk Awards

Brooke Shields and Brian d’Arcy James will host the 57th annual Drama Desk Awards. D’Arcy James previously announced this year’s nominees, led by the off-Broadway musical Death Takes a Holiday. The Drama Desk Awards recognize the best Broadway and off-Broadway talent of the 2011-2012 theater season. This year’s awards show, written by Bill Rosenfield and directed by Mark Waldrop, will be presented at Town Hall on June 3.

Shields' Broadway credits include The Addams Family, Wonderful Town, Chicago, Cabaret and Grease. She starred opposite Raul Esparza in Leap of Faith in Los Angeles and performed a solo cabaret show, In My Life, at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. Her many TV and film credits include Suddenly Susan, Lipstick Jungle, That '70s Show, Nip/Tuck and The Blue Lagoon.

D’Arcy James won a Drama Desk Award for playing 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. His other Broadway credits include Time Stands Still and Next to Normal. He is known to TV audiences 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.