Drama League to Honor LuPone, McAnuff and Seldes
LuPone is eligible for the Distinguished Performance of the Year Award for her work in Sweeney Todd, currently running at the Eugene O'Neill. However, she is receiving the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award for her entire body of work, not just her acclaimed performance as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. LuPone is a Broadway legend, thanks mostly to her work in musicals. She won a 1980 Tony Award for her performance in Evita. Her other musical credits on the Great White Way include The Beggar's Opera, The Robber Bridegroom for which she earned a Featured Actress Tony nomination, Working, Oliver! and Anything Goes which netted her a 1988 Best Actress Tony nomination. Sweeney Todd composer Stephen Sondheim will present LuPone with her award at the Drama League luncheon.
McAnuff, who is currently represented on the Great White Way by Jersey Boys, has won Best Direction of a Musical Tony Awards for his work on Big River and The Who's Tommy. He is the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse, where he will next direct the world premiere of the musical Zhivago based on Boris Pasternak's epic novel Doctor Zhivago. Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Aaron Sorkin will present the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing to McAnuff.
Seldes received rave reviews this season for her performance in Terrence McNally's Dedication, or The Stuff of Dreams. Her many Broadway credits include Medea, Crime and Punishment, Tiny Alice, A Delicate Balance Tony Award, Father's Day Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award, Equus, Deathtrap, Ivanov, Ring Round the Moon Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations and Dinner at Eight Tony Award nomination. McNally will present the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award to Seldes.