Drama League to Honor Kander & Ebb, Mayer, Broadway Cares at 2007 Awards

The Drama League has announced the recipients of its three annual specialty awards, to be presented at the organization's 73rd annual awards ceremony and luncheon on May 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. John Kander and Fred Ebb posthumously will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, Michael Mayer Spring Awakening will be honored with the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing, and the not-for-profit charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award.

Hosted by Gary Beach Les Misérables, The Producers, La Cage aux Folles, the 2007 awards and luncheon includes as honorary co-chairs Michael Cerveris LoveMusik, Billy Crudup, Ethan Hawke and Brian F. O'Byrne The Coast of Utopia, Audra McDonald 110 in the Shade and David Hyde Pierce Curtains.

The Drama League Awards pay tribute to the season's best performers by honoring the nominees of the Distinguished Performance Award on a dais. This year's luncheon will feature approximately 60 performers from the 2006-07 Broadway and off-Broadway season, including the honorary co-chairs. In addition to the Distinguished Performance Award won last year by Christine Ebersole of Grey Gardens, the Drama League's 3,000 members vote on four other annual awards: Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play and Distinguished Revival of a Musical. Nominations for these five awards will be announced on April 25.

The Drama League was founded in 1916 as an association of theater professionals and patrons dedicated to encouraging the finest in professional theater through such programs as its Directors Project which encourages and trains young talent and Audience Project dedicated to building strong, passionate audiences.