A spokesperson for the Drama Desk told Playbill.com that the eagerly awaited new musical will not be eligible for nominations this season because the Drama Desk's nominating committee will not be invited to see Tarzan until after the annual nominations meeting on April 23. The Disney musical, however, will be eligible for next season's Drama Desk Awards, as well as next season's Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Tarzan will be eligible for this season's Tonys.

Chris Boneau, a spokesperson for Tarzan, said in a statement, "Due to Drama Desk nomination cut off date occurring two and a half weeks before the official opening on May 10th, we understand Disney's Tarzan is ineligible for their 2005-2006 season.

"When the League announced that the Broadway season cut-off date was being extended to May 10th, Disney's Tarzan set their opening night date to May 10th, 2006 making it the final musical to open in the 2005-2006 Broadway season. At that time, we asked the Drama Desk and other organizations to consider extending their cut off dates to more accurately match the Broadway season. The Drama Desk organization declined. We respectfully request that Disney's Tarzan be considered for the 2006-2007 Drama Desk season."

Disney Theatrical Productions' Thomas Schumacher added, "My first responsibility is to the show. We've built our entire rehearsal and preview period to let the creative team create a new piece of musical theatre. Allowing a nominating committee into a preview performance two and half weeks before all the other critics would be unfair to the creative process."

Tarzan will officially open at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street, on May 10. For more information visit www.tarzanonbroadway.com.