The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide and Southern Comfort Take Theatre Honors at GLAAD Awards

By Adam Hetrick
26 Mar 2012

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron
Photo by Charles Sykes/NBC

Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide and the musical Southern Comfort were the winning theatre productions at the March 24 GLAAD Media Awards in New York City.

"Glee" cast members Naya Rivera and Cory Monteith co-hosted the New York ceremony at the Marriott Marquis.

The GLAAD Media Awards "recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives."

Two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters presented "Smash" producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron with the Vito Russo Award, which recognizes "an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBT equality."

"I want to thank GLAAD for selecting us to be honored, and for their extraordinary work every single day," Zadan said in his acceptance speech. "When we did 'The Reagans,' we had death threats for telling the truth about that President's outright refusal to acknowledge the growing AIDS crisis in America. We would not have survived that ordeal, I must point out, without the help of GLAAD. They got us through the political firestorm leveled against us by the Republican National Committee. So we got to see first hand what GLAAD's capable of accomplishing when they mobilize the troops, and thank God for them."

Film producer Harvey Weinstein also presented lesbian teen Katy Butler with the Special Recognition Award. Butler founded a Change.org petition to remove the R rating from Weinstein's upcoming documentary "Bully," which centers on teen bullying.

The GLAAD NY Theatre nominees (winners in bold with an asterisk) follow:

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATRE: BROADWAY & OFF–BROADWAY
The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Tony Kushner*
Maple & Vine by Jordan Harrison
Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott
Sons of the Prophet by Stephen Karam
Unnatural Acts: Harvard's Secret Court of 1920 conceived by Tony Speciale

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATRE: OFF OFF–BROADWAY
The Dog and Pony Show (Bring Your Own Pony) by Holly Hughes
The Escape Artist book by John Kelly, songs by John Kelly & Carol Lipnik
The Momentum by Boo Killebrew, Geoffrey Decas O'Donnell & Jordan Seavey


She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen
Southern Comfort book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis*

Among the celebrities who participated in the March 24 ceremony were Martha Plimpton ("Raising Hope"); Megan Hilty ("Smash"); Carson Kressley ("Dancing with the Stars"); Padma Lakshmi ("Top Chef"); MSNBC's Thomas Roberts; Kim Wayans ("Pariah"); Ted Allen ("Chopped"); Laverne Cox ("Musical Chairs"); Jay Manuel, Isis King ("America's Next Top Model"); journalist Chris Geidner; writer Janet Mock; and Emil Wilbekin ("Essence").

In addition to the announcement of New York theatre nominees, a host of celebrities and television programs found themselves on the GLAAD nominations list, including "Glee," "We Were Here," "J. Edgar," "Modern Family," "Albert Nobbs," "Anderson Cooper 360," "Dancing with the Stars," Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Voice."

For a complete list of nominees and winners, click here.