GLAAD Awards, Honoring "Smash" Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, Presented in NYC March 24

By Adam Hetrick
March 24, 2012

Two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters presents "Smash" producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron with a special honor during the New York GLAAD Media Awards March 24 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."

Peters, who guest-starred on the March 19 episode of "Smash," will present Zadan and Meron with the Vito Russo Award, which recognizes "an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBT equality."

Film producer Harvey Weinstein is presenting out 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.

"Glee" cast members Naya Rivera and Cory Monteith co-host the New York ceremony. Also scheduled to participate are 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").

Additional ceremonies will take place April 21 in Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure and June 2 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

Here's a look at the theatre nominees:

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

OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATRE
Bonded by Donald Jolly
House of the Rising Son by Tom Jacobson
Killer Queen: The Story of Paco the Pink Pounder by Peter Griggs
No Word in Guyanese for Me by Wendy Graf
Who's Your Daddy? by Johnny O'Callaghan

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, click here.