The Drama Desk Nominations for the 1999-2000 New York theatre season will be announced early in the a.m. April 25 at the Friar's Club. The 51 year-old Drama Desk comprises New York theatre journalists, critics and writers. Unlike the Tonys and other awards, the Drama Desk honors Broadway, Off-Broadway, not-for-profit and Off-Off-Broadway productions, with categories often sporting nominees from productions big and small, Uptown and Downtown.
Bebe Neuwirth will play hostess at the 2000 Drama Desk Award, at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center on May 14. The awards will be televised live on New York 1 News.
Bebe Neuwirth won a Drama Desk award for Chicago in 1997 and was nominated for another for Sweet Charity. She also won Tony Awards for those two roles.
This year's nominating committee includes Jonathan Kalb of the New York Press, David Kaufman of the Daily News, Francine Russo of The Village Voice, Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter, David Sheward of Back Stage, Barbara Siegel of Show Business and Robert Simonson of Playbill On-Line. Sheward is also the Drama Desk president.
-- By Robert Simonson
