The Tony Awards are right around the corner (June 10) but a few weeks ago, the world of theater celebrated the best of the best at the 84th Annual Drama League Awards  at the famous Marriott Marquis in NYC honoring acclaimed and legendary theater professionals.

Talk about theater royalty folks. It was amazing.

Top talent including actors, producers, directors and iconic actors all graced the occasion to help honor some of the most outstanding talent in Broadway and off Broadway plays.

The Drama League Awards were created in 1922 and honor the distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway.  They awards also recognize exemplary career achievements in theater, musicals and directing. It is considered to be the oldest theatrical recognition in America.

The president of the Drama League Awards, the very popular Stan Ponte, exclusively spoke to The Ravi Report regarding the immense significance behind the distinction.

RR: It is such an honor to meet you Stan. You are doing such a terrific job with the organization. With over 55 nominations this year, what makes the awards so appealing to the theater world?

SP: Thank you. I think the awards with such a wonderful mixture of diversity, is especially noteworthy in the theater world because the awards themselves are voted on by our entire membership which is global. These are theater lovers from many different rich cultural backgrounds so you are getting perspectives from not just within the industry but from theaters lovers from around the world.

RR: The awards are also known to be very encouraging to new and upcoming directors. In what way?

SP: Well, underneath all this terrific energy and immense group of talented professionals, the awards focus on helping these young directors get their footing and find a path forward to create the shows that will be receiving these awards for generations to come.

The red carpet was filled with top talent including Tina Fey’s Means Girls trio Taylor Louderman who also co- hosted the event with Ashley Park and Kate Rockwell. Other stars included actor Joshua Jackson,  immensely popular actor Harry Hadden-Paton, the super talented Ari’el Stachel, who also happens to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, the stunning and super talented  Idina Menzel, the iconic Nathan Lane, gifted actor Andrew Garfield, world famous playwright Tony Kushner and many others. Actor Billy Crudup, who recently won an Obie award for “Harry Clarke” was swarmed by photographers when he entered the red carpet.

Here are the 2018 Drama League Awards Winners:

1. Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off -Broadway Play – Harry Potter and The Cursed Child: Parts One and Two
2. Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play- Angeles in America
3. Outstanding Production of a Broadwway or Off-Broadway Musical – The Band’s Visit
4. Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical – My Fair Lady
5. Nominees For The Distinguished Performance Award– Glenda Jackson, Three Tall Women

Special Recognition:

1. Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre- Idina Menzel

2. Founders Award for Excellence in Directing– Casey Nicholaw

The journey continues…with camera, lights and Broadway!

 

 

0