Jesse Tyler Ferguson to host 2014 Drama League Awards

Emmy Award nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson will host The 80th Annual Drama League Awards on Friday, 16 May 2014 at The Marriott Marquis Times Square.

Mr. Ferguson's Broadway credits include 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' (2005) and 'On The Town' (1998). He is perhaps best known for his television role of Mitchell Pritchett in 'Modern Family', which has earned him four Emmy nominations. Other TV credits include 'The Class', 'Do Not Disturb' and 'Ugly Betty'.

As previously announced, this year's recipients of the special recognition awards include Barbara Cook, who will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award in recognition of her contribution to musical theatre, John Tiffany, who will be honored with the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, and lastly, Key Brand Entertainment/Broadway Across America, who will be awarded the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award for their work of bringing New York productions to theatres across America.

Besides the special recognition awards, the Drama League Awards have five categories: Distinguished Play; Distinguished Revival of a Play; Distinguished Best Musical; Distinguished Revival of a Musical; and the Distinguished Performance Award.

The cut-off date for eligibility for the Awards is the 20 Apr 2014, the nominees will be announced at Sardi's restaurant on 23 Apr 2014, and the Awards will be held on 16 May 2014 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in the Broadway Ballroom.

First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. They are the only major theatergoer awards chosen by audience members — specifically, by the thousands of Drama League members nationwide who attend Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

The Drama League Awards honor distinguished productions, performances, and exemplary career achievements in theatre and directing.

The first Drama League Award was presented to Katharine Cornell in 1935. Since then, the Distinguished Performance Award has been accorded to a roster of theatre legends such as Audra McDonald, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, Liev Schreiber, Sir John Gielgud, Harvey Fierstein, Cherry Jones, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Jeremy Irons, Mary-Louise Parker, Sir Ian McKellen, Bernadette Peters, and Christopher Plummer.

- by Tom Millward