McDonald & Swenson to host 2017 Drama League Awards

Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and her husband Tony nominee Will Swenson will host The 83d Annual Drama League Awards ceremony on May 19, 2017, at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

Audra McDonald was last seen on the Great White Way as Lottie Gee in 'Shuffle Along, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.' She won her record-breaking six Tony Awards for 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill,' 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,' 'A Raisin in the Sun,' 'Ragtime,' 'Master Class,' and 'Carousel.' She also earned Tony nominations for '110 in the Shade,' and 'Marie Christine,' and her additional Broadway credits include 'Henry IV,' 'Something Wonderful,' and 'The Secret Garden.'

Will Swenson can currently be seen as Earl in the Broadway production of Waitress at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. He earned a Tony nomination for 'Hair' in 2009. His other Broadway credits include 'Disaster!,' 'Les Misérables,' 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert,' '110 in the Shade,' 'Lestat,' and 'Brooklyn.' His off-Broadway credits include 'Murder Ballad' and 'Little Miss Sunshine.' among others.

As previously announced, Tony winners Patina Miller and Bebe Neuwirth will announce the nominations for the The 83d Annual Drama League Awards on April 19, 2017, at 11am at Sardi's. The five competitive Drama League Awards categories - Outstanding Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical and the Distinguished Performance Award

The Drama League also previously announced the recipients of the 2017 Special Recognition Awards. Bette Midler, currently starring in the Broadway revival of Hello Dolly!, will be honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, whilst three-time Tony nominee Michael Greif will receive the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing and animal trainer Bill Berloni will be honored with the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award.

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 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 Lin-Manuel Miranda, 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.