The 80th Drama League Awards to be held 16 May 2014

The Drama League has announced the dates for the 80th Drama League Awards.

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.

The Drama League Awards have four categories: Distinguished Play; Distinguished Revival of a Play; Distinguished Best Musical; Distinguished Revival of a Musical; and the Distinguished Performance 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 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.