Drama League Winners- SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM wins Best Musical

2009-10 DRAMA LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

Distinguished Performance Award -- Alfred Molina, "Red"

Distinguished Production of a Musical -- "Sondheim on Sondheim"

Distinguished Production of a Play -- "Red"

Distinguished Revival of a Musical -- "La Cage aux Folles"

Distinguished Revival of a Play -- "A View from the Bridge"

Also, the following non-competitive awards were presented today, as previously announced:

Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award -- Nathan Lane

Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing -- Kenny Leon

Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award -- Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group

---

The Drama League Award is such a strange award though. I think everyone who has beaten Angela has given a better performance than her. I mean, Geoffrey Rush gave far and away the best performance in theatre in 2009, and Alfred Molina is up there for this season. She has gotten one for Unique Contribution to the Theatre though. (I thought it was funny that Patti LuPone had gotten an honorary award before winning one for a performance, too)

---

Molina just locked up that Tony race.

I don't think it's fair to say Molina has locked up the Tony race. Drama League voters are anyone, like you or me, who pay a yearly due for their membership and voting rights. Essentially anyone with a wallet can vote for the Drama League Awards. Not the case with the ability to be a Tony voter.

---

But the one thing to remember here is that Liev wasn't eligible for the Drama League Award because he already won for Talk Radio. He could still win the Tony. And I still wouldn't count out Denzel. The year Liev won, there wasn't a standout performance except for Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon (and he wasn't eligible for the Drama League since he had won before...sound familiar?). I honestly don't think there is a standout performance this year the way there was when Patti, Christine, Norbert, or Hugh won. Basically, I think Alfred won because there was no standout person to give it to. He is a highly respected actor in film and theatre who happens to be in a critically acclaimed new work. In the last 10 years, Patti is the only person who won the Drama League for a performance in a revival (though Liev in Talk Radio could be considered that, I still think of it as newish since it was Talk Radio's first time on Broadway). In general, the award goes to someone in a new work.

Wow, that was a very long-winded way of saying that Alfred very well MAY win the Tony, but it's far from sealed up. There are too many random variables this year to be sure.

^ I...don't understand the point you're trying to make, Piper. Angela Lansbury and Nathan Lane haven't won before, but I don't think either one of them has been in the same Tony category as a Drama League winner from that season.

---