Michael Cerveris, Viola Davis, Linda Lavin, Anika Noni Rose, et al. Set for 2010 Obie Awards Ceremony

Michael Cerveris and Anika Noni Rose will host the 55th annual Obie Awards Ceremony, to be held at Webster Hall on Monday, May 17.

Presenters will include J. Smith Cameron, Viola Davis, Marin Ireland, Linda Lavin, Sam Rockwell, Michael Shannon, Kerry Washington, and Jennifer Westfeldt, The cast of the Broadway musical Fela! will perform.

Unlike most theater awards, the Obies do not publicize nominations or employ rigid categories in which a “Best” is selected. The judges select outstanding artists and productions and may even invent new categories to reward artistic merit.

As previously reported, the Awards committee is chaired by the Voice’s chief theater critic, Michael Feingold, and includes Voice critic Alexis Soloski, TheaterMania’s associate editor Andy Propst, HERE Arts Center’s artistic director Kristin Marting, Ma-Yi Theater Company’s artistic director Ralph B. Peña, and three-time Tony nominated actress Martha Plimpton.

For more information, visit obies.villagevoice.com.