The 2003 Drama Desk Awards, held last night at the LaGuardia Concert Hall, was one of the sharpest, swiftest, most enjoyable awards ceremonies in recent memory. The biggest surprise of the night was a highly unusual tie between Harvey Fierstein (Edna Turnblad in Hairspray) and Antonio Banderas (Guido Contini in Nine) for the Outstanding Actor in a Musical award. Here, Harvey and Antonio greet the press back stage after their joint win.
Also caught on camera in the Drama Desk press room: Jane Krakowski, voted Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her role of Carla Albanese in Nine….
…Denis O’Hare, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Take Me Out)…
…Marissa Jaret Winokur, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Hairspray)…
…the fabulous Redgrave sisters, Lynn (Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Talking Heads) and Vanessa (Outstanding Actress in a Play, Long Day’s Journey Into Night)…
…presenter Tommy Tune (left) with Robert Falls, Outstanding Director of a Play (Long Day’s Journey Into Night)…
…designing men William Ivey Long (Outstanding Costume Design, Hairspray) and John Lee Beatty (Outstanding Set Design of a Play, Dinner at Eight)…
…and the evening’s charming and glamorous host, Chita Rivera.
Caught backstage during the ceremony: Jim Caruso (left), who co-hosted TheaterMania’s webcast of the awards ceremony, with Eddie Izzard (Outstanding Actor in a Play, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg).
Not one, but two cocktail receptions were held prior to the Drama Desk Awards. Among the crowd at the FireBird restaurant on West 46th Street were Elizabeth Parkinson and John Selya, nominated for their performances in Movin’ Out…
…and Darren Sussman (right), president and co-founder of TheaterMania, with Joe Corcoran, producer of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding and Café a Go Go (and TheaterMania’s other co-founder).
Making the scene at the other pre-show reception, held at LaGuardia High School: Eric Jensen and Jessica Blank, creators of The Exonerated, which won the award for Unique Theatrical Experience…
…and the co-hosts of TheaterMania’s webcast of the ceremony, Rex Reed and Jim Caruso.
The capper of the Drama Desk’s big night was the after-party at Compass restaurant. Among the revelers, left to right: Jim Dale (a nominee for his performance in Comedians), Charles Busch (who received a special Career Achievement award), Carl Andress (director of Busch’s Shanghai Moon), TheaterMania’s Alison Albeck, and Studio 42’s Bradford Louryk. Click here to access TheaterMania’s video archive of the 2003 Drama Desk Awards ceremony and back stage interviews.
