The Hammerstein Ballroom was packed for the Drama Desk Awards on Monday night. Broadway, off Broadway and off off Broadway casts and crews rubbed more than elbows, just getting to the stage at the announcements of their names.
Rushing to receive his outstanding actor award for The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Bobby Cannavale locked Sutton Foster in embrace and hoped that she would be awarded next up. She was.
In an unusually good season, top honors went to Book of Mormon, with 5 awards, Anything Goes, 5 including Kathleen Marshall for choreography, and special awards to Norbert Leo Butz (Catch Me If You Can), Laura Benanti (Women on the Verge), John Larroquette (How to Succeed), Frances McDormand (Good People), Brian Bedford (The Importance of Being Earnest), Edie Falco (House of Blue Leaves), Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, directors of The Normal Heart ,whose cast also received an ensemble performance award.
Presenters and attendees included a who's who of theater: Ellen Barkin, Katie Holmes, Philip Bloch, Christian Siriano, Lainie Kazan, Daryl Roth, Larry Kramer. When Annamaria Sciorra was introduced, Danny Aiello whooped, that's my girl! What's up with that? But more important, how much do these awards pre-figure the Tony's? I'd say a lot.
Edie Falco could not attend the ceremony because she was performing her role as Bananas in House of Blue Leaves, which uncharacteristic for a Monday night -- was not dark. The much-awarded actress was also missing from a tribute at Macy's Department Store, in their executive suites, where another award ceremony was taking place. New York Women in Film and Television presented the Variety Ensemble Award to the costume, makeup and hair artists responsible for Showtime's Nurse Jackie, with Anna Deavere Smith introducing that talented team.
Other awards went to makeup artist Linda Melazzo for her work on HBO's Mildred Pierce, with Brokeback Mountain writer Diana Ossana presenting, hair stylist Diana Sikes for Damages with Glenn Close presenting, and costume designer Janie Bryant, who created the fashion for Mad Men. Actress Cara Buono, one of Don Draper's love interests spoke of Bryant's attention to undergarments: corsets, garter belts, and uplifting bras.
Macy's proved to be the butt of many a joke. M.C. Nancy Giles said she once worked at the iconic department store -- as an elf.
This post also appears on Gossip Central.