|
"UGLY
BETTY", SAG NOMINEE STAR TO CO-HOST
THE 8TH
ANNUAL COLUMN AWARDS GALA
The Board of
Directors and the Executive Director/Producer of THE COLUMN Theatre
Awards are extremely proud to announce this morning that Michael
Urie, who portrays "Marc" on the critically acclaimed, smash ABC
Comedy hit, UGLY BETTY has accepted their invitation to Co-Host the
2007 "THE COLUMN" Theatre Awards Gala. The glittery gala will be
held at the Courtyard Theatre in Plano on Monday February 26, 2007.
Just last week Urie received a 2007 SAG (Screen Actor's Guild)
nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy
Series. The mega hit comedy series also received this month a 2007
Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy Series.
Last week it was also announced that Tony Award nominee (AVENUE Q)
star Stephanie D'Abruzzo will also be appearing at "THE COLUMN"
Theatre Awards Gala as a special guest star.
When reached for comment about co-hosting and coming back to his
home turf of Dallas, Urie replied, "I'm so excited to co-host with
John, and come back to help honor the theatre town that I grew up
watching. I promise to be more Billy Crystal and less David
Letterman!"
Executive Director/Producer John Garcia stated, "Talk about wishing
so far out of the box! I really didn't think Michael would have the
time to come to "THE COLUMN" Awards, let alone co-host the event.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one of the stars from
one of the biggest hits on TV this season could fit into a tight
shooting schedule an Awards Gala. When he wonderfully accepted, I
think I screamed so loud that I'm sure my neighbors thought I had
put a cat in the microwave."
"After a long drought of bland, humorless TV comedies, along comes
UGLY BETTY to quench that thirst for great comedy. I became an
addicted fan from episode one. But in all honesty, a major reason
why the show is just so funny is due to Urie's scene stealing,
hilarious performance as Vanessa William's back stabbing assistant",
Garcia went on to say.
"Just take a look at the various fan sites, blogs, and magazines
that highly praise Urie's tour de force comedic performance on the
show. From the ice cold glares, to his colorful fashion attire, to
that side splitting wheezing he does-Urie is brilliant on the show."
"I can't express in words how thrilled the Board of Directors and I
are about Urie coming to this year's awards. Our Gala audience is in
for an amazing, amazing night! But to have Michael as my co-host is
a great honor indeed. He and I have are planning terrific ideas for
the big night!"
Michael Urie is a New York-based actor whose work has taken him from
his home in Dallas to Seattle, San Diego, Washington DC, Austin and
the Berkshires. He has worked off- and off-off-Broadway, and in
commercials and independent film.
The recipient of the 2002 John Houseman Prize for Excellence in
Classical Theatre from the Julliard School, from which he holds an
acting degree, Urie's classical credits include Shakespeare's
OTHELLO, TITUS ANDRONICUS, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for the Old
Globe's Shakespeare Festival; ROMEO & JULIET for DC's Folger
Theatre; LOVE'S LABORS LOST for The Judith Shakespeare Company);
Jacobean drama (THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY for The Red Bull Theatre and
THE ROARING GIRLE at The Foundry); and comedia del arte (THE KING
STAG at Seattle Rep). He appeared in the world premiere of LOVE AND
HAPPINEES at Barrington Stage in the Berkshires in western
Massachusetts.
His film work includes the star turn as Eric in WTC VIEW, which
premiered on LOGO in fall, 2006.
Urie was playing a bearded geologist and getting blown away nightly
by Mt. St. Helens "volcanic explosion in the off-Broadway production
of Phenomenon" when he was cast as Marc in UGLY BETTY. Worlds away,
in every sense of the word. As a producer/co-director, he is
currently in postproduction on "Two Down," his documentary short
focusing on high school speech and debate tournaments.
THE COLUMN Theatre Awards, now in its 8th year, honors excellence in
theater within the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This year over a 100
theater companies are deemed eligible, while over 300 productions
are in consideration for this year's honors.
THE COLUMN
Theatre Awards also serve as a major fundraiser for the national
charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. The Column Awards
organization has now raised over $8,000.00 for BCEFA and is now part
of their Angel Campaign.
There will be a cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, with the awards
ceremony beginning at 7:00pm.
For ticket prices and all other info, please go to their official
website at:
www.thecolumnonline.com
The DALLAS OBSERVER named THE COLUMN Theatre Awards as BEST LOCAL
AWARDS SHOW in its 2006 BEST IN DALLAS issue
John F.
Garcia, Jr.
Executive Director/Producer, "THE COLUMN" Theatre Awards
Editor & Founder of THE COLUMN
Texas Regional Theater Critic for talkinbroadway.com |
