Daniel Radcliffe. (Rob Rich)

New York City - The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards, were held on May 23, 2011 at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center. This year's event was a black tie, sit down gala hosted by Tony and Drama Desk winner Harvey Fierstein. Presenters at the ceremony included Daniel Radcliffe, Katie Holmes, Ellen Barkin, Marsha Mason, Tyne Daly, Montego Glover, Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Larry Kramer, Karen Olivo, David Hyde Pierce, Colin Quinn, Liev Schreiber, Annabella Sciorra, and Tom Wopat.

At the time of the Drama Desk's founding, the only major awards honoring New York theatre's creative men and women were the Tony Awards. These awards only celebrate those productions produced in Broadway theatres, while ignoring the hundreds of stage productions presented each year Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in legitimate not-for-profit theatres. Since Drama Desk members cover not only Broadway productions, but all New York theatre productions, the organization decided in 1955 to create its own awards celebrating creative stage achievements wherever they were presented.

Over the last 55 years, the prestige of the Drama Desk Awards has helped launch the careers of many major stars and playwrights. The first award that Andrew Lloyd Webber received in American theatre was from the Drama Desk as "Most Promising Composer." Drama Desk was also the first awards show to recognize such talents as Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, George C. Scott, and Stacy Keach. Dustin Hoffman signed on to star in "The Graduate" only days after receiving his 1966 award.

This year's awards will be televised on Ovation in June.