By Maria Esteves – May 24, 2012

The 57th Annual 2012 Village Voice OBIE Awards (OBIES 2012) honoring theatrical excellence and achievements in Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway commenced Monday, May 21, 8:00 pm at the legendary Webster Hall ballroom, New York, Monday, May 17, 8:00 pm. The ceremony also featured three outstanding performances by Joshua Henry and Sumayya Ali from ten-time Tony Award nominated Broadway musical The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, David Patrick Kelly from eleven-time Tony Award nominated Broadway ONCE, and Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra’s NO PLACE TO GO. 2012 OBIES gala with the fantastic jazz, swing and blues band Blue Vipers of Brooklyn preceded the awards ceremony. Attendees at the sold out event included industry professionals, producers, performing artists, recording artists, stage actors, sponsors, celebrities and guests.

This year’s award presenters were Eric McCormack, Grace Gummer, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Juliet Rylance, Justin Bartha, Leslie Odom Jr., Lily Rabe, Michael McKean, Tonya Pinkins, Topher Grace, and Tracee Chimo.  Chairman Emeritus Michael Feingold, Obie Committee, lead A Minute of Silence to pay tribute to the artists that have passed away May 20, 2011 - May 10, 2012. Grace Gummer and Michael McKean presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to CARIDAD SVICH, and the Performance Award to LINDA LAVIN in “The Lyons.”

Jonathan Pryce presented ETHAN LIPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA with the Special Citations Award for “No Place to Go," MARK BARTON with the Best Design Award for Sustained Excellence of Lighting Design, and the Performance Awards to SUSAN POUFAR in “Tribes," and STEVEN BOYER in “Hand to God.”