Tony Award-winning star, Cady Huffman, special guest at Column Awards

by John Garcia of John Garcia's The Column

The New York press has labeled her as having the most beautiful legs on Broadway. She has worked with some of the finest masters of dance, including Susan Stroman, Tommy Tune and the legend of dance himself-Bob Fosse.

She has won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for her outstanding work on the great white way.

Now those gorgeous legs and brilliant talent will be gracing the stage at the 2009 COLUMN AWARDS Gala on Monday March 23, 2009.

It is with great honor that THE COLUMN Awards Board of Directors and the Executive Director/producer announce that TONY Award winning star Cady Huffman will be a special guest star at the 10th Annual COLUMN Awards Gala.

Ms. Huffman won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her hysterical, scene-stealing performance as Ulla, the Swedish bombshell, in the history making musical - Mel Brooks' The Producers.

Her portrayal as Ziegfeld's Favorite in Tommy Tune's The Will Rogers Follies earned Huffman her first Tony Award nomination.

Huffman's other Broadway credits include Bob Fosse's last original musical Big Deal, Steel Pier (Choreographed & Directed by Susan Stroman), Dame Edna: The Royal Tour and the original production of La Cage Aux Follies.

Television audiences know her as the 2nd Dr. Paige Miller on One Life to Live, Larry David's anniversary present on Curb Your Enthusiasm and as a regular judge on Iron Chef America.

Other television appearances include Law & Order: CI, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Frasier and Mad About You, among others.

Her favorite motion picture roles include Roe in John Turturro's Romance & Cigarettes, Billy's mom in Billy's Dad Is A Fudgepacker & the upcoming Dare, which just had its world premier at Sundance.

She can next be seen in the movie thriller Choose as well as Pirates at the Huntington Theater in Boston in May and June.

"The Board of Directors and I cannot shake off the smiles on our faces since we've received the news that Ms. Huffman has graciously accepted our invitation to THE COLUMN Awards", stated Executive Director/ Producer and Founder of THE COLUMN Awards, John Garcia.

"I was very lucky to see on Broadway The Producers with the entire original cast, which included Cady. I tell you what, I fell for her (as did the rest of the audience) the second she stepped onto the St. James stage in that blinding white costume, "Garcia said.

"When I met her afterwards, she was simply engaging, kind, funny, and radiated beauty. What makes that a more exciting experience was that my friends and I saw The Producers the weekend of the Tony awards. It would be a mere 24 hours later that the show would make Tony Award history by winning the most awards ever for a single show. We screamed from our seats at Radio City Music Hall when Cady won BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL!"

Garcia went on to say, "When I met her at the St. James, I whispered to her that she would win the Tony the next night, which in return she gave me such a warm & wonderful hug for saying that."

"To have someone of her caliber coming to Dallas for THE COLUMN Awards has left the Board and I bouncing off the walls with excitement. This is a great & rare chance for Dallas-Fort Worth audiences to meet and see live a true Broadway star! Plus she's performing too!" Garcia concluded.

THE COLUMN Awards celebrates and honors excellence in theater within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The organization honors both equity and non-equity productions. This year marks their 10th Anniversary. THE COLUMN Awards is the only theater awards organization in the DFW metroplex that honors & awards the outstanding talent within the DFW theater community.

To view this year's nominees, go to www.thecolumnonline.com or click here. THE COLUMN Awards also serves as major fundraiser for BROADWAY CARES/ EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS. The organization donates all proceeds (after operating expenses) to BC/EFA. THE COLUMN Awards has the great privilege and distinction of being the only awards organization in the United States to do this.

The 2009 COLUMN Awards will be held Monday March 23, 2009 at the exquisite Carpenter Hall Theater at the Irving Arts Center. There is a cocktail reception starting at 6:00 p.m., with the ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Dress is formal to semi-formal.

There is a private VIP reception with Ms. Huffman during the cocktail reception. You will be allowed to meet, greet, and take pictures with our very special guest star. The private reception is catered exclusively by Spotlight Catering.

Tickets are $25.00 (plus $1 for the handling fee) for general admission only; and $51 (again $1 handling fee) for both general admission and the VIP lounge. Purchase tickets online or by calling 972-252-2787.