Buyer and Cellar's Michael Urie and Kinky Boots' Annaleigh Ashford Win Clarence Derwent Awards

Buyer and Cellar’s Michael Urie and Kinky Boots’ Annaleigh Ashford have won the Actors' Equity Foundation's Clarence Derwent Awards. The award honors the most promising male and female performances on the New York metropolitan scene. 

Urie made his Broadway debut in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His solo show Buyer and Cellar will begin its second engagement on June 18 at the Barrow Street Theatre. He has also appeared off-Broadway in The Tempermentals and is well known for his turn as Marc on Ugly Betty. 

Ashford received a Tony nomination for playing Lauren in Kinky Boots. Her other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde, Hair and Wicked. She has also appeared off-Broadway in Rent and Dogfight. 

Established in 1945, the Derwent Award has been presented to actors including Nina Arianda, Christian Borle, Michael Esper, Annette Bening, Kristin Chenoweth, Santino Fontana, Morgan Freeman, Allison Janney, Gene Hackman, John Mahoney, Mary Louise-Parker, Anne Hathaway and Christopher Walken.