Nathan Lane to Receive Trevor Award at Hudson Theatre Ceremony

TV and movie star Nathan Lane, who is also a Tony-winning stage actor, is set to receive the Trevor Hero Award in a ceremony scheduled to take place June 25 at the Hudson Theatre.

According to a story posted at Playbill's online site, Lane will receive the award from the Trevor Project, a not-for-profit suicide prevention organization serving gay and questioning youth. The ceremony, titled Harmony, Heart & Humor, will mark the seventh annual award to "an individual who through his or her example, support, volunteerism or occupation, is an inspiration to gay and questioning youth."

"Nathan Lane's brilliant career and unapologetic openness about his orientation provide continuing inspiration to our community, especially to its younger members, and we are excited to be honoring him with the 2007 Trevor Hero Award," said Trevor Project executive director Charles Robbins.

Continued Robbins, "In particular, his very human, poignant and wonderfully funny portrayal of complex gay characters in projects such as 'The Birdcage' and Love! Valor! Compassion!, long before such choices were popular, offer an important source of hope to young people."

"It is a true privilege to receive The Trevor Hero Award," the Playbill story quoted recipient Lane. "Most people are unaware that suicide is one of the top three killers of young people. Perhaps even more unknown - and certainly heartbreaking - is the fact that gay and questioning youth are three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, a statistic which makes The Trevor Project's work especially critical."

Added Lane, "I sincerely hope that my ongoing participation in, and support of, gay material will be of use in helping young people realize that they, too, can pursue their dreams and lead rich and rewarding lives."

Cable channel Bravo will also pick up an award, the Trevor Commitment Award, which will be accepted by Andy Cohen. Bravo airs hit reality shows Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Project Runway. The Trevor Commitment Award is given to a "company or organization that, through its policies, initiatives and other efforts, demonstrates a commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender causes and is a prominent, public example of corporate acceptance of individuals regardless of sexual orientation," according to Playbill's quotation of the event's press notes.

A pre-ceremony reception and silent auction at 6:30 will kick off the evening. Musical and comedy entertainment will follow at 8 p.m., along with a love auction and the awards ceremony. Hosts Lorna Kelly and Chris Seiber will be joined by musical acts The Broadway Boys, Malcolm Gets, Darren Hayes, and Ren? Hicks, along with comedians Julie Goldman, Gilbert Gottfried, and Valerie Smaldone.

Also scheduled to appear: Brett Barsky, Alexandro Chando, Senator Tom Duane, John Glover, Tim Gunn, Van Hansis, "Queer Eye" star Carson Kressley, Jake Silbermann, and Daniel Vosovic.

Location: The Millennium Broadway Hudson Theatre, 145 West 44th Street, Manhattan. Reservations: (212) 545-0081. Online: www.thetrevorproject.org.