Patrick Wilson, Carrie Preston & More Join Starry Artios Awards Ceremony Tonight, 11/2; Janeane Garofalo Hosts

Carrie Preston (True Blood), Jennifer Morrison (House), Elizabeth Reaser (Twilight), Michael Shannon (Little Flower of East Orange), and Patrick Wilson (Little Children, Angels in America, All My Sons) have been added to the roster of presenters at tonight's Casting Society of America New York 25th Annual Artios Awards® ceremony at The Times Center, in the newly built New York Times Building (620 Eighth Avenue). Comedian Janeane Garofalo will host this year's New York reception that will commence at 5:30 p.m.  Simultaneously, the Los Angeles award ceremony will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel reception will commence at 5:45 p.m. PST.

Garofalo will be joined by actor Stanley Tucci, who will present the coveted New York Big Apple Award to Nora Ephron & Delia Ephron (their new theatrical production, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, just opened to rave reviews in New York), along with Broadway veterans Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) Vincent Kartheiser ("Mad Men") and Bill Pullman (Oleanna).

Presented yearly for outstanding achievement in casting, awards are given on the criteria of originality, creativity and contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project. The term "Artios" is from the ancient Greek word meaning "perfectly fitted."

Each year, in addition to the awards presented to casting directors for their achievements in Theater, Television and Film casting, the Casting Society of America also recognizes Industry notables with a Career Achievement Award, The New York Apple Award and bestows the Hoyt Bowers Award on one of its own. In addition to Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, this year's honorees are (at the Los Angeles ceremony) Laura Ziskin will receive the Career Achievement Award, and John Frank Levey, the Hoyt Bowers Award.

The Artios Awards were first given in 1985 to honor excellence in casting and was held at the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel attended by 500 industry leaders. The first New York awards were given three years later.

The CSA is the premier organization of theatrical casting directors in film, television, and theater, and is passionately committed to establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the industry; enhancing the stature of the profession in the industry; freely exchanging information and ideas among members; providing the opportunity to honor the outstanding achievements of its members; and providing members with profession support and resources. CSA members are a united professional society that society that consistently set the level of professionalism in casting on which the entertainment industry has come to rely. With more than 425 members, the CSA has representation not only in the United States, but also Canada, England and Australia. For more information, or to become a member, visit www.castingsociety.com.

For ticket information, please call (212) 868-1260, or (323) 463-1925, or via email at castingsociety@earthlink.net.

2009 Artios Award Nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Casting

Broadway Theater - Drama
"33 Variations," James Calleri
"All My Sons," Cindy Tolan
"Joe Turner's Come and Gone," Daniel Swee
"Reasons to be Pretty," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"The Seagull," Jim Carnahan

NY Broadway Theater - Comedy
"Blithe Spirit," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"Exit the King," Daniel Swee
"God of Carnage," Daniel Swee
"Speed the Plow," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"Waiting for Godot," Jim Carnahan

NY Broadway Theater - Musical
"9 to 5," Bernard Telsey, Craig Burns
"Billy Elliot," Tara Rubin, Merri Sugarman, Laura Schutzel, Eric Woodall, Nora Brennan
"Pal Joey," Bernard Telsey, Jim Carnahan
"Rock of Ages," Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield
"Shrek," Tara Rubin, Merri Sugarman, Laura Schutzel, Eric Woodall

NY Off-Broadway - Comedy/Musical
"Fault Lines," Howie Cherpakov
"Happiness," Tara Rubin, Laura Schutzel, Eric Woodall, Merri Sugarman
"Offices," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"The Third Story," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"Three Changes," Alaine Alldaffer

NY Off-Broadway - Drama
"Boy's Life," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"The Bridge Project," Nancy Piccione /*
"Farragut North," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler
"Ruined," Nancy Piccione /*
"Uncle Vayna," James Calleri

Regional Theater East
"Death of a Salesman," Tara Rubin, Laura Schutzel, Eric Woodall, Merri Sugarman
"The Glass Menagerie," James Calleri
"Turn of the Century," Jay Binder / *
"Unusual Acts of Devotion," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler/Tiffany Little Canfield
"To Kill a Mockingbird," Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler

Regional Theater West
"Cornelia," Samantha Barrie
"The Little Foxes," Michael Donovan
"Our Mother's Brief Affair," Joanne DeNaut
"Pippin," Bonnie Grisan, Erika Sellin
"Stormy Weather," Michael Donovan / *

SPECIAL HONOREES

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Laura Ziskin

HOYT BOWERS AWARD
John Frank Levey

THE NEW YORK BIG APPLE AWARD
Nora & Delia Ephron

*Shared Credit with Non-Member