Major Announcement about The Column Awards

"UGLY BETTY", SAG NOMINEE STAR TO CO-HOST 2007 COLUMN AWARDS GALA

(Dallas Texas) The Board of Directors and the Executive Director/
Producer of THE COLUMN Theatre Awards are extremely proud to announce
this morning that Michael Urie, who portrays "Marc" on the critically
acclaimed, smash ABC Comedy hit, UGLY BETTY has accepted their invita-
tion to Co-Host the 2007 "THE COLUMN" Theatre Awards Gala. The
glittery gala will be held at the Courtyard Theatre in Plano on
Monday February 26, 2007.

Just last week Urie received a 2007 SAG (Screen Actor's Guild)
nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy
Series. The mega hit comedy series also received this month a 2007
Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy Series.

Last week it was also announced that Tony Award nominee (AVENUE Q)
star Stephanie D'Abruzzo will also be appearing at "THE COLUMN"
Theatre Awards Gala as a special guest star.

When reached for comment about co-hosting and coming back to his home
turf of Dallas, Urie replied, "I'm so excited to co-host with John,
and come back to help honor the theatre town that I grew up watching.
I promise to be more Billy Crystal and less David Letterman!"

Executive Director/Producer John Garcia stated, "Talk about wishing so
far out of the box! I really didn't think Michael would have the time
to come to "THE COLUMN" Awards, let alone co-host the event. Never in
my wildest dreams did I think that one of the stars from one of the
biggest hits on TV this season could fit into a tight shooting
schedule an Awards Gala. When he wonderfully accepted, I think I
screamed so loud that I'm sure my neighbors thought I had put a cat in
the microwave."

"After a long drought of bland, humorless TV comedies, along comes
UGLY BETTY to quench that thirst for great comedy. I became an
addicted fan from episode one. But in all honesty, a major reason why
the show is just so funny is due to Urie's scene stealing, hilarious
performance as Vanessa William's back stabbing assistant", Garcia
went on to say.

"Just take a look at the various fan sites, blogs, and magazines that
highly praise Urie's tour de force comedic performance on the show.
From the ice cold glares, to his colorful fashion attire, to that
side splitting wheezing he does-Urie is brilliant on the show."

"I can't express in words how thrilled the Board of Directors and I
are about Urie coming to this year's awards. Our Gala audience is in
for an amazing, amazing night! But to have Michael as my co-host is a
great honor indeed. He and I have are planning terrific ideas for the
big night!"

Michael Urie is a New York-based actor whose work has taken him from
his home in Dallas to Seattle, San Diego, Washington DC, Austin and
the Berkshires. He has worked off- and off-off-Broadway, and in
commercials and independent film.

The recipient of the 2002 John Houseman Prize for Excellence in
Classical Theatre from the Julliard School, from which he holds an
acting degree, Urie's classical credits include Shakespeare's OTHELLO,
TITUS ANDRONICUS, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for the Old Globe's
Shakespeare Festival; ROMEO & JULIET for DC's Folger Theatre; LOVE'S
LABORS LOST for The Judith Shakespeare Company); Jacobean drama (THE
REVENGER'S TRAGEDY for The Red Bull Theatre and THE ROARING GIRLE at
The Foundry); and comedia del arte (THE KING STAG at Seattle Rep). He
appeared in the world premiere of LOVE AND HAPPINEES at Barrington
Stage in the Berkshires in
western Massachusetts.

His film work includes the star turn as Eric in WTC VIEW, which
premiered on LOGO in fall, 2006.

Urie was playing a bearded geologist and getting blown away nightly
by Mt. St. Helens "volcanic explosion in the off-Broadway production
of Phenomenon" when he was cast as Marc in UGLY BETTY. Worlds away, in
every sense of the word. As a producer/co-director, he is currently
in postproduction on "Two Down," his documentary short focusing on
high school speech and debate tournaments.

THE COLUMN Theatre Awards, now in its 8th year, honors excellence in
theater within the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This year over a 100
theater companies are deemed eligible, while over 300 productions are
in consideration for this year's honors.

THE COLUMN Theatre Awards also serve as a major fundraiser for the
national charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. The Column
Awards organization has now raised over $8,000.00 for BCEFA and is
now part of their Angel Campaign.

There will be a cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, with the awards
ceremony beginning at 7:00pm.

For ticket prices and all other info, please go to their official
website at: www.thecolumnonline.com

The DALLAS OBSERVER named THE COLUMN Theatre Awards as BEST LOCAL
AWARDS SHOW in its 2006 BEST IN DALLAS issue.