The Drama Desk Awards are to the Tonys what the Golden Globes are to the Oscars — that sassy younger sister who does not play by the same rules. Appropriately enough, they have chosen Kristin Chenoweth, who shot to fame playing Sally in the 1999 Broadway revival of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," to host their 52nd annual awardsfest on May 20th in Gotham. The kudocast will air in an edited version on various PBS stations nationwide.

As Chenoweth well knows, winning a Drama Desk, as she did for that show, is the best barometer of your chances at the Tony Awards. This year, the pint-sized dynamo just finished an acclaimed run in "The Apple Tree," three one-act musicals that showcased her as a triple threat — singer, dancer, and actress. Whether she will be in the running for a Drama Desk won't be known till nominations are announced April 26th at the Friars Club.

Photo: Who says good guys (or gals) always win? When "Wicked" star Kristin Chenoweth (right) received a Tony Award nomination for best actress of 2004, she got trounced by her costar Idina Menzel as Oz's wicked witch. However, she won the Tony as best featured actress of 1999 for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." (Gershwin Theatre)