Drama Desk Award

New York theater awards

Drama Desk Awards

Awarded for| Excellence in New York theatre
Country| United States
Presented by| Drama Desk
First award| 1955; 70 years ago (1955), as the Vernon Rice Awards
Website| dramadesk.org

The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Following the 1964 renaming as the Drama Desk Awards, Broadway productions were included beginning with the 1968–69 award season.[1][2] The awards are considered a significant American theater distinction.[3] The awards are represented by long-time Broadway press agency, Keith Sherman & Associates.

## History

[edit]

The Drama Desk organization was formed in 1949 by a group of New York theater critics, editors, reporters and publishers, in order to make the public aware of the vital issues concerning the theatrical industry. They debuted the presentations of the Vernon Rice Awards. The name honors the New York Post critic Vernon Rice, who had pioneered Off-Broadway coverage in the New York press. The name was changed for the 1963–1964 awards season to the Drama Desk Awards.[1][4][5]

In 1974, the Drama Desk became incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. In 1975, the Drama Desk announcement of winners included the nominees as well.[4][6]

The Drama Desk has more than 100 members, including theatre critics, reporters and editors who cover New York theater and vote on the awards. Membership consists of two categories: active (voting) membership and participating membership.[7]

All of the Drama Desk officers and nominating committee members perform their various services for the organization on a voluntary basis. The nominating committee generally meets twice a month to discuss the many eligible shows members are responsible for seeing. They then nominate the productions on which the entire membership will vote. What sets the organization apart is that the awards are voted on "by media people only without any vested interests in the results", according to the organization.

Previous winners include Bernadette Peters,[8] Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, among many others.

The Drama Desk Awards have contributed to the ongoing success of major stars, playwrights and designers, while also identifying newcomers. The Drama Desk was the first New York theater organization to give awards to talents such as Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, and George C. Scott. Plays like Driving Miss Daisy, Other People's Money, Steel Magnolias, and The Boys in the Band built momentum with the help of Drama Desk wins.

In keeping with its original mission, the organization sponsors guest panel luncheons with theater professionals. Panels address topics of current interest: covering the season on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway, with the aim of prompting informative and stimulating discussion.[4]

## Ceremony

[edit]

Season  | Nominations announced date  | Nomination announcement host(s)  | Awards ceremony  | Location  | Awards ceremony host(s)  | Ref

|
|
|
|
|
|

2006–07  | April 26, 2007  | James Naughton & Beth Leavel | May 20, 2007  | LaGuardia Concert Hall | Kristin Chenoweth | [9]
2007–08  | April 28, 2008  | Bebe Neuwirth & Len Cariou | May 18, 2008  | Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff & Larry Pressgrove  | [10]
2008–09  | April 27, 2009  | Jim Dale & Faith Prince | May 17, 2009  | Harvey Fierstein | [11]
2009–10  | May 3, 2010  | —  | May 23, 2010  | Patti LuPone | [12]
2010–11  | April 29, 2011  | Audra McDonald & Liev Schreiber | May 23, 2011  | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City  | Harvey Fierstein  | [13]
2011–12  | April 27, 2012  | Donna Murphy & Brian d'Arcy James | June 3, 2012  | The Town Hall, New York City  | Brooke Shields & Brian d'Arcy James | [14]
2012–13  | April 29, 2013  | Linda Lavin & John Lloyd Young | May 19, 2013  |  | [15]
2013–14  | April 25, 2014  | Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Fran Drescher | June 1, 2014  | Laura Benanti | [16]
2014–15  | April 23, 2015  | Judith Light & Jessie Mueller | May 31, 2015  | [17]
2015–16  | April 28, 2016  | Matthew Morrison & Vanessa Williams | June 5, 2016  | Michael Urie | [18]
2016–17  | April 27, 2017  | Laura Benanti & Javier Muñoz | June 4, 2017  | [19]
2017–18  | April 26, 2018  | Jane Krakowski & Tituss Burgess | June 3, 2018  | [20]
2018–19  | April 25, 2019  | Roma Torre & Frank DiLella  | June 2, 2019  | [21]
2019–20  | April 21, 2020  | Seth Rudetsky & James Wesley  | June 13, 2020  | Virtual ceremony  | Frank DiLella  | [22]
2021–22  | May 16, 2022  | George Takei | June 14, 2022  | Sardi's | Renée Elise Goldsberry | [23]
2022–23  | April 27, 2023  | Frank DiLella & Donna McKechnie | June 6, 2023  | Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody | [24]
2023–24  | April 29, 2024  | Kathleen Turner | June 10, 2024  | Skirball Center for the Performing Arts | Sutton Foster & Aaron Tveit | [25]

## Award categories

[edit]

### Performance categories

[edit]

* Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
* Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
* Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
* Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
* Outstanding Solo Performance

### Show and technical categories

[edit]

* Outstanding Musical
* Outstanding Revival of a Musical
* Outstanding Director of a Musical
* Outstanding Book of a Musical
* Outstanding Music
* Outstanding Music in a Play
* Outstanding Lyrics
* Outstanding Orchestrations
* Outstanding Choreography
* Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
* Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
* Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
* Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
* Outstanding Play
* Outstanding Revival of a Play
* Outstanding Director of a Play
* Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
* Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play
* Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
* Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
* Outstanding Projection Design
* Outstanding Puppetry
* Outstanding Revue
* Outstanding Wig and Hair Design
* Unique Theatrical Experience

### Special awards

[edit]

* Drama Desk Special Award
* Outstanding Ensemble

### Retired awards

[edit]

* Outstanding Actor in a Musical
* Outstanding Actress in a Musical
* Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
* Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
* Outstanding Actor in a Play
* Outstanding Actress in a Play
* Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
* Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
* Outstanding Director
* Outstanding Revival
* Outstanding Costume Design
* Outstanding Lighting Design
* Outstanding Set Design
* Outstanding Sound Design

## See also

[edit]

Other theatre awards in New York:

* Tony Awards
* Lucille Lortel Awards
* Obie Award
* New York Drama Critics' Circle
* Drama League Award
* Theatre World Award

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Calta, Louis (July 2, 1969). "Jones Is Named For Top Award By Drama Desk". The New York Times. p. 34\. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
2. ^ McKinley, Jesse. " Modern Millie Leads Drama Desk Awards" Archived 2020-02-18 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, May 20, 2002. Retrieved June 8, 2009
3. ^ "Baylor's Traveling Lady Production Receives Drama Desk Nomination" Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine, Baylor University, April 28, 2006. Retrieved June 8, 2009
4. ^ a b c "A Brief History Of The Drama Desk Awards". DramaDesk. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
5. ^ Zolotow, Sam. "Critics Hail Off Broadway Work: Elmer [sic] Rice Awards Are Presented by Drama Desk", The New York Times, May 19, 1964, p.42
6. ^ Riedel, Michael. "Backstage brouhaha at the Drama Desk Awards" Archived 2008-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, Los Angeles Times, April 18, 2009
7. ^ "Nominating Committee & Current Members". Drama Desk. Archived from the original on September 4, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
8. ^ "Bernadette Peters Drama Desk Awards and Nominations" Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine dramadesk.org, accessed May 19, 2013
9. ^ Bacalzo, Dan. " Kristin Chenoweth Will Host Drama Desk Awards" playbill.com, March 29, 2008
10. ^ Bacalzo, Dan. " Title of Show Cast to Host 2008 Drama Desk Awarda" Archived 2014-05-25 at the Wayback Machine theatermania.com, April 22, 2008
11. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Harvey Fierstein to Host Drama Desk Awards" Archived May 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, March 25, 2009
12. ^ Gans, Andrew."Red, Memphis, Bridge, Fences and La Cage Win Drama Desk Awards" Archived March 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, May 23, 2010
13. ^ BBW News Desk. "2011 Drama Desk Award Winners Announced!" Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine BroadwayWorld.com, May 23, 2011
14. ^ Gans, Andrew. "'Once', 'Tribes', 'Follies', 'Salesman', Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein and More Are Drama Desk Winners" Archived 2012-06-06 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, June 3, 2012
15. ^ Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. Billy Porter, Andrea Martin, Pippin, Matilda, Vanya and Sonia Win Drama Desk Awards" Archived June 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, May 19, 2013
16. ^ Gans, Andrew."Winners of 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' and 'All the Way' Win Top Prizes" Archived June 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, June 1, 2014
17. ^ Gans, Andrew and Gioia, Michael. "Drama Desk Award Winners Announced; 'Hamilton' Wins Seven Awards" Archived 2015-06-01 at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, May 31, 2015
18. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Vanessa Williams and Matthew Morrison Announce Drama Desk Nominations Today" Archived 2016-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, April 28, 2016
19. ^ Cox, Gordon (2017-06-05). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Bette Midler, 'Oslo' Take Top Honors (Full List)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
20. ^ BWW News Desk. "Save the Date! 2018 Drama Desk Awards Reserve The Town Hall". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
21. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Michael Urie Will Return to Host 2019 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
22. ^ "65th Annual Drama Desk Awards Take Place June 13". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
23. ^ "Photos: Go Inside the 66th Annual Drama Desk Awards". Broadway World. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
24. ^ Gans, Andrew; Culwell-Block, Logan (June 9, 2023). "Photos: On the Red Carpet at the 67th Annual Drama Desk Awards". Playnbill. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
25. ^ Rosky, Nicholas (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". Broadway World. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Drama Desk Awards on Instagram

* v
* t
* e

Drama Desk Awards

Play|

* Play
* Revival of a Play
* Lead Performance in a Play
* Featured Performance in a Play
* Director of a Play
* Music in a Play

Musical|

* Musical
* Revival of a Musical
* Lead Performance in a Musical
* Featured Performance in a Musical
* Director of a Musical
* Book
* Music
* Lyrics
* Orchestrations

Production|

* Choreography
* Costume Design of a Musical
* Costume Design of a Play
* Lighting Design for a Musical
* Lighting Design for a Play
* Scenic Design of a Musical
* Scenic Design of a Play
* Sound Design in a Musical
* Sound Design in a Play
* Wig and Hair Design
* Puppetry

Other (competitive)|

* Solo Performance
* Unique Theatrical Experience
* Revue
* Projection Design

Special (non-competitive)|

* Special Award
* Ensemble

Retired|

* Actor in a Play
* Actress in a Play
* Featured Actor in a Play
* Featured Actress in a Play
* Actor in a Musical
* Actress in a Musical
* Featured Actor in a Musical
* Featured Actress in a Musical
* Director
* Revival
* Costume Design
* Lighting Design
* Set Design
* Sound Design

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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