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Drama Desk Award

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Drama Desk Award
DescriptionExcellence in theatre
Country United States
Presented byDrama Desk
First awarded1955
Websitehttp://www.dramadesk.com/

The Drama Desk Award, created in 1955, is an award which recognizes shows produced on Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, and for legitimate not-for-profit theaters.[1] Previously there had been only the Tony Awards, which focused solely on Broadway shows, ignoring the hundreds of other productions mounted in New York City each year.[1]

Background

Originally called the Vernon Rice Awards in honor of theater critic Vernon Rice of the New York Post, the name was changed in 1963.[2] In its earliest years, a minimal number of prizes were awarded, but there now are as many categories as there are for the Tonys. The Drama Desk is composed of theatre critics, writers and editors; chairperson of the current Nominating Committee is Barbara Siegel (TalkinBroadway.com, TheaterMania.com).

The Drama Desk Awards have proven to be the first step towards stardom for numerous theatrical luminaries, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, George C. Scott, Stacy Keach, Sada Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman.[1] Off-Broadway productions such as Driving Miss Daisy, Other People's Money, Steel Magnolias, and The Boys in the Band were propelled to international recognition based on their wins.[1]

The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is held annually at LaGuardia Concert Hall of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Lincoln Center. The nominations for 2008-09 were announced on April 27, 2009, and the awards ceremony was held on May 17, 2009.[3]

Categories

Play

Musical

Play and musical

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Drama Desk Awards: History". DramaDesk.com. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  2. ^ "1954-1955 1st Drama Desk Awards". DramaDesk.com. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  3. ^ Gans, Andrew."Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards",playbill.com, May 17, 2009
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