Drama League Award
| Drama League Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | Excellence in Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | The Drama League |
| First award | 1935 |
| Website | https://dramaleague.org |
The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing.[1] Each May, the awards are presented by The Drama League at the Annual Awards Luncheon with performers, directors, producers, and Drama League members in attendance. The Drama League membership comprises the entire theater community, including award-winning actors, designers, directors, playwrights, producers, industry veterans, critics and theater-going audiences from across the U.S.[2][3]
The Drama League Awards are the oldest awards honoring theater in North America. The awards were established in 1922, and formalized in 1935.[4][5] Katharine Cornell was the recipient of the first Distinguished Performance Award in 1935.[1] Seven competitive awards are presented: Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, the Distinguished Performance Award,[2] and, as of 2022, Outstanding Direction of a Play and Outstanding Direction of a Musical.[6] The Distinguished Performance Award is presented to one performer every year, and the recipient can only receive the award once in their career.[7] The Drama League also bestow three special honors at the awards ceremony: Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater, Unique Contribution to the Theater, and The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.[3][5] The award statues are designed by New York firm Society Awards.[8]
Categories of awards
[edit]Annual awards include:
- Outstanding Production of a Play
- Outstanding Production of a Musical
- Outstanding Revival of a Play
- Outstanding Revival of a Musical
- Outstanding Direction of a Play
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical
- Distinguished Performance
Additionally, an honorary award may be given in the following categories:
- Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
- Unique Contribution to the Theatre
- The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Retired Awards:
- Outstanding Revival
List of winners
[edit]The Distinguished Performance Award, originally known as the Delia Austrian Medal, was first presented in 1935, to Katharine Cornell for Romeo and Juliet. The first recipient of The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing was Daniel J. Sullivan in 2000. Actor Yul Brynner was the first recipient of the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award in 1985. The Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award was first bestowed in 1982 to the New York Production of Nicholas Nickelby: Bernard Jacobs, Gerald Schoenfeld, James M. Nederlander, Elizabeth McCann, and Nelle Nugent.[5]
- Winners 2024–2025
Source: Vogue.com[9]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Blvd. |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Maybe Happy Ending |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Oh, Mary! |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Sunset Blvd. |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | Eureka Day and Vanya (tie) |
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Michael Arden for Maybe Happy Ending |
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Sam Pinkleton for Oh, Mary! |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Lea Salonga |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Kate Navin and Audible Theater |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Whitney White |
| Gratitude Award | Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron |
- Winners 2023–2024
Source: TheaterMania.com[10]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Sarah Paulson for Appropriate |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Hell's Kitchen |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Stereophonic |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Merrily We Roll Along |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | Appropriate |
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Maria Friedman for Merrily We Roll Along |
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Daniel Aukin for Stereophonic |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Jonathan Groff |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Jessica Lange |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Schele Williams |
| Gratitude Award | Kandi Burruss |
- Winners 2022–2023
Source: Playbill.com[11]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Annaleigh Ashford for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Some Like It Hot |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Leopoldstadt |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Into the Woods |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | A Doll's House |
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Lear deBessonet for Into the Woods |
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Anne Kauffman for The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | André De Shields |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Drama Book Shop |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Lear deBessonet |
- Winners 2021–2022
Source: Playbill.com[12]
- Winners 2019–2020
Source: Playbill.com[13]
- Winners 2018–2019
Source: Playbill.com[14]
- Winners 2017–2018
Source: Playbill.com[15]
- Winners 2016–2017
Source: Playbill.com[16]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Dear Evan Hansen |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Oslo |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Hello, Dolly! |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | Jitney |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Bette Midler |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Bill Berloni |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Michael Greif |
- Winners 2015–2016
Source: Playbill.com[17]
- Winners 2014–2015
Source: Playbill.com[18]
- Winners 2013–2014
Source: Playbill.com[19]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Neil Patrick Harris for Hedwig and the Angry Inch |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | All the Way |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Hedwig and the Angry Inch |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | The Glass Menagerie |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Barbara Cook |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Key Brand Entertainment/Broadway Across America: John Gore |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | John Tiffany |
- Winners 2012–2013
Source: Playbill.com[20]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Nathan Lane for The Nance |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Kinky Boots |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Pippin |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Bernadette Peters |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Madison Square Garden Entertainment & the Rockettes |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Jerry Mitchell |
- Winners 2011–2012
Source: Playbill.com[21]
- Winners 2010–2011
Source: Playbill.com[22]
- Winners 2009–2010
Source: Playbill.com[23]
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Alfred Molina for Red |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Sondheim on Sondheim |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Red |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | La Cage aux Folles |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | A View from the Bridge |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Nathan Lane |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Kenny Leon |
- Winners 2008–2009
Source: Playbill.com[24]
- Winners 2007–2008
Source: Variety[25]
- Winners 2006–2007
- Winners 2005–2006
- Winners 2004–2005
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Norbert Leo Butz for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Doubt |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | La Cage aux Folles |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | Twelve Angry Men |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | BMI Musical Theatre Workshop |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | The Billy Rose Theatre Collection at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Mike Nichols |
- Winners 2003–2004
- Winners 2002–2003
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Harvey Fierstein for Hairspray |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Hairspray |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Take Me Out |
| Outstanding Revival | A Day in the Death of Joe Egg |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Twyla Tharp |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Roundabout Theatre Company: Todd Haimes |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Joe Mantello |
- Winners 2001–2002
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Liam Neeson for The Crucible |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Urinetown |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Metamorphoses |
| Outstanding Revival | The Crucible |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Elaine Stritch |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Julia Hansen |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Sir Richard Eyre |
- Winners 2000–2001
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Mary-Louise Parker for Proof and Gary Sinise for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | The Producers |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Proof |
| Outstanding Revival | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Susan Stroman |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, Gary Sinise |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Jack O'Brien |
- Winners 1999–2000
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Eileen Heckart for The Waverly Gallery |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Contact |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Copenhagen |
| Outstanding Revival | Kiss Me, Kate |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Audra McDonald |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Actors Theatre of Louisville: Jon Jory |
| Founders Award for Excellence in Directing | Daniel Sullivan |
- Winners 1998–1999
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Distinguished Performance | Kathleen Chalfant for Wit |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Fosse |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Wit |
| Outstanding Revival | Death of a Salesman |
| Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre | Ann Reinking and Gwen Verdon |
| Unique Contribution to the Theatre | Sir David Hare |
- Winners history
List of winners, 1935 through 2014.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Winners of Drama League Awards Announced". Playbill. May 20, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ a b "Special Awards Recipients Announced". The Drama League. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ a b "Drama League Awards". The Drama League. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ "Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Josh Groban Among 2017 Drama League Award Nominees". Playbill. April 19, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Award History". The Drama League. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for 88th Annual Drama League Awards". Broadway.com. April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Josh Groban Among 2017 Drama League Award Nominees". Playbill. April 19, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ "Cook, Davis, Hayes, Schreiber and Walken Will Be Presenters at Drama League Awards". Playbill. May 11, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ "All the Winners at the 2025 Drama League Awards". vogue.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Sarah Paulson, Hell's Kitchen Win Drama League Awards". theatermania.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Some Like It Hot, Annaleigh Ashford, Leopoldstadt, More Win 2023 Drama League Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
- ^ "The Lehman Trilogy, A Strange Loop, Sutton Foster, More Are Winners of 88th Annual Drama League Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
- ^ "Moulin Rouge! and Danny Burstein Among 2020 Drama League Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Network's Bryan Cranston, Hadestown Among 2019 Drama League Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "Glenda Jackson, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Among 2018 Drama League Award Winners | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
- ^ "Dear Evan Hansen's Ben Platt, Hello, Dolly! and More Are Winners of Drama League Awards | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
- ^ Gans, Andrew."Winners of Drama League Awards Announced" playbill.com, May 20, 2016
- ^ Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. " 'An American in Paris', 'Curious Incident' and Chita Rivera Win Drama League Awards" Archived May 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, May 15, 2015
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "80th Annual Drama League Award Winners Announced; Neil Patrick Harris Wins Distinguished Performance Honor" Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 16, 2014
- ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'Kinky Boots', 'Pippin', 'Vanya and Sonia', 'Virginia 'Woolf? and More Win Drama League Awards" Deprecated link archived 2013-06-15 at archive.today playbill.com, May 17, 2013
- ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'Other Desert Cities', 'Salesman', 'Follies', 'Once', Audra McDonald Are Drama League Winners" Archived 2012-05-20 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 18, 2012
- ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'Mormon', 'War Horse', 'Normal Heart', 'Anything Goes', Mark Rylance Win Drama League Awards" Archived September 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 20, 2011
- ^ Gans, Andrew."Sondheim, 'Red', 'Bridge', 'La Cage' and Molina Win Drama League Awards" Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 21, 2010
- ^ Gans, Andrew."Billy, Carnage, Hair, Blithe and Rush Win Drama League Awards" Archived May 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, May 15, 2009
- ^ Cox, Gordon. " 'Catered Affair' nabs League honor" Variety, May 16, 2008
External links
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