The 62nd annual Drama Desk Awards were announced Sunday night, with top awards going to Come From Away for best musical and Oslo for best play. The best musical and play revival honors went to Hello, Dolly! and Jitney, respectively.
The group, comprising editors, reporters and critic who cover theater in New York, considered shows that opened on Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off Broadway during the 2016-2017 New York theater season in the same competitive categories.
2017 DRAMA DESK AWARD NOMINATIONS & WINNERS (in bold)
Outstanding PlayIf I Forget, by Steven Levenson, Roundabout Theatre CompanyIndecent, by Paula Vogel, Vineyard TheatreA Life, by Adam Bock, Playwrights Horizons*Oslo, by J. T. Rogers, Lincoln Center TheaterSweat, by Lynn Nottage, The Public TheaterOutstanding MusicalAnastasiaThe Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater Company*Come From AwayHadestown, New York Theatre WorkshopThe Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Outstanding Revival of a PlayThe Front PageThe Hairy Ape, Park Avenue Armory*Jitney, Manhattan Theatre ClubThe Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre Club“Master Harold”… and the Boys, Signature Theatre CompanyPicnic, Transport Group Theatre CompanyOutstanding Revival of a MusicalFalsettos, Lincoln Center Theater*Hello, Dolly!Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweet Charity, The New GroupTick, Tick…BOOM!, Keen CompanyOutstanding Actor in a PlayBobby Cannavale, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue ArmoryDaniel Craig, Othello, New York Theatre Workshop
*Kevin Kline, Present LaughterDavid Hyde Pierce, A Life, Playwrights HorizonsJohn Douglas Thompson, Jitney, Manhattan Theatre Club
Outstanding Actress in a PlayCate Blanchett, The Present*Laura Linney, The Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre ClubLaurie Metcalf, A Doll’s House, Part 2Amy Ryan, Love, Love, Love, Roundabout Theatre CompanyHarriet Walter, The Tempest, St. Ann’s Warehouse
Outstanding Actor in a MusicalNick Blaemire, Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Keen CompanyJon Jon Briones, Miss SaigonNick Cordero, A Bronx Tale
*Andy Karl, Groundhog DayJeremy Secomb, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetOutstanding Actress in a MusicalChristy Altomare, AnastasiaChristine Ebersole, War PaintSutton Foster, Sweet Charity, The New GroupPatti LuPone, War Paint
*Bette Midler, Hello, Dolly!Laura Osnes, BandstandOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayMichael Aronov, Oslo, Lincoln Center Theater*Danny DeVito, The Price, Roundabout Theatre CompanyNathan Lane, The Front PageJeremy Shamos, If I Forget, Roundabout Theatre CompanyJustice Smith, Yen, MCC Theater
Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayJayne Houdyshell, A Doll’s House, Part 2Randy Graff, The Babylon Line, Lincoln Center TheaterMarie Mullen, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, BAM
*Cynthia Nixon, The Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre ClubEmily Skinner, PicnicKate Walsh, If I Forget, Roundabout Theatre Company
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical*Gavin Creel, Hello, Dolly!Jeffry Denman, Kid Victory, Vineyard TheatreGeorge Salazar, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson MusicalAri’el Stachel, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater CompanyBrandon Uranowitz, Falsettos, Lincoln Center TheaterOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalKate Baldwin. Hello, Dolly!Stephanie J. Block, Falsettos, Lincoln Center Theater
*Jenn Colella, Come From AwayMary Beth Peil, AnastasiaNora Schell, Spamilton
Outstanding Director of a PlayRichard Jones, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue ArmoryAnne Kauffman, A Life, Playwrights HorizonsRichard Nelson, What Did You Expect?/Women of a Certain Age, The Public Theater
*Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jitney, Manhattan Theatre ClubDaniel Sullivan, The Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre ClubDaniel Sullivan, If I Forget, Roundabout Theatre Company
Outstanding Director of a MusicalChristopher Ashley, Come From AwayBill Buckhurst, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
*Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812*David Cromer, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater CompanyJerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly!Outstanding Choreography*Andy Blankenbuehler, BandstandWarren Carlyle, Hello, Dolly!Aletta Collins, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue ArmoryKelly Devine, Come From AwayDenis Jones, Holiday Inn, Roundabout Theatre Company
Outstanding MusicStephen Flaherty, Anastasia
Dave Malloy, Beardo, Pipeline Theatre CompanyRichard Oberacker, BandstandIrene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away
*David Yazbek, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater CompanyOutstanding LyricsGerard Alessandrini, SpamiltonGQ and JQ, Othello: The RemixMichael Korie, War PaintIrene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away
*David Yazbek, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater CompanyOutstanding Book of a MusicalTerrence McNally, AnastasiaItamar Moses, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater CompanyRichard Oberacker and Rob Taylor, Bandstand
*Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From AwayJoe Tracz, The Lightning Thief: The Percy JacksonMusicalOutstanding OrchestrationsDoug Besterman, AnastasiaBruce Coughlin, War PaintBenjamin Cox, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
*Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen, BandstandAugust Eriksmoen, Come From AwayJamshied Sharifi, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater CompanyOutstanding Music in a PlayDaniel Ocanto, Graham Ulicny, and Sean Smith, Alligator, New Georges in collaboration with the Sol ProjectMarcus Shelby, Notes from the Field, Second Stage
*Bill Sims Jr., Jitney, Manhattan Theatre ClubOutstanding RevueHello Dillie!, 59E59*Life is for Living: Conversations with Coward, 59E59Outstanding Set Design for a PlayDavid Gallo, Jitney, Manhattan Theatre Club*Nigel Hook, The Play That Goes WrongLaura Jellinek, A Life, Playwrights HorizonsStewart Laing, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue ArmoryDouglas W. Schmidt, The Front Page
Outstanding Set Design for a MusicalLez Brotherston, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, St. Ann’s WarehouseSimon Kenny, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
*Mimi Lien, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812Santo Loquasto, Hello, Dolly!Jason Sherwood, The View UpStairs
Outstanding Costume Design for a Play*Jane Greenwood, The Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre ClubSusan Hilferty, Present LaughterMurell Horton, The Liar, CSCToni-Leslie James, Jitney, Manhattan Theatre ClubStewart Laing, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue ArmoryAnn Roth, The Front Page
Outstanding Costume Design for a MusicalLinda Cho, AnastasiaToni-Leslie James, Come From AwaySanto Loquasto, Hello, Dolly!Anita Yavich, The View UpStairsPaloma Young, Bandstand
*Catherine Zuber, War PaintOutstanding Lighting Design for a Play*Christopher Akerlind, Indecent, Vineyard TheatreJames Farncombe, The Tempest, St. Ann’s WarehouseRick Fisher, The Judas Kiss, Brooklyn Academy of MusicMimi Jordan Sherin, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue ArmoryStephen Strawbridge, “Master Harold”…and the Boys, Signature Theatre CompanyJustin Townsend, The Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre Club
Outstanding Lighting Design for a MusicalJeff Croiter, BandstandMark Henderson, Sunset BoulevardBradley King, Hadestown, New York Theatre Workshop
*Bradley King, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812Amy Mae, Sweeney Todd: The Barber of Fleet StreetMalcolm Rippeth, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, St. Ann’s Warehouse
Outstanding Projection DesignReid Farrington, CasablancaBox, HEREElaine McCarthy, Notes from the Field, Second StageJared Mezzocchi, Vietgone, Manhattan Theatre ClubJohn Narun, Gorey: The Secret Lives of Edward Gorey, Life Jacket Theatre Company
*Aaron Rhyne, AnastasiaOutstanding Sound Design in a PlayMikhail Fiksel, A Life, Playwrights Horizons*Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin, The EncounterBrian Quijada, Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Ensemble Studio Theatre/Radio Drama NetworkLeon Rothenberg, Notes from the Field, Second StageJane Shaw, Men on Boats, Playwrights Horizons/Clubbed Thumb
Outstanding Sound Design in a MusicalSimon Baker, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, St. Ann’s WarehousePeter Hylenski, AnastasiaScott Lehrer, Hello, Dolly!
*Nicholas Pope, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812Mick Potter, CatsBrian Ronan, War PaintMatt Stine, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetOutstanding Wig and Hair*David Brian Brown, War PaintCampbell Young Associates, Hello, Dolly!J. Jared Janas, Yours Unfaithfully, Mint Theatre CompanyJason Hayes, The View UpStairsJosh Marquette, Present LaughterTom Watson, The Little Foxes, Manhattan Theatre Club
Outstanding Solo PerformanceNancy Anderson, The Pen (Inner Voices), Premieres*Ed Dixon, Georgie: My Adventures with George RoseMarin Ireland, On the Exhale, Roundabout UndergroundSarah Jones, Sell/Buy/Date, Manhattan Theatre ClubBrian Quijada, Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Ensemble Studio Theatre/Radio Drama NetworkAnna Deavere Smith, Notes from the Field, Second Stage
Unique Theatrical ExperienceCasablancaBox, HEREThe Paper Hat Game, The Tank/3-Legged Dog*The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, National Theatre of ScotlandThe Ephemera Trilogy, The TankOutstanding Fight ChoreographyJ. David Brimmer, Yen, MCC TheatreDonal O’Farrell, Quietly, Irish Repertory TheatreMichael Rossmy and Rick Sordelet, Troilus and Cressida, New York Shakespeare FestivalThomas Schall, Othello, New York Theatre WorkshopThomas Schall, The Hairy Ape, Park Avenue Armory*U. Jonathan Toppo, Sweat, The Public TheaterOutstanding Adaptation*David Ives, The Liar, Classic Stage CompanyEllen McLaughlin, The Trojan Women, The Flea TheatreOutstanding Puppet Design*Basil Twist, Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryLyndie Wright, Sarah Wright, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, St. Ann’s WarehouseSPECIAL AWARDS:
Outstanding EnsembleThe Wolves, The Playwrights Realm: The superbly talented cast of Sarah DeLappe’s debut play -Mia Barron, Brenna Coates, Jenna Dioguardi, Samia Finnerty, Midori Francis, Lizzy Jutila, Sarah Mezzanotte, Tedra Millan, Lauren Patten, and Susannah Perkins-jelled as one, proving that team spirit is just a alive on the stage as it is on the soccer field.Special Award to Phil LaDuca: Proving that character comes from the ground up, the designer’s innovative flexible dance shoe ensures that hoofers on any stage remain on point.Sam Norkin Award: Lila Neugebauer: During a season that saw her helm the original works The Antipodes, Everybody, Miles For Mary, and The Wolves, and resurrect the works of esteemed playwrights Edward Albee, Maria Irene Fornes, and Adrienne Kennedy in Signature Plays, director Lila Neugebauer has shown that her dauntless insight into the human condition knows no bounds.
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