Drama Desk Award

Last updated
Drama Desk Awards
DramaDeskAward.jpg
Awarded forExcellence in New York theatre
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First awarded1955;69 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]

Contents

History

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

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

Award categories

Performance categories

Show and technical categories

Special awards

Retired awards

See also

Other theatre awards in New York:

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References

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