Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography

Last updated
Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Choreography
Awarded forOutstanding Choreography
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First award1969
Currently held by Jerry Mitchell for Boop! The Musical (2025)

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City.

Contents

Kathleen Marshall, Susan Stroman and Tommy Tune have won the most awards in the category, with four wins each, followed closely by Michael Bennett and Bob Fosse, with three wins each. Susan Stroman also holds the record for most nominations in the category, with twelve, followed by Warren Carlyle with eight.

Winners and nominees

Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

1960s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
1969
Grover Dale Billy [1]

1970s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
1970
Ron Field Applause [2]
1971
Michael Bennett Follies [3]
Donald Saddler No, No, Nanette
1972
Patricia Birch Grease [4]
Jean Erdman Two Gentlemen of Verona
1973
Bob Fosse Pippin [5]
1974
Patricia Birch Candide [6]
1975
George Faison The Wiz [7]
Dennis Denehy The Lieutenant
Roger MorganSaturday, Sun, Moon
Donald Saddler Good News
Margo Sappington Where's Charley?
1976
Michael Bennett A Chorus Line [8]
Patricia Birch Pacific Overtures
Donald Saddler The Robber Bridegroom
Billy Wilson Bubbling Brown Sugar
1977
Peter Gennaro Annie [9]
Patricia Birch Music Is
Dan Siretta Going Up
1978
Bob Fosse Dancin' [10]
Arthur Faria Ain't Misbehavin'
Geoffrey Holder Timbuktu!
Tommy Tune The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1979
Bob Avian and Michael Bennett Ballroom [11] [12]
Larry Fuller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Henry LeTang and Billy Wilson Eubie!
Dan Siretta Tip-Toes

1980s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
1980
Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine [13]
Larry Fuller Evita
Mary Kyte Tintypes
Joe Layton Barnum
1981
Gower Champion 42nd Street [14]
Graciela Daniele The Pirates of Penzance
1982
1983
Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh My One and Only [15]
Peter Martins and Donald Saddler On Your Toes
1984, 1985
1986
Bob Fosse Big Deal [16]
Gene Kelly and Twyla Tharp Singin' in the Rain
Peter Martins Song and Dance
1987
1988
Michael Smuin Anything Goes [17] [18]
Grover Dale Mail
Gillian Lynne The Phantom of the Opera
1989

1990s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
1990
Tommy Tune Grand Hotel [19] [20]
1991
Tommy Tune The Will Rogers Follies [21] [22]
Michael Lichtefeld The Secret Garden
Dan Siretta Oh, Kay!
Susan Stroman And the World Goes 'Round
1992
Susan Stroman Crazy for You [23]
Hope Clarke, Gregory Hines and Ted L. Levy Jelly's Last Jam
Christopher Chadman Guys and Dolls
1993
Wayne Cilento The Who's Tommy [24] [25]
Michael Leeds Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah!
Niarupama Nityanandan, Catherine Schaub and Simon Abkarian Les Atrides
Luis StazoTango Pasion
1994
Jane Elliott and Kenneth MacMillan Carousel [26]
Jeff Calhoun Grease
Graciela Daniele Hello Again
Rob Marshall She Loves Me
Matt West Beauty and the Beast
1995
1996
Savion Glover Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk [27] [28]
Graciela Daniele Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Ghettoriginal ProductionsJam on the Groove
Kathleen Marshall Swinging on a Star
Susan Stroman Big: the musical
1997
Ann Reinking Chicago [29] [30]
[31]
Dein Perry Tap Dogs
Susan Stroman Steel Pier
1998
Garth Fagan The Lion King [32] [33]
Graciela Daniele Ragtime
The Forever Tango DancersLuis Bravo's Forever Tango
Rob Marshall Cabaret
1999
Matthew Bourne Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake [34] [35]
[36]
Patricia Birch Parade
Rob Marshall Little Me

2000s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
2000
Susan Stroman Contact [37] [38]
Jody Abrahams and Loukmaan Adams Kat and the Kings
Mark Dendy The Wild Party
Kathleen Marshall Kiss Me, Kate
Susan Stroman The Music Man
Lynne Taylor-Corbett Swing!
2001
Susan Stroman The Producers [39] [40]
John Carrafa Urinetown
Jerry Mitchell The Full Monty
The Rocky Horror Show
Randy Skinner 42nd Street
2002
Susan Stroman Oklahoma! [41] [42]
Rob Ashford Thoroughly Modern Millie
Christopher Wheeldon Sweet Smell of Success
2003
Twyla Tharp Movin' Out [43] [44]
[45]
Jerry Mitchell Hairspray
Ken Roberson Harlem Song
Tommy Tune Tommy Tune: White Tie and Tails
2004
Kathleen Marshall Wonderful Town [46] [47]
[48]
Stephen HuesRamayana 2K3
Jerry Mitchell Never Gonna Dance
Anthony Van Laast and Farah Khan Bombay Dreams
2005
Jerry Mitchell La Cage aux Folles [49] [50]
Matthew Bourne Play Without Words
Christopher Gattelli Altar Boyz
Barry McNabbSailor's Song
Jerry Mitchell Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Casey Nicholaw Monty Python's Spamalot
2006
Kathleen Marshall The Pajama Game [51] [52]
Rob Ashford The Wedding Singer
Angela Chang Golden Dragon Acrobats
Graciela Daniele Bernarda Alba
Casey Nicholaw The Drowsy Chaperone
Sergio Trujillo Jersey Boys
2007
Andy Blankenbuehler In the Heights [53] [54]
[55]
Patricia Birch LoveMusik
Matthew Bourne Edward Scissorhands
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell Legally Blonde
2008
Rob Ashford Cry-Baby [56] [57]
[58]
Karole Armitage Passing Strange
Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider Traces
Dan Knechtges Xanadu
Peter PucciQueens Boulevard: The Musical
Susan Stroman Young Frankenstein
2009
Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical [59] [60]
[61]
Karole Armitage Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler 9 to 5
Bill T. Jones Fela!
Randy Skinner Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Shonn WileyMy Vaudeville Man!

2010s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
2010
Twyla Tharp Come Fly Away [62]
Warren Carlyle Finian's Rainbow
Marcia Milgrom Dodge Ragtime
Lynne Page La Cage aux Folles
Susan Stroman The Scottsboro Boys
Sergio Trujillo Memphis
2011
Kathleen Marshall Anything Goes [63] [64]
[65]
Rob Ashford How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett Beautiful Burnout
Steven Hoggett Peter and the Starcatchers
Casey Nicholaw The Book of Mormon
SiudyBetween Worlds
2012
Christopher Gattelli Newsies [66] [67]
[68]
Rob Ashford Evita
Warren Carlyle Follies
Breandan de GallalNoctu
Kathleen Marshall Nice Work If You Can Get It
Sergio Trujillo Leap of Faith
2013
Chet Walker and Gypsy Snider Pippin [69] [70]
Andy Blankenbuehler Bring It On: The Musical
Warren Carlyle A Christmas Story: The Musical
Peter Darling Matilda the Musical
Josh Rhodes Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Sergio Trujillo Hands on a Hardbody
2014
Warren Carlyle After Midnight [71] [72]
[73]
Steven Hoggett and Kelly Devine Rocky the Musical
Danny Mefford Love's Labour's Lost
Casey Nicholaw Aladdin
Susan Stroman Bullets Over Broadway
Sonya Tayeh Kung Fu
2015
Christopher Wheeldon An American in Paris [74] [75]
Joshua Bergasse On the Town
Warren Carlyle On the Twentieth Century
Steven Hoggett The Last Ship
Austin McCormick Rococo Rouge
Casey Nicholaw Something Rotten!
2016
Savion Glover Shuffle Along [76] [77]
Joshua Bergasse Cagney
Spencer Liff Spring Awakening
Lynne Page American Psycho
Randy Skinner Dames at Sea
2017
Andy Blankenbuehler Bandstand [78] [79]
Warren Carlyle Hello, Dolly!
Aletta Collins The Hairy Ape
Kelly Devine Come from Away
Denis Jones Holiday Inn
2018
Justin Peck Carousel [80] [81]
Camille A. Brown Once on This Island
Christopher Gattelli SpongeBob SquarePants
Casey Nicholaw Mean Girls
Nejla Y. Yatkin The Boy Who Danced on Air
2019
Warren Carlyle Kiss Me, Kate [82] [83]
Camille A. Brown Choir Boy
Denis Jones Tootsie
Lorin Latarro Twelfth Night
Rick and Jeff Kuperman Alice by Heart
David Neumann Hadestown

2020s

YearChoreographerProductionRef.
2020
Sonya Tayeh Moulin Rouge! [84] [85]
Camille A. Brown for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker West Side Story
Keone Madrid and Mari MadridBeyond Babel
Kathleen Marshall The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Travis Wall The Wrong Man
2021No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City [86]
2022
Bill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman and Jason Oremus, Gelan Lambert and Chloe Davis Paradise Square [87] [88]
[89]
Ayodele Casel (tap choreography) Funny Girl
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille Six
Liam Steel Company
Christopher Wheeldon, Michael Balderrama (associate), Rich + Tone Talauega (Michael Jackson movement) MJ
2023 Casey Nicholaw Some Like It Hot [90] [91]
Andy Blankenbuehler Only Gold
Tislarm Bouiethe bandaged place
Edgar Godineaux The Harder They Come
Susan Stroman New York, New York
Jenifer Weber KPOP
2024 Justin Peck Illinoise [92] [93]
Camille A. Brown Hell's Kitchen
Graciela Daniele and Alex Sanchez The Gardens of Anuncia
Jeff Kuperman and Rick Kuperman The Outsiders
Lorin Latarro The Heart of Rock and Roll
Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll Water for Elephants
2025
Jerry Mitchell Boop! The Musical [94] [95]
Camille A. Brown Gypsy
Warren Carlyle Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Jacob KarrAin't Done Bad
Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Sergio Trujillo Real Women Have Curves

Statistics

Multiple wins

See also

References

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  2. "1970 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  3. "1971 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  4. "1972 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  5. "1973 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  6. "1974 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  7. "1975 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  8. "1976 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  9. "1977 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  10. "1978 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  11. "Sweeney and Elephant Man Win Top Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. June 2, 1979. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  12. "1979 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  13. "1980 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. "1981 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  15. "1983 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  16. "1986 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  17. "1988 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  18. "Into the Woods Wins Award". The New York Times. May 25, 1988. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  19. "1990 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  20. "Drama Desk Awards to Angels and Lesson". The New York Times. May 17, 1990. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  21. "1991 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
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  24. "1993 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
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  26. "1994 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
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  53. "2007 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
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  73. Jesse Green (June 1, 2014). "Drama Desk Embraces a Gentleman's Guide". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
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  81. Playbill Staff (June 3, 2018). "SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  82. "2019 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  83. Ruthie Fierberg (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  84. "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
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  91. Logan Culwell-Block (May 31, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  92. "2024 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  93. Logan Culwell-Block (June 10, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  94. "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
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