Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play

Last updated
Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Awarded forOutstanding Scenic Design of a Play
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First award1996
Currently held by Miriam Buether, and Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher (illusions and visual effects) for Stranger Things: The First Shadow (2025)
Websitedramadesk.org (defunct)

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

Contents

The award was established in 1969, with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design being presented each year to any play or musical production. Starting in 1996, the singular award was replaced by separate play and musical categories, but then merged again from 2010 to 2015; the separate play and musical categories have again co-existed since 2016.

David Gallo, Bob Crowley, Tim Hatley, Scott Pask, John Lee Beatty and Miriam Buether currently hold the record for most wins in the category, with two each. Derek McLane holds the record for most nominations without a win, with ten, followed by Beatty with seven (though he won two).

Winners and nominees

Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

1990s

YearDesignerProductionRef.
1996
Scott Bradley Seven Guitars [1] [2]
Derek McLane and Mark McKennaThe Monogamist
Neil Patel Quills
Narelle Sissons Entertaining Mr. Sloane
Julie Taymor and Christine Jones The Green Bird
Tony Walton A Fair Country
1997
David Gallo and Jan HartleyBunny Bunny [3] [4]
[5]
Robert Brill The Rehearsal
Marina DraghiciThe Skriker
Derek McLane Present Laughter
James Noone The Gin Game
1998
The Quay Brothers The Chairs [6] [7]
Loy ArcenasBallad of Yachiyo
Chris Barreca Three Days of Rain
John Lee Beatty Ivanov
Santo Loquasto Milansky/Zilisnky or 'Schmucks'
Derek McLane Misalliance
1999
Richard Hoover Not About Nightingales [8] [9]
[10]
John Lee Beatty The Mystery of Irma Vep
Maria Björnson Britannicus and Phèdre
Bob Crowley Twelfth Night
Allen Moyer That Championship Season
James Noone Night Must Fall

2000s

YearDesignerProductionRef.
2000
David Gallo Jitney [11] [12]
Derek McLane East is East
James Noone The Time of the Cuckoo
Rob OdorisioAn Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf
Neil Patel Dinner with Friends
Tony Walton Uncle Vanya
2001
Bob Crowley The Invention of Love [13] [14]
John Lee Beatty Comic Potential
Jeff Cowie The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
David Gallo King Hedley II
Thomas Lynch Old Money
Dean TaucherTabletop
2002
Tim Hatley Private Lives [15] [16]
John Lee Beatty Morning's at Seven
Michael BrownWorld of Mirth
David Gallo Wonder of the World
Derek McLane The Women
Douglas Stein and Rupert Bohle36 Views
2003
John Lee Beatty Dinner at Eight [17] [18]
[19]
John Lee Beatty My Old Lady
Troy HourieTemporary Help
Scott Pask Take Me Out
Neil Patel Endpapers
B.T. WhitehillShanghai Moon
2004
John Lee Beatty Twentieth Century [20] [21]
[22]
Scott BradleyThe Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci
Ralph Funicello Henry IV
David Korins Blackbird
Andrew LiebermanWintertime
Derek McLane I Am My Own Wife
2005
Santo Loquasto Glengarry Glen Ross [23] [24]
Robert Brill A Streetcar Named Desire
Marisa Frantz Frankenstein
Nathan Heverin Outward Bound
Richard Hoover After the Fall
David Korins Orange Flower Water
2006
Michael Yeargan Awake and Sing! [25] [26]
Roger HannaWalking Down Broadway
Eugene Lee The Ruby Sunrise
Derek McLane Abigail's Party
Robert Wilson Peer Gynt
Michael Yeargan Seascape
2007
Bob Crowley and Scott Pask The Coast of Utopia [27] [28]
[29]
David Gallo Radio Golf
David Korins Essential Self-Defense
Jack Goes Boating
Garin MarschallHell House
Scott Pask Blackbird
2008
Scott Pask Les Liaisons Dangereuses [30] [31]
[32]
Beowulf BorittSpain
Scott Bradley Eurydice
David Korins Hunting and Gathering
Santo Loquasto Trumpery
Clint Ramos The Return of the Prodigal
2009
David Korins Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them [33] [34]
[35]
Dale Ferguson Exit the King
Rob Howell The Norman Conquests
Neil Patel Fifty Words
Derek McLane 33 Variations
Walt Spangler Desire Under the Elms

2010s

YearDesignerProductionRef.
2010-2015N/A
2016
Christopher Oram Hughie [36] [37]
Riccardo HernandezRed Speedo
Mimi Lien John
G. W. MercierHead of Passes
Derek McLane Fully Committed
2017
Nigel Hook The Play That Goes Wrong [38] [39]
David Gallo Jitney
Laura Jellinek A Life
Stewart Laing The Hairy Ape
Douglas W. Schmidt The Front Page
2018
Miriam Buether Three Tall Women [40] [41]
Bunny Christie People, Places and Things
Lizzie Clachan Yerma
Maruti EvansKill Move Paradise
Louisa Thompson In the Blood
2019
Matt Saunders"Daddy" [42] [43]
Miriam Buether The Jungle
Es Devlin Girls & Boys
Maruti EvansThe Peculiar Patriot
Mimi Lien Fairview

2020s

YearDesignerProductionRef.
2020
Clint Ramos Grand Horizons [44] [45]
Catherine Cornell Mac Beth
Adam Rigg Fefu and Her Friends
Paul SteinbergJudgment Day
B.T. WhitehillThe Confession of Lily Dare
2021No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City [46]
2022
Takeshi Kata Clyde's [47] [48]
[49]
Beowulf Boritt Merry Wives
Wilson ChinPass Over
Marsha GinsbergEnglish
Junghyun Georgia Lee Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord
2023 Tim Hatley Life of Pi [50] [51]
Jason Ardizzone-West Wedding Band
Beowulf Boritt Ohio State Murders
dotsPublic Obscenities
Natasha JenkinsLove
John McDermottChains
2024 David Zinn Stereophonic [52] [53]
dots Appropriate
Es Devlin The Hunt
Derek McLane Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate
Romp through the Cotton Patch
Scott Pask Grey House
2025
Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher Stranger Things: The First Shadow [54] [55]
Miriam Buether Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp.
Rob Howell The Hills of California
Johan KølkjærDark Noon
Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher Life and Trust
Matt Saunders Walden

Multiple wins

2 wins

Multiple nominations

10 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

See also

References

  1. "1996 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  2. Robert Viagas (May 20, 1996). "Drama Desk Awards to Rent, Master Class". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  3. "1997 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  4. "Drama Desk Picks Performers, Presenters & Venue, May 18". Playbill. May 13, 1997. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  5. "Chicago Tops Drama Desks". Variety. May 1997. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  6. "1998 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  7. "Ragtime, Beauty Queen Win Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. May 17, 1998. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  8. "1999 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  9. "List of 1999 Drama Desk Winners". Playbill. May 9, 1999. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  10. "1999 Drama Desk Winners: Not About Nightingales Design Trio". Playbill. May 9, 1999. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  11. "2000 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  12. Kenneth Jones (May 14, 2000). "2000 Drama Desk Winners Are Real Thing, Kate, Copenhagen & Contact". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  13. "2001 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. Kenneth Jones, Robert Simonson (May 20, 2001). "2001 Drama Desk Winners Include Producers, Proof and Mnemonic". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  15. "2002 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  16. Robert Simonson (May 20, 2002). "Drama Desk Awards Announced; Goat, Metamorphoses Tie for Best Play, Millie Scores". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  17. "2003 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  18. Robert Simonson (May 1, 2003). "Hairspray Leads 2003 Drama Desk Award Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  19. "Hairspray Wins 10 Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. May 19, 2003. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  20. "2004 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  21. "Wicked Leads Drama Desk Nominations". The New York Times. April 29, 2004. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  22. Andrew Gans, Robert Simonson (May 16, 2004). "Wicked, Assassins, Henry IV, Wife Win Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  23. "2005 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  24. "2005 Drama Desk Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. May 23, 2005. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  25. "2006 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  26. Andrew Gans (May 22, 2006). "Drowsy Chaperone and History Boys Big Winners at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  27. "2007 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  28. New York Theatre Guide Staff (May 20, 2007). "Drama Desk Awards 2006–2007 Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  29. Andrew Gans (May 20, 2007). "52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards Presented May 20". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  30. "2008 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  31. "Arts: Drama Desk's Awards". The New York Times. May 19, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  32. New York Theatre Guide Staff (October 19, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2008 Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  33. "2009 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  34. "Drama Desk Awards Announced". The New York Times. May 17, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  35. Andrew Gans (May 18, 2009). "Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  36. "2016 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  37. Gordon Cox (June 5, 2016). "2016 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST): 'Shuffle Along,' 'The Humans'". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  38. "2017 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  39. Variety Staff (June 5, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Full List of Winners". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  40. "2018 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  41. Playbill Staff (June 3, 2018). "SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  42. "2019 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  43. Ruthie Fierberg (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  44. "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  45. Dan Meyer (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  46. Evans, Greg (2021-05-05). "Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic"". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  47. "2022 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  48. Chloe Rabinowitz (June 8, 2022). "COMPANY, SIX & More Win 2022 Drama Desk Awards – See the Full List!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  49. Gillian Russo (June 8, 2022). "2022 Drama Desk Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  50. "2023 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  51. 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.
  52. "2024 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  53. Logan Culwell-Block (June 10, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  54. "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  55. Logan Culwell-Block (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.