Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play

Last updated
Outer Critics Circle Award for
Outstanding New Broadway Play
Awarded forOutstanding New Broadway Play
Location New York City
Presented by Outer Critics Circle
Currently held by John Proctor Is the Villain by Kimberly Bellflower (2025)
Website OuterCritics.org

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play is an annual award given to the best new (non-musical) play on Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The award has been given out since the 1949-50 season.

Contents

T.S. Eliot won the inaugural award for Outstanding New Broadway Play for The Cocktail Party in 1950. [1] Neil Simon and Tom Stoppard have won the award three times each, the most of any playwright, while Stoppard and August Wilson have received the most nominations, with 6 each.

Award winners

Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

1950s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
1950
The Cocktail Party T.S. Eliot
1951
Billy Budd Louis O. Coxe and Robert Chapman [2]
1952
Point of No Return Paul Osborn [3]
1953No award given.
1954
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Herman Wouk [4]
1955
Inherit the Wind Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee [5]
1956
The Diary of Anne Frank Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett [6]
1957
Long Day's Journey into Night Eugene O'Neill [7]
1958
Look Homeward, Angel Ketti Frings [8]
1959
The Visit Friedrich Dürrenmatt [9]

1960s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
1960
The Miracle Worker William Gibson [10]
1961No award given.
1962No award given.
1963
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Edward Albee [11]
1964No award given.
1965No award given.
1966No award given.
1967
You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running Robert Anderson [12]
American Hurrah (Three Views of the U.S.A.) Jean-Claude van Itallie
1968
The Price Arthur Miller [13]
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Sam Shepard
1969No award given.

1970s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
1970
Child's Play Robert Marasco [14]
1971No award given
1972
Sticks and Bones David Rabe [15]
That Championship Season Jason Miller
1973No award given
1974
A Moon for the Misbegotten Eugene O'Neill [16]
Noël Coward in Two Key Noël Coward
1975
Equus Peter Shaffer [17]
1976No award given
1977
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf Ntozake Shange [18]
1978
Da Hugh Leonard [19]
1979
The Elephant Man Bernard Pomerance [20]

1980s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
1980
Children of a Lesser God Mark Medoff [21]
1981
Amadeus Peter Shaffer [22]
1982
"Master Harold"...and the Boys Athol Fugard [23]
1983
Brighton Beach Memoirs Neil Simon [24]
1984
The Real Thing Tom Stoppard [25]
1985
Biloxi Blues Neil Simon [26]
1986
I'm Not Rappaport Herb Gardner [27]
1987
Fences August Wilson [28]
1988
M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang [29]
1989
The Heidi Chronicles Wendy Wasserstein [30]

1990s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
1990
The Grapes of Wrath Frank Galati [31] [32]
The Piano Lesson August Wilson
Lettice and Lovage Peter Shaffer
A Few Good Men Aaron Sorkin
1991
Lost in Yonkers Neil Simon [33]
Shadowlands William Nicholson
Six Degrees of Separation John Guare
The Speed of Darkness Steve Tesich
1992
Dancing at Lughnasa Brian Friel [34]
Two Shakespearean Actors Richard Nelson
Two Trains Running August Wilson
Conversations with My Father Herb Gardner
1993
The Sisters Rosensweig Wendy Wasserstein [35] [36]
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me Frank McGuiness
Redwood Curtain Lanford Wilson
1994
Angels in America, Parts I and II: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika Tony Kushner [37]
1995
Love! Valour! Compassion! Terrence McNally [38] [39]
Having Our Say Annie Elizabeth Delany, Sarah Louise Delany, Amy Hill Hearth
Arcadia Tom Stoppard
1996
Master Class Terrence McNally [40]
Moon Over Buffalo Ken Ludwig
Racing Demon David Hare
Seven Guitars August Wilson
1997
The Last Night of Ballyhoo Alfred Uhry [41] [42]
Taking Sides Ronald Harwood
Stanley Pam Gems
An American Daughter Wendy Wasserstein
1998
The Beauty Queen of Leenane Martin McDonagh [43] [44]
Jackie: An American LifeGip Hoppe
Golden Child David Henry Hwang
Art Yasmina Reza
1999
Not About Nightingales Tennessee Williams [45] [46]
Closer Patrick Marber
Amy's View David Hare
The Weir Conor McPherson

2000s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
2000
Copenhagen Michael Frayn [47] [48]
Waiting in the Wings Noël Coward
True West Sam Shepard
The Green Bird Carlo Gozzi
2001
Judgment at Nuremberg Michael Frayn [49] [50]
Proof David Auburn
The Invention of Love Tom Stoppard
Stones in His Pockets Marie Jones
2002
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Edward Albee [51] [52]
Metamorphoses Mary Zimmerman
Topdog/Underdog Suzan-Lori Parks
Fortune's Fool Ivan Turgenev
2003
Take Me Out Richard Greenberg [53] [54]
Enchanted April Matthew Barber
The Play What I Wrote Hamish McColl, Sean Foley and Eddie Braben
Vincent in Brixton Nicholas Wright
2004
I Am My Own Wife Doug Wright [55] [56]
Sixteen WoundedEliam Kraiem
Anna in the Tropics Nilo Cruz
Match Stephen Belber
2005
Doubt: A Parable John Patrick Shanley [57] [58]
Gem of the Ocean August Wilson
The Pillowman Martin McDonagh
Democracy Michael Frayn
Brooklyn Boy Donald Margulies
2006
The History Boys Alan Bennett [59] [60]
The Lieutenant of Inishmore Martin McDonagh
Primo Anthony Sher
Festen David Eldridge
2007
The Coast of Utopia Tom Stoppard [61] [62]
Radio Golf August Wilson
Frost/Nixon Peter Morgan
Coram Boy Helen Edmundson
2008
August: Osage County Tracy Letts [63] [64]
The 39 Steps Patrick Barlow
The Seafarer Conor McPherson
Rock 'n' Roll Tom Stoppard
2009
God of Carnage Yasmina Reza [65] [66]
33 Variations Moisés Kaufman
Irena's Vow Dan Gordon
reasons to be pretty Neil LaBute

2010s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
2010
Red John Logan [67] [68]
Superior Donuts Tracy Letts
Next Fall Geoffrey Nauffts
Time Stands Still Donald Margulies
2011
War Horse Nick Stafford [69] [70]
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo Rajiv Joseph
Good People David Lindsay-Abaire
The Motherfucker with the Hat Stephen Adly Guirgis
2012
One Man, Two Guvnors Richard Bean [71] [72]
Seminar Theresa Rebeck
The Lyons Nicky Silver
Stick Fly Lydia R. Diamond
2013
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Christopher Durang [73] [74]
Grace Mick Gordon, A. C. Grayling
Lucky Guy Nora Ephron
The Nance Douglas Carter Beane
The Testament of Mary Colm Tóibín
2014
All the Way Robert Schenkkan [75] [76]
Act One James Lapine
Casa Valentina Harvey Fierstein
Outside Mullingar John Patrick Shanley
The Realistic Joneses Will Eno
2015
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Simon Stephens [77] [78]
The Audience Peter Morgan
Wolf Hall Parts One & Two Mike Poulton
2016
The Humans Stephen Karam [79] [80] [81]
The Father Florian Zeller
King Charles III Mike Bartlett
Thérèse Raquin Neal Bell
Eclipsed Danai Gurira
2017
Oslo J. T. Rogers [82] [83]
A Doll's House, Part 2 Lucas Hnath
Sweat Lynn Nottage
Indecent Paula Vogel
2018
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Jack Thorne [84] [85]
Farinelli and the King Claire van Kampen
Junk Ayad Akhtar
The Children Lucy Kirkwood
2019
The Ferryman Jez Butterworth [86] [87]
What the Constitution Means to Me Heidi Schreck
Ink James Graham
Network Lee Hall
To Kill a Mockingbird Aaron Sorkin

2020s

YearProductionAuthorRef.
2020 (Honorees)Grand Horizons Bess Wohl [88]
The Height of the Storm Florian Zeller
The Inheritance Matthew López
Linda Vista Tracy Letts
The Sound Inside Adam Rapp
2021No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
2022
The Lehman Trilogy Stefano Massini [89]
The Minutes Tracy Letts
Birthday Candles Noah Haidle
Clyde's Lynn Nottage
Skeleton Crew Dominique Morisseau
2023
Leopoldstadt Tom Stoppard [90]
Life of Pi Lolita Chakrabart, Yann Martel
Peter Pan Goes Wrong Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, Jonathan Sayer
Summer, 1976 David Auburn
Good Night, Oscar Doug Wright
2024
Stereophonic David Adjmi [91]
Mother Play Paula Vogel
Jaja's African Hair Braiding Jocelyn Bioh
Patriots Peter Morgan
The Shark Is Broken Ian Shaw, Joseph Nixon
2025
John Proctor is the Villain Kimberly Bellflower [92] [93]
Cult of Love Leslye Headland
The Hills of California Jez Butterworth
Purpose Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Stranger Things: The First Shadow Kate Trefry

Multiple wins

3 wins
2 wins

Multiple nominations

6 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

See also

References

  1. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1949–1950". AboutTheArtists.com.
  2. "1950–1951 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  3. "1951–1952 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  4. "1953–1954 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  5. "1954–1955 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  6. "1955–1956 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  7. "1956–1957 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  8. "1957–1958 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  9. "1958–1959 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  10. "1959–1960 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  11. "1962–1963 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  12. "1966–1967 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  13. "1967–1968 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  14. "1969–1970 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  15. "1971–1972 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. "1973–1974 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  17. "1974–1975 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  18. "1976–1977 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  19. "1977–1978 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  20. "1978–1979 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  21. "1979–1980 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  22. "1980–1981 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  23. "1981–1982 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  24. "1982–1983 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  25. "1983-1984 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  26. "1984–1985 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  27. "1985–1986 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  28. "1986–1987 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  29. "1987–1988 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  30. "1988–1989 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  31. Rich, Frank (May 1, 1990). "Outer Critics Awards to Grapes and Angels". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  32. "1989–1990 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  33. "1990–1991 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  34. "1991–1992 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  35. Rich, Frank (April 27, 1993). "Outer Critics Circle Names Award Winners". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  36. "1992–1993 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  37. "1993–1994 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  38. "Outer Critics Float Show Boat". Variety. April 1995. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  39. "1994–1995 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  40. "1995–1996 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  41. Lefkowitz, David (May 5, 1997). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  42. "1996–1997 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  43. Viagas & Lefkowitz (April 27, 1998). "Lion King Roars With Six Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  44. "1997–1998 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  45. "Nightingales, Wit, Iceman & Fosse Win Outer Critics Awards; Ceremony May 28". Playbill. April 26, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  46. "1998–1999 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  47. "Contact and Kiss Me, Kate Big Winners of 2000 Outer Critics Awards". Playbill. April 30, 2000. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  48. "1999–2000 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  49. Simonson & Lefkowitz (May 24, 2001). "2001 Outer Critics Circle Awards Held at Sardi's, May 24". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  50. "2000–2001 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  51. "The 2001–2002 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners". TheaterMania. April 29, 2002. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  52. "2001–2002 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  53. Gans, Andrew (May 5, 2003). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Hairspray Leads the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  54. "2002–2003 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  55. "Wicked, Wonderful Town, I Am My Own Wife Top 2004 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. May 2, 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  56. "2003–2004 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  57. "2005 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. May 9, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  58. "2004–2005 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  59. Hernandez, Ernio (May 14, 2006). "The Drowsy Chaperone and The History Boys Top Outer Critics Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  60. "2005–2006 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  61. Gans, Andrew (May 24, 2007). "Outer Critics Circle Awards Are Presented by Clark, Young and Mitchell May 24". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  62. "2006–2007 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  63. Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2008). "South Pacific Is Big Winner in Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  64. "2007–2008 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  65. "Outer Critics Circle 2008–09 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. May 11, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  66. "2008–2009 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  67. "MEMPHIS & LA CAGE Top Outer Critics Circle Winners". BroadwayWorld. May 17, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  68. "2009–2010 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  69. "The Book of Mormon, War Horse and Anything Goes Top 2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. May 16, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  70. "2010–2011 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  71. Gans, Andrew (May 14, 2012). "Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced; Once and One Man, Two Guvnors Are Top Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  72. "2011–2012 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  73. "Outer Critics Circle 2013 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. May 13, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  74. "2012–2013 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  75. Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2014). "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Gentleman's Guide Wins Four Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  76. "2013–2014 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  77. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2015: Full List". Variety. April 27, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  78. "2014–2015 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  79. "Outer Critics Circle Honors 'She Loves Me' and 'Long Day's Journey Into Night'". The New York Times. May 9, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  80. Viagas, Robert (May 9, 2016). "Bright Star and The Humans Win Top 2016 NY Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  81. "2015–2016 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  82. Lefkowitz, Andy (May 8, 2017). "2017 Outer Critics Circle Awards: Come From Away & More Win Top Prizes". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  83. "2016–2017 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  84. McPhee, Ryan (May 7, 2018). "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, My Fair Lady Win Big at 2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  85. "2017–2018 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  86. Lefkowitz, Andy (May 13, 2019). "Hadestown Leads Winners of 2019 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  87. "2018–2019 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  88. Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  89. Culwell-Block, Logan (May 17, 2022). "The Lehman Trilogy Leads 2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Six Wins Best Musical; See the Complete List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  90. Culwell-Block, Logan (May 16, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  91. "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  92. Culwell-Block, Logan (May 12, 2025). "Maybe Happy Ending Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  93. Evans, Greg (2025-04-25). "'Death Becomes Her' Broadway Musical Leads Outer Critics Circle Award Nominees – Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-09-01.