Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score

Last updated
Outer Critics Circle Award for
Outstanding New Score
Awarded forOutstanding New Score
Location New York City
Presented by Outer Critics Circle
Currently held by Will Aronson and Hue Park for Maybe Happy Ending (2025)
Website OuterCritics.org

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score is an annual award given to the composer and/or lyricist of a musical or play on Broadway or Off-Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The award has been given out since the 2005-2006 season.

Contents

Since its inception, no composer or lyricist has won the award more than once, while John Kander, Fred Ebb, Jeanine Tesori, David Yazbek and Alan Menken are all tied for the most nominations, with four each.

Award winners

2000s

  indicates the winner.
YearProductionComposerLyricistRef.
2006
The Drowsy Chaperone Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison [1]
See What I Wanna See Michael John LaChiusa
The Color Purple Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Grey Gardens Scott Frankel Michael Korie
2007
Spring Awakening Duncan Sheik Steven Sater [2]
Mary Poppins Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
In The Heights Lin-Manuel Miranda
Curtains John Kander John Kander, Fred Ebb and Rupert Holmes
2008
Next to Normal Tom Kitt Brian Yorkey [3]
Adding Machine Joshua Schmidt
Young Frankenstein Mel Brooks
The Last Ship Stew and Heidi Rodewald Stew
2009
Billy Elliot Elton John Lee Hall [4]
Happiness Scott Frankel Michael Korie
Rooms: A Rock RomancePaul Scott Goodman
Shrek the Musical Jeanine Tesori David Lindsay-Abaire

2010s

YearProductionComposerLyricistRef.
2010
Memphis David Bryan David Bryan and Joe DiPietro [5]
Yank! Joe ZellnikDavid Zellnik
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Michael Friedman
The Scottsboro Boys John Kander Fred Ebb
2011
The Book of Mormon Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone [6]
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown David Yazbek
Sister Act Alan Menken Glenn Slater
Catch Me if You Can Marc Shaiman Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
2012
Newsies Alan Menken Jack Feldman [7]
Queen of the Mist Michael John LaChiusa
Bonnie and Clyde Frank Wildhorn Don Black
Death Takes a Holiday Maury Yeston
2013
Kinky Boots Cyndi Lauper [8]
Chaplin Christopher Paul Curtis
Dogfight Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Hands on a Hardbody Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio Amanda Green
Here Lies Love David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
2014
The Bridges of Madison County Jason Robert Brown [9]
Aladdin Alan Menken Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin
If/Then Tom Kitt Brian Yorkey
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Steven Lutvak Steven Lutvak and Robert L. Freedman
Fun Home Lisa Kron Jeanine Tesori
2015
Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda [10]
The Visit John Kander Fred Ebb
Something Rotten! Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
It Shoulda Been You Barbara Anselmi Brian Hargrove
The Last Ship Sting
2016
Bright Star Steve Martin and Edie Brickell Edie Brickell [11]
Waitress Sara Bareilles
American Psycho Duncan Sheik
Daddy Long Legs Paul Gordon
Dear Evan Hansen Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
2017
The Band's Visit David Yazbek [12]
Come From Away Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Anastasia Stephen Flaherty Lynn Ahrens
A Bronx Tale Alan Menken Glenn Slater
Groundhog Day Tim Minchin
2018
SpongeBob SquarePants Various [13] [14]
A Bronx Tale Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Desperate Measures David Friedman Peter Kellogg
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Imogen Heap
Miss You Like Hell Erin McKeown Erin McKeown and Quiara Alegría Hudes
2019
Hadestown Anaïs Mitchell [15]
The Hello Girls Peter Mills
Tootsie David Yazbek
The Prom Matthew Sklar Chad Beguelin
Be More Chill Joe Iconis

2020s

YearProductionComposerLyricistRef.
2020 (Hon.) The Secret Life of Bees Duncan Sheik Susan Birkenhead [16]
The Wrong Man Ross Golan
A Strange Loop Michael R. Jackson
Octet Dave Malloy
Soft Power Jeanine Tesori David Henry Hwang
2021No award given due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2022
Six Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss [17]
Harmony Barry Manilow Bruce Sussman
Kimberly Akimbo Jeanine Tesori David Lindsay-Abaire
Paradise Square Jason Howland Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare
Mrs. Doubtfire Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
2023
Some Like It Hot Marc Shaiman Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman [18]
Between the Lines Elyssa SamselKate Anderson
New York, New York John Kander Fred Ebb and Lin-Manuel Miranda
The Bedwetter Adam Schlesinger Adam Schlesinger and Sarah Silverman
Shucked Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally
2024
Suffs Shaina Taub [19]
Dead Outlaw David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Stereophonic Will Butler
The Connector Jason Robert Brown
Days of Wine and Roses Adam Guettel
2025
Suffs Will Aronson Will Aronson and Hue Park [20]
Death Becomes Her Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
Boop! The Musical David Foster Susan Birkenhead
Operation Mincemeat David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts
Real Women Have Curves Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez

Multiple nominations

4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

References

  1. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2006". BroadwayWorld.
  2. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2007". BroadwayWorld.
  3. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2008". BroadwayWorld.
  4. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2009". BroadwayWorld.
  5. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2010". BroadwayWorld.
  6. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2011". BroadwayWorld.
  7. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2012". BroadwayWorld.
  8. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2013". BroadwayWorld.
  9. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2014". BroadwayWorld.
  10. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2015". BroadwayWorld.
  11. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2016". BroadwayWorld.
  12. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2017". BroadwayWorld.
  13. Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Derek Brown, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman, John Legend, Brendon Urie, De'Mar Hamilton, Tom Higgenson, Tim Lopez, Mike Retondo, Dave Tirio, John Flansburgh, John Linnell, Alex Ebert, T.I., Domani, Lil' C, Tom Kitt
  14. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2018". BroadwayWorld.
  15. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2019". BroadwayWorld.
  16. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2020". BroadwayWorld.
  17. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2022". BroadwayWorld.
  18. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2023". BroadwayWorld.
  19. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024". BroadwayWorld.
  20. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2025". BroadwayWorld.