Drama League Award Explained

The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing.^[1] Each May, the awards are presented by The Drama League at the Annual Awards Luncheon with performers, directors, producers, and Drama League members in attendance. The Drama League membership comprises the entire theater community, including award-winning actors, designers, directors, playwrights, producers, industry veterans, critics and theater-going audiences from across the U.S.^{[2] [3]}

The Drama League Awards are the oldest awards honoring theater in North America. The awards were established in 1922, and formalized in 1935.^{[4] [5]} Katharine Cornell was the recipient of the first Distinguished Performance Award in 1935.^[1] Seven competitive awards are presented: Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, the Distinguished Performance Award,^[2] and, as of 2022, Outstanding Direction of a Play and Outstanding Direction of a Musical.^[6] The Distinguished Performance Award is presented to one performer every year, and the recipient can only receive the award once in his or her career.^[7] The Drama League also bestow three special honors at the awards ceremony: Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater, Unique Contribution to the Theater, and The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.^{[3] [5]} The award statues are designed by New York firm Society Awards.^[8]

Categories of awards

• Outstanding Production of a Play
• Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Outstanding Direction of a Play (added in 2022)
• Outstanding Direction of a Musical (added in 2022)
• Distinguished Performance

Additionally, an honorary award may be given in the following categories:

• Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

List of winners

The Distinguished Performance Award, originally known as the Delia Austrian Medal, was first presented in 1935, to Katharine Cornell for Romeo and Juliet. The first recipient of the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing was Daniel J. Sullivan in 2000. Actor Yul Brynner was the first recipient of the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award in 1985. The Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award was first bestowed in 1982 to the New York Production of Nicholas Nickelby: Bernard Jacobs, Gerald Schoenfeld, James M. Nederlander, Elizabeth McCann, and Nelle Nugent.^[5]

Winners 2023–2024

Source: TheaterMania.com^[9]

• Sarah Paulson for Appropriate – Distinguished Performance Award
• Hell's Kitchen – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Stereophonic – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Merrily We Roll Along – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Appropriate – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Maria Friedman for Merrily We Roll Along – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
• Daniel Aukin for Stereophonic – Outstanding Direction of a Play
• Jonathan Groff – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Jessica Lange – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Schele Williams – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
• Kandi Burruss – Gratitude Award

Winners 2022–2023

Source: Playbill.com^[10]

• Annaleigh Ashford for – Distinguished Performance Award
• Some Like It Hot – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Leopoldstadt – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Into the Woods – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• A Doll's House – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Lear deBessonet for Into the Woods – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
• Anne Kauffman for The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window – Outstanding Direction of a Play
• André De Shields – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Drama Book Shop – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Lear deBessonet – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2021–2022

Source: Playbill.com^[11]

• Sutton Foster for The Music Man – Distinguished Performance Award
• A Strange Loop – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Lehman Trilogy – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Company – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Take Me Out – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Marianne Elliott for Company – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
• Kate Whoriskey for Clyde's – Outstanding Direction of a Play
• Hugh Jackman – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Billy Crystal – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Lileana Blain-Cruz – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2019–2020

Source: Playbill.com^[12]

• Danny Burstein for Moulin Rouge! – Distinguished Performance Award
• Moulin Rouge! – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Inheritance – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Little Shop of Horrors – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• A Soldier's Play – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• James Lapine – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Terrence McNally – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Marianne Elliott – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2018–2019

Source: Playbill.com^[13]

• Bryan Cranston for Network – Distinguished Performance Award
• Hadestown – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Ferryman – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Kiss Me, Kate – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• The Waverly Gallery – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Kelli O'Hara – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Taylor Mac – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Alex Timbers – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2017–2018

Source: Playbill.com^[14]

• Glenda Jackson for Three Tall Women – Distinguished Performance Award
• The Band's Visit – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Outstanding Production of a Play
• My Fair Lady – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Angels in America – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Idina Menzel – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• National Endowment for the Arts – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Casey Nicholaw – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2016–2017Source: Playbill.com^[15]

• Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen – Distinguished Performance Award
• Dear Evan Hansen – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Oslo – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Hello, Dolly! – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Jitney – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Bette Midler – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Bill Berloni – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Michael Greif – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2015–2016Source: Playbill.com^[16]

• Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton – Distinguished Performance Award
• Hamilton – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Humans – Outstanding Production of a Play
• The Color Purple – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• A View from the Bridge – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Sheldon Harnick – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Deaf West Theatre – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Ivo van Hove – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2014–2015Source: Playbill.com^[17]

• Chita Rivera for The Visit – Distinguished Performance Award
• An American in Paris – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Outstanding Production of a Play
• The King and I – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• You Can't Take It with You – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Joel Grey – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award
• Neal Shapiro and David Horn – Unique Contribution to the Theater Award
• Stephen Daldry – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2013–2014Source: Playbill.com^[18]

• Neil Patrick Harris for Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Distinguished Performance Award
• A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• All the Way – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• The Glass Menagerie – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Barbara Cook – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Key Brand Entertainment/Broadway Across America: John Gore – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award
• John Tiffany – The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2012–2013Source: Playbill.com^[19]

• Nathan Lane for The Nance – Distinguished Performance Award
• Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Kinky Boots – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Pippin – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Bernadette Peters – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award (presented by Joel Grey)
• Madison Square Garden Entertainment & the Rockettes – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award (Presented by Tommy Tune)
• Jerry Mitchell – The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Presented by Cyndi Lauper)

Winners 2011–2012Source: Playbill.com^[20]

• Audra McDonald for Porgy and Bess – Distinguished Performance Award
• Other Desert Cities – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Death of a Salesman – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Once – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Follies – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Alan Menken – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Rosie O'Donnell – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award
• Diane Paulus – The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (formerly the Julia Hansen Award)

Winners 2010–2011Source: Playbill.com^[21]

• Mark Rylance for Jerusalem and La Bête – Distinguished Performance Award
• War Horse – Outstanding Production of a Play
• The Book of Mormon – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Normal Heart – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Anything Goes – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Whoopi Goldberg – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award
• Liza Minnelli – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Susan Stroman – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.

Winners 2009–2010Source: Playbill.com^[22]

• Alfred Molina for Red – Distinguished Performance Award
• Sondheim on Sondheim – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Red – Outstanding Production of a Play
• La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• A View from the Bridge – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Nathan Lane – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Kenny Leon – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
• Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners 2008–2009Source:Playbill.com^[23]

• Geoffrey Rush for Exit the King – Distinguished Performance Award
• God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Billy Elliot The Musical, Music by Elton John; Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Hair, Music by Galt MacDermot; Book, Lyrics by Gerome Ragni, James Rado – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Elton John – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Arthur Laurents – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
• Angela Lansbury – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Herb Blodgett – The 75th Anniversary Leadership Award

Winners 2007–2008Source:Variety^[24]

• Patti LuPone for Gypsy – Distinguished Performance Award
• by Tracy Letts – Outstanding Production of a Play
• A Catered Affair, Book by Harvey Fierstein; Music and Lyrics by John Bucchino – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• South Pacific, Book by Joshua Logan and Oscar Hammerstein II, Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Paul Gemignani – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award
• Bartlett Sher – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
• Ellen Stewart – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners 2006–2007

• Liev Schreiber for Talk Radio and Macbeth – Distinguished Performance Award
• The Coast of Utopia – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Spring Awakening – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Journey's End – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Company – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• John Kander and Fred Ebb – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Michael Mayer – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
• Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners 2005–2006

• Christine Ebersole for Grey Gardens – Distinguished Performance Award
• The History Boys – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Jersey Boys – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Awake and Sing! – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Sweeney Todd – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Patti LuPone – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Marian Seldes – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Des McAnuff- Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2004–2005

• Norbert Leo Butz for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Distinguished Performance Award
• Doubt – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Twelve Angry Men – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• BMI Musical Theatre Workshop – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• The Billy Rose Theatre Collection at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Mike Nichols – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2003–2004

• Hugh Jackman for The Boy from Oz– Distinguished Performance Award
• I Am My Own Wife – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Wicked – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Henry IV – Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Assassins – Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Donna Murphy – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• City Center Encores – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• George C. Wolfe – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2002–2003

• Harvey Fierstein for Hairspray – Distinguished Performance Award
• Take Me Out – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Hairspray – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• A Day in the Death of Joe Egg – Outstanding Revival
• Twyla Tharp – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Todd Haimes – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Joe Mantello – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2001–2002

• Metamorphoses – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Urinetown – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• The Crucible – Outstanding Revival
• Liam Neeson for The Crucible – Distinguished Performance Award
• Elaine Stritch – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Julia Hansen – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Sir Richard Eyre – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 2000–2001

• Proof – Outstanding Production of a Play
• The Producers – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Outstanding Revival
• Mary-Louise Parker for Proof and Gary Sinise for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Distinguished Performance Award
• Susan Stroman – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, Gary Sinise – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Jack O'Brien – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 1999–2000

• Copenhagen – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Contact – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Kiss Me, Kate – Outstanding Revival
• Eileen Heckart for The Waverly Gallery – Distinguished Performance Award
• Audra McDonald – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Actors Theatre of Louisville: Jon Jory – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
• Daniel Sullivan – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Winners 1998–1999

• Wit – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Fosse – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Death of a Salesman – Outstanding Revival
• Kathleen Chalfant for Wit – Distinguished Performance Award
• Ann Reinking and Gwen Verdon – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Sir David Hare – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners 1997–1998

• The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Ragtime – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Cabaret – Outstanding Revival
• Brian Stokes Mitchell for Ragtime – Distinguished Performance Award
• Julie Taymor – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• The Brooklyn Academy of Music: Harvey Lichtenstein – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners 1996–1997

• The Last Night of Ballyhoo – Outstanding Production of a Play
• The Life – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Chicago – Outstanding Revival
• Charles Durning for The Gin Game and Bebe Neuwirth for Chicago – Distinguished Performance Award
• Gerard Alessandrini – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• Jason Robards – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners 1995–1996

• Seven Guitars – Outstanding Production of a Play
• Rent – Outstanding Production of a Musical
• A Delicate Balance – Outstanding Revival
• Uta Hagen for Mrs. Klein – Distinguished Performance Award
• George C. Wolfe – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
• The 42nd Street Development Project, The New 42nd Street, The Walt Disney Company, Livent – Unique Contribution to the Theatre

Winners historyList of winners, 1935 through 2014.^[5]

See also

• Tony Award
• Drama Desk Awards
• Obie Award
• New York Drama Critics Award

Notes and References

1. Web site: Winners of Drama League Awards Announced. Playbill. May 20, 2016. September 25, 2017.
2. Web site: Special Awards Recipients Announced. The Drama League. March 21, 2016. September 25, 2017. September 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170926100338/http://dramaleague.org/blogs/news-feed/special-awards-recipients-announced. dead.
3. Web site: Drama League Awards. The Drama League. September 25, 2017.
4. Web site: Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Josh Groban Among 2017 Drama League Award Nominees. Playbill. April 19, 2017. September 25, 2017.
5. Web site: Award History. The Drama League. September 25, 2017.
6. Web site: Nominations Announced for 88th Annual Drama League Awards. Broadway.com. April 25, 2022. April 26, 2022.
7. Web site: Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Josh Groban Among 2017 Drama League Award Nominees. Playbill. April 19, 2017. September 25, 2017.
8. Web site: Cook, Davis, Hayes, Schreiber and Walken Will Be Presenters at Drama League Awards. May 11, 2010. September 25, 2017. Playbill.
9. Web site: Sarah Paulson, Hell’s Kitchen Win Drama League Awards. theatermania.com. en. 2024-05-17.
10. Web site: Some Like It Hot, Annaleigh Ashford, Leopoldstadt, More Win 2023 Drama League Awards. Playbill. en. 2023-05-22.
11. Web site: The Lehman Trilogy, A Strange Loop, Sutton Foster, More Are Winners of 88th Annual Drama League Awards. Playbill. en. 2022-05-20.
12. Web site: Moulin Rouge! and Danny Burstein Among 2020 Drama League Winners. Playbill. en. 2020-06-18.
13. Web site: Network's Bryan Cranston, Hadestown Among 2019 Drama League Award Winners. Playbill. en. 2019-05-17.
14. Web site: Glenda Jackson, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Among 2018 Drama League Award Winners Playbill. Playbill. en. 2018-05-21.
15. Web site: Dear Evan Hansen’s Ben Platt, Hello, Dolly! and More Are Winners of Drama League Awards Playbill. Playbill. en. 2017-05-19.
16. Gans, Andrew."Winners of Drama League Awards Announced" playbill.com, May 20, 2016
17. Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. " 'An American in Paris', 'Curious Incident' and Chita Rivera Win Drama League Awards", playbill.com, May 15, 2015
18. Gans, Andrew. "80th Annual Drama League Award Winners Announced; Neil Patrick Harris Wins Distinguished Performance Honor" playbill.com, May 16, 2014
19. Gans, Andrew. " 'Kinky Boots', 'Pippin', 'Vanya and Sonia', 'Virginia 'Woolf? and More Win Drama League Awards" playbill.com, May 17, 2013
20. Gans, Andrew. " 'Other Desert Cities', 'Salesman', 'Follies', 'Once', Audra McDonald Are Drama League Winners" playbill.com, May 18, 2012
21. Gans, Andrew. " 'Mormon', 'War Horse', 'Normal Heart', 'Anything Goes', Mark Rylance Win Drama League Awards" playbill.com, May 20, 2011
22. Gans, Andrew."Sondheim, 'Red', 'Bridge', 'La Cage' and Molina Win Drama League Awards" playbill.com, May 21, 2010
23. Gans, Andrew.Billy, Carnage, Hair, Blithe and Rush Win Drama League Awards", playbill.com, May 15, 2009
24. Cox, Gordon. " 'Catered Affair' nabs League honor" Variety, May 16, 2008