Drama League Award

The Drama League Awards, created in 1935, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. Each May, the awards are presented by the Drama League of New York at the Annual Awards Luncheon with performers, directors, producers, and Drama League members in attendance. Katharine Cornell was the recipient of the first award in 1935, for Distinguished Performance.

The ceremony

The awards ceremony for the 2010–11 season was held on May 20, 2011 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel (New York City).^[1]

The awards ceremony for 2011–2012 was held on May 18, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, with Stockard Channing and John Larroquette as hosts.^[2]

The awards ceremony for the 2012–2013 season was held on May 17, 2013 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, with Debra Messing and David Hyde Pierce hosting.^[3]

The awards ceremony for the 2013–2014 season was held on May 16, 2014 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, with host Jesse Tyler Ferguson.^[4]

The nominees for the 2014–2015 season were announced on April 21, 2015 by Cherry Jones and Denis O'Hare. The awards ceremony was held on May 15, 2015.^[5]

The nominees for the 2015–2016 season were announced on April 20, 2016 by Aladdin stars Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, and James Monroe Iglehart. The awards ceremony was held on May 20, 2016 and hosted by Megan Hilty and Zachary Levi.

The nominees for the 2016–2017 season were announced on April 19, 2017 by Patina Miller and Bebe Neuwirth. The awards ceremony was on May 19, 2017 and hosted by Audra McDonald and Will Swenson.^[6]

The current award statues are designed and made by New York firm, Society Awards.

Categories of awards

• Outstanding Production of a Play
• Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• 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

Winners 2016–2017

Source: Playbill.com^[6]

• 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 2015–2016

Source: Playbill.com^[7]

• 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 2014–2015

Source: Playbill.com^[5]

• 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 2013–2014

Source: Playbill.com^[4]

• 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 2012–2013

Source: Playbill.com^[3]

• 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 2011–2012

Source: Playbill.com^[2]

• 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 2010–2011

Source: Playbill.com^[1]

• 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 2009–2010

Source: Playbill.com^[8]

• 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 2008–2009

Source:Playbill.com^[9]

• 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 2007–2008

Source:Variety^[10]

• Patti LuPone for Gypsy – Distinguished Performance Award
• August: Osage County 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 Glengarry Glen Ross – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 and Gary Sinise – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 and Bebe Neuwirth – 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 – 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 history

List of winners, 1935 through 2014.^[11]

See also

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

References

External links

• Official website