DRAMA DESK AWARDS ANNOUNCED

On Sunday June 1 at Skirball’s subterranean theater, the Drama Desk voters and enthusiasts convened to announce this year’s awardees included 2024-2025  Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off Off Broadway productions.

At this year’s ceremony, Gavin Creel received the Harold S. Prince Award for Lifetime Achievement (posthumously) and stage and screen star Brian Stokes Mitchell received the William Wolf Award. 

Kicking off the proceedings, the always delightful Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess served as hosts of the lively ceremony that honored members of the theater community.

Outstanding Play
Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Outstanding Musical
Maybe Happy Ending

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Eureka Day

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Gypsy

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of CaliforniaSarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
asmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
Amalia Yoo, John Proctor is the Villain
Kara Young, Purpose

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (3 way tie)
Brooks Ashmanskas, Smash
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat
Michael Urie, Once Upon a Mattress

Outstanding Solo Performance
Andrew Scott, Vanya

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain

Outstanding Choreography
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical

Outstanding Music
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending

Outstanding Lyrics
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Celia Ipiotis

Outstanding Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, and Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher (illusions and visual effects), Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Our Town

Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd.

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski, Just in Time

Outstanding Projection and Video Design
David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Outstanding Wig and Hair
Charles G. LaPointe, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Puppetry
Amanda Villalobos, Becoming Eve

Outstanding Fight Choreography
Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet, Pirates! The Penzance Musical

Outstanding Adaptation
Pirates! The Penzance Musical, by Rupert Holmes

Outstanding Revue
Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song

Unique Theatrical Experience
he Picture of Dorian Gray

SPECIAL AWARDS
Ensemble Award
Liberation cast

Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award
Stephen Michael Spencer for Medea:Re-Versed, Music City

Additional Special Awards
Pregones/PRTT
Stacey Derosier/Lighting Designer
Danger and Opportunity, creative and acting team

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Celia Ipiotis