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Drama Desk Award Nominations 2023: 'Shucked' Leads the Pack with 12 Nods

By: Raven Snook
Date: Apr 27, 2023

The theatre awards season kicks into high gear with the announcement of the 67th annual Drama Desk Award nominations. Unlike the Tony Awards, which only recognize Broadway productions, the Drama Desk considers all New York City theatre: BroadwayOff-Broadway and Off-Off. There are also additional categories, including Outstanding Solo Show, Puppet Design, Unique Theatrical Experience and an Ensemble Award.

Also unlike the Tonys: the Drama Desk has heeded the call for awards to go gender-free, allowing nonbinary performers to complete without being forced into male or female categories. Because of this change, the four performance categories have twice as many nominations as the former gendered categories, with two winners each unless there's a tie, which would mean three.

Winners will be announced the week of May 29 and the Awards will be presented during an intimate ceremony at Sardi's on Tuesday, June 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. 

Note that because Ain’t No Mo’, Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living, Kimberly Akimbo, KPOP and The Thanksgiving Play had NYC runs in previous seasons, the nominating committee considered only those elements that constituted new work. Translation: That's why these productions did not receive many (or any) nominations. 

Outstanding Play

A Case for the Existence of God by Samuel D. Hunter, Signature Theatre

Fat Ham by James Ijames, The Public Theater and National Black Theatre - Read our interview with Ijames playwright on TDF Stages.

Leopoldstadt by Tom Stoppard on Broadway

Love by Alexander Zeldin, Park Avenue Armory

Prima Facie by Suzie Miller on Broadway

Wish You Were Here by Sanaz Toossi, Playwrights Horizons


Outstanding Musical

& Juliet on Broadway

Between the Lines - Read our interview with the songwriters on TDF Stages.

F*ck7thGrade, The Wild Project

Shucked on Broadway

Some Like it Hot on Broadway

White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater

 

Outstanding Revival of a Play

A Raisin in the Sun, The Public Theater

Death of a Salesman on Broadway

Endgame, Irish Repertory Theatre

The Piano Lesson on Broadway

Ohio State Murders on Broadway

Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience

 

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company

Into the Woods on Broadway

Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop

Parade on Broadway

Sweeney Todd on Broadway

 

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

Hiran Abeysekera in Life of Pi on Broadway

Kyle Beltran in A Case for the Existence of God, Signature Theatre

Will Brill in A Case for the Existence of God, Signature Theatre

Brittany Bradford in Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience

Jessica Chastain in A Doll’s House on Broadway

Sharon D Clarke in Death of a Salesman on Broadway

Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar on Broadway

Denise Manning in Amani, National Black Theatre and Rattlestick Theater

Audra McDonald in Ohio State Murders on Broadway

Wendell Pierce in Death of a Salesman on Broadway

John Douglas Thompson in Endgame, Irish Repertory Theatre

Kara Young in Twelfth Night, The Classical Theatre of Harlem

 

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical

Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd on Broadway

Nicholas Barasch in The Butcher Boy, Irish Repertory Theatre - Read our interview with Barasch on TDF Stages.

Sara Bareilles in Into the Woods on Broadway

Andrew Burnap in Camelot on Broadway

Micaela Diamond in Parade on Broadway

Andrew Durand in Shucked on Broadway

Callum Francis in Kinky Boots, Stage 42

J. Harrison Ghee in Some Like it Hot on Broadway - Watch our TDF Conversation with Ghee

Jonathan Groff in Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop

Somi Kakoma in Dreaming Zenzile, New York Theatre Workshop

Lindsay Mendez in Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop

Anna Uzele in New York, New York

 

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

Emily Bergl in Good Night, Oscar on Broadway

Danielle Brooks in The Piano Lesson on Broadway

Amelda Brown in Love, Park Avenue Armory

Ray Fisher in The Piano Lesson on Broadway

K. Todd Freeman in Downstate, Playwrights Horizons

Francis Guinan in Downstate, Playwrights Horizons

Nick Holder in Love, Park Avenue Armory

Arian Moayed in A Doll’s House on Broadway

Brian Quijada in Wolf Play, MCC Theater and Soho Rep

Miriam Silverman in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, Brooklyn Academy of Music

Brandon Uranowitz in Leopoldstadt on Broadway

Kara Young in Cost of Living on Broadway - Watch our TDF Conversation with Young.

 

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical

Kevin Cahoon in Shucked on Broadway 

Kevin Del Aguila in Some Like it Hot on Broadway - Watch our TDF Conversation with Del Aguila

Robyn Hurder in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway

Mark Jacoby in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway - Watch our TDF Conversation with Jacoby.

Tarra Conner Jones in White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater

Julia Lester in Into the Woods on Broadway

Alex Newell in Shucked on Broadway

Daniel Radcliffe in Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop

Phillipa Soo in Into the Woods on Broadway

Mare Winningham in A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company

 

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Zi Alikhan, On That Day in Amsterdam, Primary Stages

Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO

Miranda Cromwell, Death of a Salesman on Broadway - Read our interview with Cromwell on TDF Stages.

Adam Meggido, Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway

Max Webster, Life of Pi on Broadway

Alexander Zeldin, Love, Park Avenue Armory

 

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Jeff Calhoun, Between the Lines

John Doyle, A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company

Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop

Thomas Kail, Sweeney Todd on Broadway

Jack O’Brien, Shucked on Broadway

 

Outstanding Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Only Gold, MCC Theater

Tislarm Bouie, the bandaged place

Edgar Godineaux, The Harder They Come, The Public Theater

Casey Nicholaw, Some Like it Hot on Broadway 

Susan Stroman, New York, New York on Broadway 

Jennifer Weber, KPOP on Broadway

 

Outstanding Music

Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked on Broadway

Michael R. Jackson, White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater

Tom Kitt and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal designer), Almost Famous on Broadway

Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, Between the Lines

The Kilbanes, Weightless, WP Theater

 

Outstanding Lyrics

Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked on Broadway

Jonathan Hogue, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical

Michael R. Jackson, White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater

Adam Schlesinger and Sarah Silverman, The Bedwetter, Atlantic Theater Company

Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Some Like it Hot on Broadway

 

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Jonathan Hogue, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical

Robert Horn, Shucked on Broadway

Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, Some Like it Hot on Broadway

Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue, Titanique - Watch our TDF Conversation with Mindelle and Rousouli

David West Read, & Juliet on Broadway

 

Outstanding Orchestrations

Bruce Coughlin, A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company

Jason Howland, Shucked on Broadway

Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, Some Like it Hot on Broadway

Kenny Seymour, The Harder They Come, The Public Theater

Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, New York, New York on Broadway 

 

Outstanding Music in a Play

Ben Edelman, Zane Pais and Sinan Refik Zafar, Letters from Max, a ritual, Signature Theatre

Mauricio Escamilla, the bandaged place, Roundabout Theatre Company

Suzan-Lori Parks, Plays for the Plague Year, The Public Theater

Ian Ross, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children, National Theatre

Daniel Schlosberg, Montag, Soho Rep

 

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play

Jason Ardizzone-West, Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience

Beowulf Boritt, Ohio State Murders on Broadway

dots, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO

Tim Hatley, Life of Pi on Broadway

Natasha Jenkins, Love, Park Avenue Armory

John McDermott, Chains, Mint Theater Company

 

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York on Broadway

David Korins, Only Gold, MCC Theater

Scott Pask, Shucked on Broadway

Walt Spangler and Brendan McCann (production props), Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical

Michael Yeargan, Camelot on Broadway

 

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play

Kara Branch, According to the Chorus, New Light Theater Project

Enver Chakartash, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO

Qween Jean, Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience

Sarah Laux, Wish You Were Here, Playwright Horizons

Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’ on Broadway

Roberto Surace, Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway

 

Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Some Like it Hot on Broadway

Tilly Grimes, Shucked on Broadway 

Jennifer Moeller, Camelot on Broadway 

Clint Ramos and Sophia Choi, KPOP on Broadway 

Anita Yavich, Only Gold, MCC Theater

Donna Zakowska, New York, New York on Broadway

 

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play

Isabella Byrd, Epiphany, Lincoln Center Theater

Jiyoun Chang, The Far Country, Atlantic Theater Company

Natasha Chivers and Willie Williams (video), Prima Facie on Broadway

Allen Lee Hughes, Ohio State Murders on Broadway 

Cha See, On That Day in Amsterdam, Primary Stages

Japhy Weideman, The Piano Lesson on Broadway

 

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical

Ken Billington, New York, New York on Broadway

Jeff Croiter, Only Gold, MCC Theater

Heather Gilbert, Parade on Broadway

David Grill, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ on Broadway 

Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd on Broadway

 

Outstanding Projection and Video Design

Simon Baker, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children, and National Theatre

Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi on Broadway

Caite Hevner, Between the Lines, Tony Kiser Theater

Josh Higgason, White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater

Nicholas Hussong, On That Day in Amsterdam, Primary Stages

Johnny Moreno, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO

 

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington, Ohio State Murders on Broadway

Tom Gibbons, Hamlet, Park Avenue Armory

Josh Anio Grigg, Love, Park Avenue Armory

Lee Kinney and Daniel Kluger, You Will Get Sick, Roundabout Theatre Company

Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll’s House on Broadway

Mikaal Sulaiman, Fat Ham, The Public Theater and National Black Theatre

 

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical

Peter Hylenski, Almost Famous on Broadway

Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, Into the Woods on Broadway

John Shivers, Shucked on Broadway

Joanna Lynne Staub, Weightless, WP Theater

Jon Weston, Parade on Broadway

 

Outstanding Wig and Hair

Campbell Young Associates, Almost Famous on Broadway 

Cookie Jordan, The Piano Lesson on Broadway 

Mia M. Neal, Ain’t No Mo’ on Broadway 

Earon Nealey, Twelfth Night, The Classical Theatre of Harlem

Mitsuteru Okuyama, Chushingura 47 Ronin

Luc Verschueren, A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway

 

Outstanding Solo Performance

Jodie Comer in Prima Facie on Broadway

David Greenspan in Four Saints in Three Acts, Lucille Lortel Theatre

Jessica Hendy in Walking With Bubbles, AMT Theater

Anthony Rapp in Without You - Watch our TDF Conversation with Rapp.

Tracy Thorne in Jack Was Kind, Irish Repertory Theatre

 

Unique Theatrical Experience

Asi Wind’s Inner Circle

Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway 

Plays for the Plague Year, The Public Theater

Zephyr, Cirque Mechanics at New Victory Theater

 

Outstanding Fight Choreography

B.H. Barry, Camelot on Broadway

Rocio Mendez, Día Y Noche, LAByrinth Theater Company

Rocio Mendez, How to Defend Yourself, New York Theatre Workshop

Unkledave’s Fight-House, soft, MCC Theater

 

Outstanding Adaptation

A Doll’s House by Amy Herzog on Broadway

Arden of Faversham by Jeffrey Hatcher and Kathryn Walat, Red Bull Theater

black odyssey by Marcus Gardley, Classic Stage Company

Oresteia by Robert Icke, Park Avenue Armory

Wuthering Heights by Emma Rice, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children, National Theatre

 

Outstanding Puppetry

John Leader, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children, National Theatre

James Ortiz (design), Kennedy Kanagawa (as Milky White), Into the Woods on Broadway

Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi on Broadway

Kirjan Waage, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, Wakka Wakka and Nordland Visual Theatre at 59E59 Theaters

 

Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award

Stephen McKinley Henderson - Read an interview with Henderson on TDF Stages.

Ensemble Award

The cast of Soho Rep’s Public Obscenities: Tashnuva Anan, Abrar Haque, Golam Sarwar Harun, Gargi Mukherjee, NaFis, Jakeem Dante Powell and Debashis Roy Chowdhury

 

Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award

From his standout performance in american (tele)visions, to writing and performing the autobiographical Dark Disabled Stories, Ryan J. Haddad’s work this season has expanded on and interrogated what the idea of “accessibility” really means. - Watch our TDF Conversation with Haddad.

Productions with multiple nominations:

Shucked: 12

Some Like it Hot: 8

Into the Woods: 6

New York, New York: 6

Life of Pi: 5

Love: 5

Merrily We Roll Along: 5

Ohio State Murders: 5

The Piano Lesson: 5

White Girl in Danger: 5

A Doll’s House: 4

A Man of No Importance: 4

Between the Lines: 4

Camelot: 4

Death of a Salesman: 4

Only Gold: 4

Parade: 4

Public Obscenities: 4

Sweeney Todd: 4

Wedding Band: 4

Wuthering Heights: 4

A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical: 3

A Case for the Existence of God: 3

Almost Famous: 3

On That Day in Amsterdam: 3

Peter Pan Goes Wrong: 3

Prima Facie: 3

Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical: 3

& Juliet: 2

Ain't No Mo': 2

Downstate: 2

Endgame: 2

Fat Ham: 2

Good Night, Oscar: 2

KPOP: 2

Leopoldstadt: 2

Plays for the Plague Year: 2

the bandaged place: 2

The Far Country: 2

The Harder They Come: 2

Twelfth Night: 2

Weightless: 2

Wish You Were Here: 2

Top image: Alex Newell in Shucked, which earned 12 nominations. Photo by Emilio Madrid.

Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her on Facebook at @Raven.Snook. Follow TDF on Facebook at @TDFNYC.