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The Broadway show wins eight awards, including outstanding musical
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Although the Drama Desk considers shows on all NYC stages, all the major winners for 2023 are Broadway productions. The musical comedy Some Like It Hot dominated, winning eight awards, including outstanding musical, outstanding lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (though they lost outstanding music to Shucked) and outstanding book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin. Life of Pi was the top play, winning four awards, though most were in design. Leopoldstadt was named outstanding play, The Piano Lesson won outstanding revival of a play and Parade took home outstanding revival of a musical.
Unlike the Tonys, the Drama Desk heeded the call for awards to go gender-free this year. Because of this change, the four performance categories have two winners each, including two nonbinary performers: outstanding lead performance in a musical by J. Harrison Ghee in Some Like It Hot, and outstanding featured performance in a musical by Alex Newell in Shucked. Both are up for Tony Awards but were forced to pick a gendered category.
Many shows received just one or two awards each, effectively spreading the accolades around. Note that multiple shows nominated for Tony Awards, including Ain’t No Mo’, Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living, Kimberly Akimbo and KPOP, had NYC runs in previous seasons, so they were ineligible in most categories.
Below are the Drama Desk Award winners for the 2022-2023 season. Statuettes will be handed out at Sardi's on Tuesday, June 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. Husband-and-wife theatre royalty, Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, will host the ceremony, and presenters include Jason Robert Brown, Ellen Burstyn, Justin Cooley, Jordan Cooper, Tovah Feldshuh, Myles Frost, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shaina Taub and Alfred Uhry.
WINNER Leopoldstadt by Tom Stoppard on Broadway
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
Love by Alexander Zeldin, Park Avenue Armory
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller on Broadway
Wish You Were Here by Sanaz Toossi, Playwrights Horizons
WINNER Some Like it Hot on Broadway
& Juliet on Broadway
Between the Lines
F*ck7thGrade, The Wild Project
Shucked on Broadway
White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater
WINNER The Piano Lesson on Broadway
A Raisin in the Sun, The Public Theater
Death of a Salesman on Broadway
Endgame, Irish Repertory Theatre
Ohio State Murders on Broadway
Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience
WINNER Parade on Broadway
A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company
Into the Woods on Broadway
Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop
Sweeney Todd on Broadway
WINNER Jessica Chastain in A Doll’s House on Broadway
WINNER Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar on Broadway
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
Sharon D Clarke in Death of a Salesman 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
WINNER Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd on Broadway
WINNER J. Harrison Ghee in Some Like it Hot on Broadway
Nicholas Barasch in The Butcher Boy, Irish Repertory Theatre
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
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
WINNER Miriam Silverman in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, Brooklyn Academy of Music
WINNER Brandon Uranowitz in Leopoldstadt on Broadway
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
Kara Young in Cost of Living on Broadway
WINNER Alex Newell in Shucked on Broadway
WINNER Kevin Del Aguila in Some Like it Hot on Broadway
Kevin Cahoon in Shucked on Broadway
Robyn Hurder in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway
Mark Jacoby in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway
Tarra Conner Jones in White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater
Julia Lester in Into the Woods 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
WINNER Max Webster, Life of Pi on Broadway
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
Adam Meggido, Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway
Alexander Zeldin, Love, Park Avenue Armory
WINNER Thomas Kail, Sweeney Todd on Broadway
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
Jack O’Brien, Shucked on Broadway
WINNER Casey Nicholaw, Some Like it Hot on Broadway
Andy Blankenbuehler, Only Gold, MCC Theater
Tislarm Bouie, the bandaged place
Edgar Godineaux, The Harder They Come, The Public Theater
Susan Stroman, New York, New York on Broadway
Jennifer Weber, KPOP on Broadway
WINNER 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
WINNER Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Some Like it Hot on Broadway
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
WINNER Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, Some Like it Hot on Broadway
Jonathan Hogue, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical
Robert Horn, Shucked on Broadway
Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue, Titanique
David West Read, & Juliet on Broadway
WINNER Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, Some Like it Hot on Broadway
Bruce Coughlin, A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company
Jason Howland, Shucked on Broadway
Kenny Seymour, The Harder They Come, The Public Theater
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, New York, New York on Broadway
WINNER Suzan-Lori Parks, Plays for the Plague Year, The Public Theater
Ben Edelman, Zane Pais and Sinan Refik Zafar, Letters from Max, a ritual, Signature Theatre
Mauricio Escamilla, the bandaged place, Roundabout Theatre Company
Ian Ross, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children, National Theatre
Daniel Schlosberg, Montag, Soho Rep
WINNER Tim Hatley, Life of Pi on Broadway
Jason Ardizzone-West, Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience
Beowulf Boritt, Ohio State Murders on Broadway
dots, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO
Natasha Jenkins, Love, Park Avenue Armory
John McDermott, Chains, Mint Theater Company
WINNER 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
WINNER Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’ on Broadway
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
Roberto Surace, Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway
WINNER 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
WINNER Natasha Chivers and Willie Williams (video), Prima Facie on Broadway
Isabella Byrd, Epiphany, Lincoln Center Theater
Jiyoun Chang, The Far Country, Atlantic Theater Company
Allen Lee Hughes, Ohio State Murders on Broadway
Cha See, On That Day in Amsterdam, Primary Stages
Japhy Weideman, The Piano Lesson on Broadway
WINNER Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd on Broadway
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
WINNER Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi on Broadway
Simon Baker, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children, and National Theatre
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
WINNER Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll’s House on Broadway
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
Mikaal Sulaiman, Fat Ham, The Public Theater and National Black Theatre
WINNER Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, Into the Woods on Broadway
Peter Hylenski, Almost Famous on Broadway
John Shivers, Shucked on Broadway
Joanna Lynne Staub, Weightless, WP Theater
Jon Weston, Parade on Broadway
WINNER Mia M. Neal, Ain’t No Mo’ on Broadway
Campbell Young Associates, Almost Famous on Broadway
Cookie Jordan, The Piano Lesson 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
WINNER 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
Tracy Thorne in Jack Was Kind, Irish Repertory Theatre
WINNER Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway
Asi Wind’s Inner Circle
Plays for the Plague Year, The Public Theater
Zephyr, Cirque Mechanics at New Victory Theater
WINNER 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
WINNER 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
WINNER Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi on Broadway
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
Kirjan Waage, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, Wakka Wakka and Nordland Visual Theatre at 59E59 Theaters
Stephen McKinley Henderson
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
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.
Some Like It Hot: 8
Life of Pi: 4
A Doll’s House: 3
Sweeney Todd: 3
Ain’t No Mo’: 2
Leopoldstadt: 2
Prima Facie: 2
Shucked: 2
Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her on Facebook at @Raven.Snook. Follow TDF on Facebook at @TDFNYC.
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