| Drama Desk Award | |
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| Awarded for | Excellence in theatre |
| Presented by | Drama Desk |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1955 |
| Official Website | |
The Drama Desk Award, presented since 1955, is the only award that recognizes excellence in shows produced in all sectors of New York theatre, including Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and legitimate not-for-profit theaters.[1] It is widely considered one of the top American theater awards.[2] The honor complements the Tony Awards, which focus solely on Broadway shows.[3]
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Background
Originally called the Vernon Rice Awards in honor of theater critic Vernon Rice of the New York Post, the name was changed in 1963.[4] In its earliest years, a small number of prizes were awarded, but there now are as many categories as there are for the Tonys. In the first fifteen years of the award, Broadway shows were not eligible. In 1968, Broadway shows began to compete with other New York productions head-to-head in each category. Only winners were announced in the early years, but in 1975, the Drama Desk began to announce nominees in advance.[5]
The Drama Desk is composed of theatre critics, reporters and editors, more than 140 of whom vote on the awards.[6] The Drama Desk chairperson of the Nominating Committee is Barbara Siegel, and its president is William Wolf. The awards' executive producer is Robert R. Blume.[7]
The Drama Desk Awards have proven to be the first step towards stardom for numerous theatrical luminaries, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, George C. Scott, Stacy Keach, Sada Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman.[3] Off-Broadway productions such as Driving Miss Daisy, Other People's Money, Steel Magnolias, and The Boys in the Band were propelled to international recognition based on their wins.[3]
The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is held annually at LaGuardia Concert Hall of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Lincoln Center. The 2009 awards ceremony, held on May 17, 2009 was hosted by Harvey Fierstein.[8][9]
Categories
Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Foreign Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play
Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations
Play and musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Special Effects
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Projection and Video Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival
- Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show
- Drama Desk Special Award
- Drama Desk Most Promising Awards
See also
References
- ^ McKinley, Jesse. "Modern Millie Leads Drama Desk Awards", The New York Times, May 20, 2002, accessed June 8, 2009
- ^ "Baylor's Traveling Lady Production Receives Drama Desk Nomination", Baylor University, April 28, 2006, accessed June 8, 2009
- ^ a b c "Drama Desk Awards: History". DramaDesk.com. http://www.dramadesk.com/history.html. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ "1954-1955 1st Drama Desk Awards". DramaDesk.com. http://www.dramadesk.com/1954_1955dd.html. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ Riedel, Michael. "Backstage brouhaha at the Drama Desk Awards", Los Angeles Times, April 18, 2009
- ^ "Utopia sweeps Drama Desk Awards", Variety, May 20, 2007, accessed June 8, 2009
- ^ Lefkowitz, David. "Honor Role(s)", Theatre News Online, accessed June 9, 2009
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards", playbill.com, May 17, 2009
- ^ "Billy dominates Drama Desk Awards", Variety, May 17, 2009
External links
- Drama Desk Awards official website
- John Kenrick's Dean's List Awards
- ABC news report on 2009 awards
- "As usual, non-Broadway shows get stomped at the Drama Desk Awards", 2009 LA Times article critical of the Drama Desk Awards
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