On the heels of the 69th annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony, which took place on June 1, Scene Partners, an experiential entertainment-venture builder, has announced long-term plans to produce and expand the awards. Scene Partners, under the leadership of founder Matt Britten, will form Drama Desk Awards Productions to produce the annual Drama Desk Awards show going forward and to pursue new opportunities for the Drama Desks year-round and across the country.
Under Scene Partners, the Drama Desk organization and its membership will continue in its role of nominating and voting on the New York awards and the annual event will continue to benefit the Drama Desk organization in its mission to promote and support artistic excellence in the theater.
Scene Partners will be joined in this effort by the Season, which is led by producers and marketers Mike Karns and Steven Tartick, to further elevate the profile and impact of the awards. Veteran theatrical and live events producer Victoria Weinberg has been appointed to lead Drama Desk Awards Productions.
The 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony will take place on May 17, 2026. The 71st Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on May 23, 2027, in a new format, honoring theater from across the United States in addition to New York City.
“Theater is a vital art form — one that deserves to be recognized with a ceremony as extraordinary as the work it honors,” said Britten in a statement. “We thank the Drama Desk organization for their continued dedication to theater and for their partnership. With deep respect for the legacy of the Desks, we’re honored to carry the baton forward — expanding the event’s reach, growing its impact and ensuring the Drama Desk Awards continue to shine as a powerful celebration of outstanding theater.”
“The Drama Desk board is pleased to announce this plan to solidify the future of the annual presentation of the Drama Desk Awards and expansion of the awards franchise,” said Charles Wright and David Barbour, co-presidents of the Drama Desk organization. “We’re grateful to Matt and his partners for their vision and their respect for the Drama Desk Awards.”
Founded by Britten (previously of John Gore Organization/Broadway Brands, parent company to Broadway News), the New York-based Scene Partners works with entrepreneurs and leaders across the live entertainment landscape, creating, investing in and advising across all stages of the venture life cycle to build products and experiences for entertainment fans, with the intention of providing lasting value for its partners.
Since its founding in 1949, the Drama Desk organization’s mission has been to promote and support artistic excellence in the New York professional theater, in its multitude of forms and styles and on stages of various sizes and configurations. The organization accomplishes its goal by bestowing the annual Drama Desk Awards and presenting various educational forums and panel discussions to its members and the theatergoing public.
