Winners have been revealed for the 2023 Drama Desk Awards, honoring artistic excellence on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway. Winners will be presented with their awards in a ceremony held on June 6 at Sardi’s and produced by Staci Levine/Groundswell Theatricals.
As previously announced, this is the first year in which acting categories are gender-free. As a result, two winners were chosen in each of those four categories.
“Some Like It Hot” received eight Drama Desks, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical for star J. Harrison Ghee, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for Kevin Del Aguila, Outstanding Choreography for Casey Nicholaw, Outstanding Lyrics for Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Outstanding Book of a Musical for Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, Outstanding Orchestrations for Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter and Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical for Gregg Barnes.
“Life of Pi” was honored with the most awards of any Broadway play, including Outstanding Direction of a Play for Max Webster, Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play for Tim Hatley, Outstanding Projection and Video Design for Andrzej Goulding and Outstanding Puppetry for Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell.
“Shucked,” which led all productions with 12 nominations, won just two awards including Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for Alex Newell and Outstanding Music for Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.
For the first time, the performance categories were gender-free and each declared two winners.
Also of note, “Prima Facie” star Jodi Comer won the award for Outstanding Solo Performance — a category that does not exist at the Tony Awards, where she is instead nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.
In addition to Outstanding Solo Performance, the Drama Desks include several other categories that the Tony Awards do not, including Outstanding Wig and Hair which went to Mia M. Neal for “Ain’t No Mo’.”
The Drama Desk is run under the leadership of co-presidents David Barbour and Charles Wright. The 2022-2023 nominating committee includes Martha Wade Steketee, Linda Armstrong, Dan Dinero, Peter Filichia, Kenji Fujishima, Margaret Hall and Wright.
A full list of 2023 Drama Desk nominations and winners can be found below. Winners are denoted in bold.
Outstanding Play
“Leopoldstadt” by Tom Stoppard
“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
“Wish You Were Here,” by Sanaz Toossi, Playwrights Horizons
Outstanding Musical
“Some Like It Hot”
“& Juliet”
“Between the Lines”
“F*ck7thGrade,” The Wild Project
“Shucked”
“White Girl in Danger,” Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater
Outstanding Revival of a Play
“The Piano Lesson”
“A Raisin in the Sun,” The Public Theater
“Death of a Salesman”
“Endgame,” Irish Repertory Theatre
“Ohio State Murders”
“Wedding Band,” Theatre for a New Audience
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
“Parade”
“A Man of No Importance,” Classic Stage Company
“Into the Woods”
“Merrily We Roll Along,” New York Theatre Workshop
“Sweeney Todd”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
Jessica Chastain, “A Doll’s House”
Sean Hayes, “Good Night, Oscar”
Hiran Abeysekera, “Life of Pi”
Kyle Beltran, “A Case for the Existence of God,” Signature Theatre
Will Brill, “A Case for the Existence of God,” Signature Theatre
Brittany Bradford, “Wedding Band,” Theatre for a New Audience
Sharon D. Clarke, “Death of a Salesman”
Denise Manning, “Amani,” National Black Theatre and Rattlestick Theater
Audra McDonald, “Ohio State Murders”
Wendell Pierce, “Death of a Salesman”
John Douglas Thompson, “Endgame,” Irish Repertory Theatre
Kara Young, “Twelfth Night,” The Classical Theatre of Harlem
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, “Sweeney Todd”
J. Harrison Ghee, “Some Like It Hot”
Nicholas Barasch, “The Butcher Boy,” Irish Repertory Theatre
Sara Bareilles, “Into the Woods”
Andrew Burnap, “Camelot”
Micaela Diamond, “Parade”
Andrew Durand, “Shucked”
Callum Francis, “Kinky Boots,” Stage 42
Jonathan Groff, “Merrily We Roll Along,” New York Theatre Workshop
Somi Kakoma, “Dreaming Zenzile,” New York Theatre Workshop|
Lindsay Mendez, “Merrily We Roll Along,” New York Theatre Workshop
Anna Uzele, “New York, New York”
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
Miriam Silverman, “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brandon Uranowitz, “Leopoldstadt”
Emily Bergl, “Good Night, Oscar”
Danielle Brooks, “The Piano Lesson”
Amelda Brown, “Love,” Park Avenue Armory
Ray Fisher, “The Piano Lesson”
K. Todd Freeman, “Downstate,” Playwrights Horizons
Francis Guinan, “Downstate,” Playwrights Horizons
Nick Holder, “Love,” Park Avenue Armory
Arian Moayed, “A Doll’s House”
Brian Quijada, “Wolf Play,” MCC Theater and Soho Rep
Kara Young, “Cost of Living”
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Kevin Del Aguila, “Some Like It Hot”
Alex Newell, “Shucked”
Kevin Cahoon, “Shucked”
Robyn Hurder, “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical”
Mark Jacoby, “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical”
Tarra Conner Jones, “White Girl in Danger,” Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage
Theater
Julia Lester, “Into the Woods”
Daniel Radcliffe, “Merrily We Roll Along,” New York Theatre Workshop
Phillipa Soo, “Into the Woods”
Mare Winningham, “A Man of No Importance,” Classic Stage Company
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Max Webster, “Life of Pi”
Zi Alikhan, “On That Day in Amsterdam,” Primary Stages
Shayok Misha Chowdhury, “Public Obscenities,” Soho Rep and NAATCO
Miranda Cromwell, “Death of a Salesman”
Adam Meggido, “Peter Pan Goes Wrong”
Alexander Zeldin, “Love,” Park Avenue Armory
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Thomas Kail, “Sweeney Todd”
Jeff Calhoun, “Between the Lines,” Tony Kiser Theater
John Doyle, “A Man of No Importance,” Classic Stage Company
Maria Friedman, “Merrily We Roll Along,” New York Theatre Workshop
Jack O’Brien, “Shucked”
Outstanding Choreography
Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like It Hot”
Andy Blankenbuehler, “Only Gold,’ MCC Theater
Tislarm Bouie, “the bandaged place,” Roundabout Theatre Company
Edgar Godineaux, “The Harder They Come,” The Public Theater
Susan Stroman, “New York, New York”
Jennifer Weber, “KPOP”
Outstanding Music
Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, “Shucked”
Michael R. Jackson, “White Girl in Danger,” Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater
Tom Kitt and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal designer), “Almost Famous”
Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, “Between the Lines,” Tony Kiser Theater
The Kilbanes, “Weightless,” WP Theater
Outstanding Lyrics
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, “Some Like It Hot”
Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, “Shucked”
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
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, “Some Like It Hot”
Jonathan Hogue, “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical”
Robert Horn, “Shucked”
Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue, “Titanique”
David West Read, “& Juliet”
Outstanding Orchestrations
Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, “Some Like It Hot”
Bruce Coughlin, “A Man of No Importance,” Classic Stage Company
Jason Howland, “Shucked”
Kenny Seymour, “The Harder They Come,” The Public Theater
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, “New York, New York”
Outstanding Music in a Play
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
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Tim Hatley, “Life of Pi”
Jason Ardizzone-West, ”Wedding Band,” Theatre for a New Audience
Beowulf Boritt, “Ohio State Murders”
dots, “Public Obscenities,” Soho Rep and NAATCO
Natasha Jenkins, “Love,” Park Avenue Armory
John McDermott, “Chains,” Mint Theater Company
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt, “New York, New York”
David Korins, “Only Gold,” MCC Theater
Scott Pask, “Shucked”
Walt Spangler and Brendan McCann (production props), “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical”
Michael Yeargan, “Camelot”
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
Emilio Sosa, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Kara Branch, “According to the Chorus,” New Light Theater ProjectEnver 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”
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, “Some Like It Hot”
Tilly Grimes, “Shucked”
Jennifer Moeller, “Camelot”
Clint Ramos and Sophia Choi, “KPOP”
Anita Yavich, “Only Gold,” MCC Theater
Donna Zakowska, “New York, New York”
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers and Willie Williams (video), “Prima Facie”
Isabella Byrd, “Epiphany,” Lincoln Center Theater
Jiyoun Chang, “The Far Country,” Atlantic Theater Company
Allen Lee Hughes, “Ohio State Murders”
Cha See, “On That Day in Amsterdam,” Primary Stages
Japhy Weideman, “The Piano Lesson”
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Natasha Katz, “Sweeney Todd”
Ken Billington, “New York, New York”
Jeff Croiter, “Only Gold,” MCC Theater
Heather Gilbert, “Parade”
David Grill, “Bob Fosse’s Dancin’”
Outstanding Projection and Video Design
Andrzej Goulding, “Life of Pi”
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
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
Ben & Max Ringham, “A Doll’s House”
Justin Ellington, “Ohio State Murders”
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
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, “Into the Woods”
Peter Hylenski, “Almost Famous”
John Shivers, “Shucked”
Joanna Lynne Staub, “Weightless,” WP Theater
Jon Weston, “Parade”
Outstanding Wig and Hair
Mia M. Neal, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Campbell Young Associates, “Almost Famous”
Cookie Jordan, “The Piano Lesson”Earon Nealey, “Twelfth Night,” The Classical Theatre of Harlem
Mitsuteru Okuyama, “Chushingura 47 Ronin”
Luc Verschueren, “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical”
Outstanding Solo Performance
Jodie Comer, “Prima Facie”
David Greenspan, “Four Saints in Three Acts,” Lucille Lortel Theatre
Jessica Hendy, “Walking With Bubbles,” AMT Theater
Anthony Rapp, “Without You”
Tracy Thorne, “Jack Was Kind,” Irish Repertory Theatre
Unique Theatrical Experience
“Peter Pan Goes Wrong”
“Asi Wind’s Inner Circle”
“Plays for the Plague Year,” The Public Theater
“Zephyr,” Cirque Mechanics at The New Victory Theater
Outstanding Fight Choreography
B.H. Barry, “Camelot”
Rocio Mendez, “Día y Noche,” LAByrinth Theater Company
Rocio Mendez, “How to Defend Yourself,” The New York Theatre Workshop
Unkledave’s Fight-House, “soft,” MCC Theater
Outstanding Adaptation
“A Doll’s House,” by Amy Herzog
“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 and National Theatre
Outstanding Puppetry
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, “Life of Pi”
John Leader, “Wuthering Heights,” St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wise Children and National Theatre
James Ortiz (design) and Kennedy Kanagawa (as Milky White), “Into the Woods”
Kirjan Waage, “The Immortal Jellyfish Girl,” Wakka Wakka and Nordland Visual Theatre at 59E59
Special Awards
Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award
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
Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award
Ryan J. Haddad, “Dark Disabled Stories”
Broadway shows with multiple wins
“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
