Below is a list of all past winners of the Drama League Awards, in the following categories:
Hal Luftig, Daryl Roth and Diane Paulus at the 2013 Awards Luncheon. Photo: Richard Termine
Distinguished Performance Award
Originally known as the Delia Austrian Medal, the Distinguished Performance Award is the oldest and most exclusive theatrical honor in North America. First presented to Katharine Cornell in 1935 (for Romeo and Juliet), the award is bestowed each season on a single performer from over sixty nominated performances from Broadway and Off-Broadway.
Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
In 2000, the Drama League intensified its educational focus on the art and craft of theatrical direction, creating a new award to honor the best practitioners of the field. The honorees, selected from all directors working on and off-Broadway during the season, represent the highest stadard of achievement in the field.
| 2016 | Ivo van Hove |
| 2015 | Stephen Daldry |
| 2014 | John Tiffany |
| 2013 | Jerry Mitchell |
| 2012 | Diane Paulus |
| 2011 | Susan Stroman |
| 2010 | Kenny Leon |
| 2009 | Arthur Laurents |
| 2008 | Bartlett Sher |
| 2007 | Michael Mayer |
| 2006 | Des McAnuff |
| 2005 | Mike Nichols |
| 2004 | George C. Wolfe |
| 2003 | Joe Mantello |
| 2002 | Sir Richard Eyre |
| 2001 | Jack O'Brien |
| 2000 | Daniel Sullivan |
Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
First bestowed in 1985, the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre recognizes performers, composers, lyricists, choreographers, and directors whose careers have defined the utmost standard of excellence in musicals.
| 2016 | Sheldon Harnick |
| 2015 | Joel Grey |
| 2014 | Barbara Cook |
| 2013 | Bernadette Peters |
| 2012 | Alan Menken |
| 2011 | Liza Minnelli |
| 2010 | Nathan Lane |
| 2009 | Sir Elton John |
| 2008 | Paul Gemignani |
| 2007 | John Kander and Fred Ebb |
| 2006 | Patti LuPone |
| 2005 | The BMI Musical Theatre Workshop |
| 2004 | Donna Murphy |
| 2003 | Twyla Tharp |
| 2002 | Elaine Stritch |
| 2001 | Susan Stroman |
| 2000 | Audra McDonald |
| 1999 | Ann Reinking and Gwen Verdon |
| 1998 | Julie Taymor |
| 1997 | Gerard Alessandrini |
| 1996 | George C. Wolfe |
| 1995 | Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 1994 | George Abbott |
| 1993 | Chita Rivera |
| 1992 | Agnes de Mille |
| 1991 | Stephen Sondheim |
| 1990 | Tommy Tune |
| 1989 | Mandy Patinkin |
| 1988 | Michael Crawford |
| 1987 | Robert Lindsay |
| 1986 | Bob Fosse |
| 1985 | Yul Brynner |
Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award
First bestowed in 1982, the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award recognizes singular achievement by individuals, organizations, or partnerships that have made an indelible impact upon professional theatre in New York City.
| 2016 | Deaf West Theatre |
| 2015 | WNET: Neal Shapiro and David Horn |
| 2014 | Key Brand Entertainment/Broadway Across America: John Gore |
| 2013 | Madison Square Garden Entertainment & The Rockettes |
| 2012 | Rosie O'Donnell |
| 2011 | Whoopi Goldberg |
| 2010 | Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group |
| 2009 | Dame Angela Lansbury |
| 2008 | La MaMa ETC: Ellen Stewart |
| 2007 | Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS |
| 2006 | Marian Seldes |
| 2005 | The Billy Rose Collection |
| 2004 | City Center Encores! |
| 2003 | Roundabout Theatre Company: Todd Haimes |
| 2002 | Julia Hansen |
| 2001 | Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, Gary Sinise |
| 2000 | Actors Theatre of Louisville: Jon Jory |
| 1999 | Sir David Hare |
| 1998 | The Brooklyn Academy of Music: Harvey Lichtenstein |
| 1997 | Jason Robards |
| 1996 | The 42nd Street Development Project; The New 42nd Street; The Walt Disney Company, Inc; Livent, Inc. |
| 1995 | Manhattan Theatre Club: Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove |
| 1994 | Arthur Miller |
| 1993 | Lucille Lortel |
| 1992 | Playwrights Horizons |
| 1991 | Neil Simon |
| 1990 | Sir Rex Harrison |
| 1989 | New York Shakespeare Festival: Joseph Papp |
| 1988 | Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre: Lloyd Richards |
| 1987 | Jose Quintero |
| 1986 | Athol Fugard |
| 1985 | The Royal Shakespeare Company: Terry Hands |
| 1984 | Al Hirschfeld |
| 1983 | Young Playwrights Festival: Stephen Sondheim |
| 1982 | New York Production of Nicholas Nickelby: Bernard Jacobs, Gerald Schoenfeld, James M. Nederlander, Elizabeth I. McCann, Nelle Nugent |
Outstanding Production of a Play
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The Humans |
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Outstanding Production of a Musical
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2016 |
Hamilton |
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Outstanding Revival
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2016 |
Musical: The Color Purple |
| 2015 |
Musical: The King and I |
| 2014 |
Musical: Hedwig and the Angry Inch |
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2013 |
Musical: Pippin |
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2012 |
Musical: Follies |
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2011 |
Musical: Anything Goes |
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2010 |
Musical: La Cage Aux Folles |
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2009 |
Musical: Hair, The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical |
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2008 |
Musical: South Pacific |
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2007 |
Musical: Company |
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2006 |
Musical: Sweeney Todd |
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2005 |
Musical: La Cage Aux Folles |
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The League
2017 Nominees