Awards History
Categories
- Distinguished Performance Award
- Outstanding Production of a Play
- Outstanding Production of a Musical
- Outstanding Revival of a Play and Outstanding Revival of a Musical
- Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
- Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater
- Contribution to the Theater Award
- The Gratitude Awards
- Unique 2021 Awards
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, the Award is bestowed each season on a single performer from dozens of nominees chosen from the season’s Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.
Outstanding Production of a Play
First bestowed in 1996, the Outstanding Production of a Play Award recognizes a full production.
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Outstanding Production of a Musical
First bestowed in 1996, the Outstanding Production of a Musical Award recognizes a full production.
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Outstanding Revival of a Play and Outstanding Revival of a Musical
First bestowed in 1996, the Outstanding Revival Award now recognizes a full production of a Musical and a Play.
2020 | Musical: Little Shop of Horrors |
2019 | Musical: Kiss Me, Kate |
2018 | Musical: My Fair Lady |
2017 | Musical: Hello, Dolly! |
2016 | Musical: The Color Purple |
2015 | Musical: The King and I |
2014 | Musical: Hedwig and the Angry Inch |
2013 | Musical: Pippin |
2012 | Musical: Follies |
2011 | Musical: Anything Goes |
2010 | Musical: La Cage Aux Folles |
2009 | Musical: Hair, The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical |
2008 | Musical: South Pacific |
2007 | Musical: Company |
2006 | Musical: Sweeney Todd |
2005 | Musical: La Cage Aux Folles |
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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 standards of achievement in the field.
| 2021 | Liesl Tommy |
| 2020 | Marianne Elliott |
| 2019 | Alex Timbers |
| 2018 | Casey Nicholaw |
| 2017 | Michael Greif |
| 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 |
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Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater
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.
| 2021 | Richard & Demi Weitz |
| 2020 | James Lapine |
| 2019 | Kelli O’Hara |
| 2018 | Idina Menzel |
| 2017 | Bette Midler |
| 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 |
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Contribution to the Theater Award
First bestowed in 1982, the 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.
The Gratitude Awards
After 2020, the Gratitude Awards became an official award to thank undersung heroes.
Unique Awards for 2021
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, The Drama League honored digital and socially-distanced productions with a distinct set of awards.
| Outstanding Digital Theater, Individual Production | |
Outstanding Digital Theater, | |
Outstanding Interactive or | |
Outstanding Audio Theater | |
Outstanding Digital Concert | |