2023 Drama Desk Nominees

[noahseestheatre]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:32pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SHUCKED-SOME-LIKE-IT-HOT-Lead-Nominations-for-2023-Drama-Desk-Awards-20230427

[noahseestheatre]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:32pm

2023 DRAMA DESK NOMINATIONS

Outstanding Play

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
Leopoldstadt, by Tom Stoppard
Love, by Alexander Zeldin, Park Avenue Armory
Prima Facie, by Suzie Miller
Wish You Were Here, by Sanaz Toossi, Playwrights Horizons

 

Outstanding Musical

& Juliet
Between the Lines
F*ck7thGrade, The Wild Project
Shucked
Some Like it Hot
White Girl in Danger, Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater

Outstanding Revival of a Play

A Raisin in the Sun, The Public Theater
Death of a Salesman
Endgame, Irish Repertory Theatre
The Piano Lesson
Ohio State Murders
Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company
Into the Woods
Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop
Parade
Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

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
Jessica Chastain, A Doll's House
Sharon D Clarke, Death of a Salesman
Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
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
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
J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like it Hot
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

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
Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt
Kara Young, Cost of Living

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical

Kevin Cahoon, Shucked
Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like it Hot
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
Alex Newell, Shucked
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

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
Max Webster, Life of Pi
Alexander Zeldin, Love, Park Avenue Armory

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Jeff Calhoun, Between the Lines
John Doyle, A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along, New York Theatre Workshop
Thomas Kail, Sweeney Todd
Jack O'Brien, Shucked

Outstanding Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Only Gold, MCC Theater
Tislarm Bouie, the bandaged place
Edgar Godineaux, The Harder They Come, The Public Theater
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like it Hot
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
The Kilbanes, Weightless, WP Theater

Outstanding Lyrics

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, The Bedwetter, Atlantic Theater Company
Scott Whittman and Marc Shaiman, Some Like it Hot

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Jonathan Hogue, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical
Robert Horn, Shucked
Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, Some Like it Hot
Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, Titanique
David West Read, & Juliet

Outstanding Orchestrations

Bruce Coughlin, A Man of No Importance, Classic Stage Company
Jason Howland, Shucked
Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, Some Like it Hot
Kenny Seymour, The Harder They Come, The Public Theater
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, New York, New York

Outstanding Music in a Play

Ben Edelman, Zane Pais, and Sinan Refik Zafar, Letters from Max, a ritual, Signature Theatre
Mauricio Escamilla, the bandaged place, Roundabout Theatre Company
Suzan-Lori Parks, Plays for the Plague Year, The Public Theater
Ian Ross, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann's Warehouse, Wise Children, National Theatre
Daniel Schlosberg, Montag, Soho Rep

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play

Jason Ardizzone-West, Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience
Beowulf Boritt, Ohio State Murders
dots, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO
Tim Hatley, Life of Pi
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

Kara Branch, According to the Chorus, New Light Theater Project
Enver Chakartash, Public Obscenities, Soho Rep and NAATCO
Qween Jean, Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience
Sarah Laux, Wish You Were Here, Playwright Horizons
Emilio Sosa, Ain't No Mo'
Simon Scullion, 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

Isabella Byrd, Epiphany, Lincoln Center Theater
Jiyoun Chang, The Far Country, Atlantic Theater Company
Natasha Chivers and Willie Williams (video), Prima Facie
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

Ken Billington, New York, New York
Jeff Croiter, Only Gold, MCC Theater
Heather Gilbert, Parade
David Grill, Bob Fosse's Dancin'
Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Projection and Video Design

Simon Baker, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann's Warehouse, Wise Children, and National Theatre
Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi
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

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
Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll's House
Mikaal Sulaiman, Fat Ham, The Public Theater and National Black Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical

Peter Hylenski, Almost Famous
Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, Into the Woods
John Shivers, Shucked
Joanna Lynne Staub, Weightless, WP Theater
Jon Weston, Parade

Outstanding Wig and Hair

Campbell Young Associates, Almost Famous
Cookie Jordan, The Piano Lesson
Mia M. Neal, Ain't No Mo'
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

Asi Wind's Inner Circle
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
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, LAByrinth Theater Company
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, National Theatre

Outstanding Puppetry

John Leader, Wuthering Heights, St. Ann's Warehouse, Wise Children, National Theatre
James Ortiz (design), Kennedy Kanagawa (as Milky White), Into the Woods
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi
Kirjan Waage, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, Wakka Wakka and Nordland Visual Theatre at 59E59

SPECIAL AWARDS

Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award

Stephen McKinley Henderson has been bringing in-depth, gripping portrayals of memorable characters to the stage for over four decades. With his return to Broadway this season as Pops in Between Riverside and Crazy, which the Drama Desk previously nominated in 2015, this year's Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award marks Henderson's role in this powerful production as a celebration of his brilliant career.

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 - embodied the transnational world of Shayok Misha Chowdhury's bilingual play with memorable authenticity, remarkable specificity, and extraordinary warmth.

Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award

From his standout performance in american (tele)visions, to writing and performing the autobiographical Dark Disabled Stories, Ryan J. Haddad's work this season has expanded on and interrogated what the idea of "accessibility" really means. Whether riding a shopping cart like a throne, or relating his experiences on a "gay, pink bus," Haddad shared with audiences an unabashed queer fabulosity that was both unforgettable and deeply human.

Productions with multiple nominations:

Shucked: 12
Some Like it Hot: 8
Into the Woods: 6
New York, New York: 6
Life of Pi: 5
Love: 5
Merrily We Roll Along: 5
Ohio State Murders: 5
The Piano Lesson: 5
White Girl in Danger: 5
A Doll's House: 4
A Man of No Importance: 4
Between the Lines: 4
Camelot: 4
Death of a Salesman: 4
Only Gold: 4
Parade: 4
Public Obscenities: 4
Sweeney Todd: 4
Wedding Band: 4
Wuthering Heights: 4
A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical: 3
A Case for the Existence of God: 3
Almost Famous: 3
On That Day in Amsterdam: 3
Peter Pan Goes Wrong: 3
Prima Facie: 3
Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical: 3
& Juliet: 2
Ain't No Mo': 2
Downstate: 2
Endgame: 2
Fat Ham: 2
Good Night, Oscar: 2
KPOP: 2
Leopoldstadt: 2
Plays for the Plague Year: 2
the bandaged place: 2
The Far Country: 2
The Harder They Come: 2
Twelfth Night: 2
Weightless: 2
Wish You Were Here: 2

[noahseestheatre]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:36pm

NOTE: Jodie Comer was nominated in the Solo Performance Category, not Actress; Kimberly Akimbo was eligible and won Best Musical last season

Some takeaways:

-Happy for Julia Lester

-Kail over Arden for Direction is... not my choice

-Happy for the Shucked love

-Love the choices for the acting categories, especially Silverman from TSISBW

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:38pm

-Andrew Durand and Sharon D Clarke aren't leads.

-Not sure what Jack O'Brien did in Shucked that merits all these nominations.

-Thrilled for Miranda Cromwell, who's my personal pick for direction of a play.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:40pm

Really interesting to see Ben Platt not nominated for this or the OCC's. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:40pm

No Ben Platt. OUCH 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:42pm

I’m digging all this love for the Off-Broadway musicals this season! 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:42pm

Fordham2015 said: "-Not sure what Jack O'Brien did in Shucked that merits all these nominations."

I'd wager you've never directed a comedy before. A genre the man is revered for up and down Broadway. But nice try I guess? 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:44pm

I could really see Julia Lester being a surprise on Tony nom Tuesday. She's clearly been remembered.

[yyys]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:49pm

so is White Girl in Danger worth seeing?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:51pm

Happy to see Andrew Burnap on this list!

[Money_baby]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:52pm

I love that J. Harrison Ghee and Kevin Del Aguila were recognized for Some Like It Hot, but why no Christian Borle for any of the awards?

[Ensemble1680343767]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:54pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Really interesting to see Ben Platt not nominated for this or the OCC's."

Groban either

[NativeNYer2]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:55pm

Is anyone surprised that A Christmas Carol was absent from this?  Not a nod even for Director, Adaptation, or Solo Performance?

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:56pm

Ensemble1680343767 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Really interesting to see Ben Platt not nominated for this or the OCC's."

Groban either"

Wow. True. Literally no idea what to expect on Tuesday with the Tonys.

[Jeff Tupolski]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:56pm

Really hate that OCC and Drama Desk are nominating Merrily leads in featured when the production has actual supporting actors who are worthy of recognition.

[yyys]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 12:59pm

no Josh Groban either...

 

BETTY22 said: "No Ben Platt. OUCH"

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:02pm

Money_baby said: "I love that J. Harrison Ghee and Kevin Del Aguila were recognized for Some Like It Hot, but why no Christian Borle for any of the awards?"

I agree. I’ve seen this show 8x and Borle, along with NaTasha Yvette Williams, makes me laugh more than anyone else every time I see it. I hope he gets a Tony nom along with Ghee. 

[binau]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:03pm

I wonder if Ghee is the front runner now. Very surprised that neither Groban nor Ben Platt made the list. 

[Ensemble1680343767]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:04pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Ensemble1680343767 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Really interesting to see Ben Platt not nominated for this or the OCC's."

Groban either"

Wow. True. Literally no idea what to expect on Tuesday with the Tonys."

Just out of curiosity for the board.. do we think this tells us anything about what to expect for Lead Actor in a Musical Tony noms? Is is likely Groban and Platt don't make it in? 

[Jeff Tupolski]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:05pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Ensemble1680343767 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Really interesting to see Ben Platt not nominated for this or the OCC's."

Groban either"

Wow. True. Literally no idea what to expect on Tuesday with the Tonys."

I wouldn’t read too much into it at least for nominations. I’m sure they’re making the cut.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:05pm

No Platt or Groban is interesting.

I am so thrilled that Philippa Soo got nominated for ITW. She was such a highlight for me.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:05pm

SOME LIKE IT HOT got nominated for Best Lyrics and Best Orchestrations but NOT Best Music?? Make it make sense!

This is yet another reason why splitting Music & Lyrics is so silly.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:06pm

Ensemble1680343767 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Ensemble1680343767 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Really interesting to see Ben Platt not nominated for this or the OCC's."

Groban either"

Wow. True. Literally no idea what to expect on Tuesday with the Tonys."

Just out of curiosity for the board.. do we think this tells us anything about what to expect for Lead Actor in a Musical Tony noms? Is is likely Groban and Platt don't make it in?"

Nah, I'd be extremely surprised if they weren't nominated. Groban not being a stellar actor is nothing new, but clearly the general reception of Platt has soured.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 1:10pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "SOME LIKE IT HOT got nominated for Best Lyrics and Best Orchestrations but NOT Best Music?? Make it make sense!"

I actually thought the lyrics were stronger than the music here. Wittman was on top of his game.