2025 Drama League Awards — Page 2

I always think these nominations are crazy. With so many nominations (did any critic like George C. Wolfe's direction of Gypsy???), to completely ignore The Hills of California and particularly Laura Donnelly's performance, is absurd. HEr command of the stage reminded me of the great actresses of several decades ago, who just commanded your attention, even in drivel. I am thinking of Irene Worth and Zoe Caldwell and Colleen Dewhurst and Uta Hagen. If she appeared here more frequently, she'd fit comfortably in that group. And she doesn't even get nominated when Nick Jonas does?? I have not even seen his show, but I have read enough reviews and opinions on this board to be flummoxed.

Given the emphasis on acknowledging “sponsorships” at the announcement, I suspect that there may be other factors at play (beyond merit) when choosing nominees.

Wow! Has a woman ever won for a Broadway debut? I know Jackman did twenty years ago.

Fordham2015 said: "Note that Audra wasn't eligible because shealready won Distinguished Performance for Porgy and Bess"

That won’t stop Sutton Ross.

Gypsy is about to win 0 awards people, they snubbed Wolfe and even costumes, it's not loved.

I think this helps visibility for Nicole in a very good way, to win what its basically an lifetime achievement award for a debut performance is big.

And yes, we all know the Drama League means almost nothing regarding the Tony voters but still.

HeyMrMusic said: "With Nicole andSunset winning, I’m slightly surprised Jamie Lloyd didn’t pull out a win."

I'm wondering if this is how the Tony race might play out. The contest is reminding me a bit of 2019, when Daniel Fish's Oklahoma! was very polarizing, still managed to win Best Revival, but he lost Direction to Rachel Chavkin for Hadestown, a new, more widely acclaimed musical.

SteveSanders said: "MadsonMelo said: "I think this helps visibility for Nicole in a very good way, to win what its basically an lifetime achievement award for a debut performance is big."

Is this how the Distinguished Perforrnance Award is generally perceived?

"

Only in the sense that you are eligible to win it just once in your career. I don't think anyone would say Annaleigh Ashford, currently age 39, won a "lifetime achievement award" for Sweeney Todd. Voters simply choose the best performance from those eligible that year, minus the folks who are ineligible because they already won in the past.

SteveSanders said: "MadsonMelo said: "I think this helps visibility for Nicole in a very good way, to win what its basically an lifetime achievement award for a debut performance is big."

Is this how the Distinguished Perforrnance Award is generally perceived?

"


You can only win the award one time in your career, so there is a bit of “lifetime achievement” air associated with it (see Chita, Glenda, Sutton etc). However, there is also a pretty solid record of clearly rewarding actors for a specific, singular performance (see Hugh Jackman, Norbert Leo Butz, Ben Platt, and now Nicole).

I think it really depends on the crop of performers/the strength of the season.

If a performer like Nathan Lane has never won, the voters may be more inclined to reward him for a bit of a lesser production and performance (The Nance) as an acknowledgment of his entire body of work and legendary performances that came before it.

Updated On: 5/16/25 at 04:49 PM

I don't really trust the voting body, but there is nothing LOST by winning it, and it's a way to propel a "best performance of the season" narrative.

There have been some very very very silly wins in recent years (Annaleigh for Sweeney, Sutton for Music Man, Danny for Moulin Rouge, Lin for Hamilton), while in other years it awards "steamroller performances" who pick up the majority of awards through the season.

I still think Nicole has the greatest momentum, paired with the predicted love for Lloyd, Francis, and the revival on a whole, but my opinion is also swayed by being pretty cold on this revival of GYPSY.

While it could be a situation reminiscent of the 2010 Play race (RED wins basically every award except Best Actor for Alfred Molina, which goes to Denzel), Denzel was in the Best Revival winner which also won Best Actress and was competitive in other categories...which GYPSY really isn't, unless Burstein pulls a very surprising win.

Updated On: 5/16/25 at 05:12 PM

Do we have a video of Audra presenting the award to Nicole?

Any chance someone has found a video of her winning and the speech?