Drama League Awards 2026

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:16am

Nominations are currently being revealed!

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:24am

I hope this is finally Laurie Metcalf's year to win Distinguished Performance.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:25am

Definitely some interesting choices. Then again, this is one of those awards where, aside from Distinguished Performance and Direction, it’s basically an “everybody gets a nomination so it doesn’t matter” award that helps with marketing. Why else would BEACHES be nominated for anything?

I am a bit confused though because TITANIQUE and Marla Mindelle were nominated already in 2023 - so what’s with the double dip?

Also, were City Center productions eligible in the past? The fact that both Bat Boy and The Wild Party cracked this list is actually pretty awesome.

Also, congrats to Laurie Metcalf and Kara Young on being the only double nominees, and Kara for being nominated for 2 shows for the second year in a row. (Last year was Purpose and Table 17)
 

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:25 AM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:26am

2026 DRAMA LEAGUE AWARDS NOMINATIONS

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

THE BALUSTERS
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Written by David Lindsay-Abaire; Directed by Kenny Leon; Associate Director: Ioana Alfonso

CAROLINE
MCC Theater
Written by Preston Max Allen; Directed by David Cromer; Associate Director: Zoë Adams

COLD WAR CHOIR PRACTICE
MCC Theater
Written by Ro Reddick; Directed by Knud Adams; Assistant Director: Olivia Songer

DOG DAY AFTERNOON
August Wilson Theatre
Directed by Rupert Goold; Associate Director: Rory McGregor; Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis; Based on the article “The Boys in the Bank” by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore and the film “Dog Day Afternoon”

GIANT
Music Box Theatre
Written by Mark Rosenblatt; Directed by Nicholas Hytner

KYOTO
Lincoln Center Theater
Written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson; Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin; Associate Director: Ed Burnside

LIBERATION
James Earl Jones Theatre
Written by Bess Wohl; Directed by Whitney White; Associate Director: Annabel Heacock

MARCEL ON THE TRAIN
Classic Stage Company
Co-written by Marshall Pailet and Ethan Slater; Directed by Marshall Pailet; Assistant Director: JuJu Jaworski

THE MONSTERS
Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center
Written and directed by Ngozi Anyanwu; Associate Director: Leandra Torres Santiago

PRINCE FAGGOT
Playwrights Horizons/Soho Rep, Studio Seaview
Written by Jordan Tannahill; Directed by Shayok Misha Chowdhury; Associate Director: Jack Serio

RHEOLOGY
Playwrights Horizons, The Bushwick Starr
Written and directed by Shayok Misha Chowdhury; In collaboration with Bulbul Chakraborty; Directing Consultant: Caitlin Ryan O’Connell; Associate Director: Kedian Keohan; Associate Direction/Additional Dramaturgy: Lindsay Tanner

SPREAD
Written by Jesús I. Valles; Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo; Assistant Director: Angela Reynos

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY

ANNA CHRISTIE
St. Ann’s Warehouse
Written by Eugene O’Neill; Directed by Thomas Kail; Associate Director: Dianna Weiner

BECKY SHAW
Hayes Theater
Written by Gina Gionfriddo; Directed by Trip Cullman; Associate Director: Ryan Dobrin

THE BROTHERS SIZE
The Shed
Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Co-directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bijan Sheibani; Associate Director: Kemar Jewel

BUG
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Written by Tracy Letts; Directed by David Cromer; Associate Director: Zoë Adams

DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Winter Garden Theatre
Written by Arthur Miller; Directed by Joe Mantello; Associate Director: Lily Dyble

EVERY BRILLIANT THING
Hudson Theatre
Written by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe; Directed by Jeremy Herrin and Duncan MacMillan; Associate Director: Laura Dupper and David Hull

FALLEN ANGELS
Todd Haimes Theatre
Written by Noël Coward; Directed by Scott Ellis; Assistant Director: Bibiana Torres

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES
Lucille Lortel Theatre
Written by Rajiv Joseph; Directed by Neil Pepe; Assistant Director: Francesca Sabel

JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE
Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Written by August Wilson; Directed by Debbie Allen; Associate Director: David Blackwell

PROOF
Booth Theatre
Written by David Auburn; Directed by Thomas Kail; Associate Director: Tiffany Nichole Greene

TWELFTH NIGHT
Delacorte Theatre
Written by William Shakespeare; Directed by Saheem Ali; Associate Director: Jess Slaght

YOU GOT OLDER
Cherry Lane Theatre
Written by Clare Barron; Directed by Anne Kauffman; Associate Director: Francesca Sabel

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

BEACHES, A NEW MUSICAL
Majestic Theatre
Book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas; Music by Mike Stoller; Lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart; Co-directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart; Associate Director: Neil Robinson

BEAU THE MUSICAL
St. Luke’s Theatre
Concept, book, lyrics, and music by Douglas Lyons; Music by Ethan D. Pakchar; Directed by Josh Rhodes; Associate Director: Lee Wilkins

BIGFOOT
New York City Center
Written by Amber Ruffin, David A. Schmoll, and Kevin Sciretta; Directed by Danny Mefford; Associate Director: Zoë Adams

THE LOST BOYS
Palace Theatre
Book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch; Music and lyrics by The Rescues; Based on the film “The Lost Boys”; Directed by Michael Arden; Associate Director: Henry Gottfried; Assistant Director: Caroline Fairweather

MEXODUS
Minetta Lane Theatre, Daryl Roth Theatre
Written and performed by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson; Directed by David Mendizábal; Associate Director: Irvin Mason Jr.

MY JOY IS HEAVY
New York Theatre Workshop
Created and performed by The Bengsons; Directed by Rachel Chavkin; Associate Director: Abbey Joan Burgess

NIGHT SIDE SONGS
Claire Tow Theater
Words and music by The Lazours; Developed with and directed by Taibi Magar

SATURDAY CHURCH
New York Theatre Workshop
Book and additional lyrics by Damon Cardasis and James Ijames; Music and lyrics by Sia; Additional music by Honey Dijon; Directed by Whitney White; Associate Director: Jerrica White

SCHMIGADOON!
Nederlander Theatre
Book, music, and lyrics by Cinco Paul; Directed by Christopher Gattelli; Associate Director: Bethany Samuelson Pettigrew

THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS
The Public Theater
Adaptation, music, and lyrics by Ethan Lipton; Based on The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder; Directed by Leigh Silverman; Associate Director: Hawley Gould

TITANÍQUE
St. James Theatre
Powered by the music of Céline Dion; Co-created by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli; Directed by Tye Blue; Associate Director: Billie Aken-Tyers

TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)
Longacre Theatre
Book, music, and lyrics by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan; Musical Director: Ted Arthur; Directed by Tim Jackson; Associate Director: Asmeret Ghebremichael

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
New World Stages
Music and lyrics by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin; Conceived by Rebecca Feldman; Directed by Danny Mefford; Associate Director: NJ Agwuna

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL
New York City Center
Story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming; Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe; Directed by Alex Timbers; Associate Director: Taylor Haven Holt

CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL
Broadhurst Theatre
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot; Directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch; Associate Director: Cooper Howell and N’yomi Allure Stewart

CHESS
Imperial Theatre
Book by Danny Strong; Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, and Björn Ulvaeus; Directed by Michael Mayer; Associate Director: Johanna McKeon; Assistant Director: Fernando Parra Bortí

THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS
Conceived and adapted by Lee Breuer; Music by Bob Telson; Directed by Shayok Misha Chowdhury; Associate Director: Sam Morreale

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL
Book, music, and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe; Based on the film by Daniel Waters; Directed by Andy Fickman; Associate Director: Taylor Haven Holt

MASQUERADE
Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber; Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Charles Hart; Directed by Diane Paulus; Associate Director: Hunter Bird and Marc Kimelman

ORATORIO FOR LIVING THINGS
Written by Heather Christian; Directed by Lee Sunday Evans; Associate Director: Keenan Tyler Oliphant

RAGTIME
Vivian Beaumont Theater
Book by Terrence McNally; Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; Directed by Lear deBessonet; Associate Director: Victoria Davidjohn; Assistant Director: Nathaniel P. Claridad

RICHARD O’BRIEN’S THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Studio 54
Book, music, and lyrics by Richard O’Brien; Directed by Sam Pinkleton; Associate Director: Kedian Keohan

THE WILD PARTY
New York City Center
Music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa; Book by Michael John LaChiusaand George C. Wolfe; Directed by Lili-Anne Brown; Associate Director: Irvin Mason Jr.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Knud Adams
COLD WAR CHOIR PRACTICE
MCC Theater

Debbie Allen
JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE
Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Tatyana-Marie Carlo
SPREAD
INTAR Theatre

Shayok Misha Chowdhury
PRINCE FAGGOT
Playwrights Horizons/Soho Rep and Studio Seaview

David Cromer
CAROLINE
MCC Theater

Trip Cullman
BECKY SHAW
Second Stage Theater

Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin
KYOTO
Lincoln Center Theater

Joe Mantello
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Winter Garden Theatre
and
LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD
Booth Theatre

Marshall Pailet
MARCEL ON THE TRAIN
Classic Stage Company

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Michael Arden
THE LOST BOYS
Palace Theatre

Lili-Anne Brown
THE WILD PARTY
New York City Center Encores!

Rachel Chavkin
MY JOY IS HEAVY
New York Theatre Workshop

Lear deBessonet
RAGTIME
Lincoln Center Theater

Lee Sunday Evans
ORATORIO FOR LIVING THINGS
Signature Theatre

Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL
Broadhurst Theatre

Danny Mefford
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
New World Stages
and
BIGFOOT
Manhattan Theatre Club/New York City Center

David Mendizábal
MEXODUS
Minetta Lane Theatre/Daryl Roth Theatre

Sam Pinkleton
RICHARD O’BRIEN’S THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Studio 54

Leigh Silverman
THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS
The Public Theater

Alex Timbers
BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL
New York City Center Encores!

DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE

Caroline Aaron, The Reservoir
Christopher Abbott, Death of a Salesman
Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys
Jon Bernthal, Dog Day Afternoon
Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys
Marylouise Burke, The Balusters
Kerry Butler, Bat Boy: The Musical
Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels
Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!
Patrice Johnson Chevannes, The Waterfall
Nicholas Christopher, Chess
Justin Cooley, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Carrie Coon, Bug
André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting For Godot
Ayo Edebiri, Proof
Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
Luke Evans, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Tru
Susannah Flood, Liberation
Ishmael Gonzalez, Spread
Sean Hayes, The Unknown
Joshua Henry, Ragtime
Grey Henson, Bigfoot
André Holland, The Brothers Size
Stephanie Hsu, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Alani iLongwe, The Brothers Size
Stephen Kunken, Kyoto
Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Lesley Manville, Oedipus
John McCrea, Prince Faggot
Laurie Metcalf, Death of a Salesman and Little Bear Ridge Road
Lea Michele, Chess
Marla Mindelle, Titaníque
Lizan Mitchell, Cold War Choir Practice
Aigner Mizzelle, The Monsters
Chloë Grace Moretz, Caroline
Lupita Nyong’o, Twelfth Night
Kelli O’Hara, Fallen Angels
Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)
Brian Quijada, Mexodus
Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing
Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus
Jasmine Amy Rogers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Wild Party
Constantine Rousouli, Titaníque
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Ethan Slater, Marcel on the Train
Ari'el Stachel, Other
B Noel Thomas, Saturday Church
Taylor Trensch, Bat Boy: The Musical
Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime
Jessica Vosk, Beaches, A New Musical
Adrienne Warren, The Wild Party
Kara Young, Gruesome Playground Injuries and Proof

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:30am

No Oedipus in revival or director!? Wow. It did manage to get Lesley Manville in.

Was this group invited to that show? 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:31am

quizking101 said: "Definitely some interesting choices. Then again, this is one of those awards where, aside from Distinguished Performance and Direction, it’s basically an “everybody gets a nomination so it doesn’t matter” award that helps with marketing. Why else would BEACHES be nominated for anything?

I am a bit confused though because TITANIQUE and Marla Mindelle were nominated already in 2023 - so what’s with the double dip?

Also, were City Center productions eligible in the past? The fact that both Bat Boy and The Wild Party cracked this list is actually pretty awesome.

Also, congrats to Laurie Metcalf and Kara Young on being the only double nominees, and Kara for being nominated for 2 shows for the second year in a row. (Last year was Purpose and Table 17)
"

Jasmine Amy Rogers is also a double nominee!

I could see Metcalf taking it this year. I would also not be mad about Henry winning.

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:31 AM

[ren598]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:32am

Did they really just nominate Christiani Pitts for Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) and not Sam Tutty?

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:32am

Andre or Josh for the win !

sorry Quiz no Sydney 

 

and lost boys …  ? Hmmmm

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:32 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:34am

"

Jasmine Amy Rogers is also a double nominee!"

Thank you for catching that! I went back after I remembered Spelling Bee got nominated 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:38am

NVM, delete

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:38 AM

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:48am

Having just seen The Balusters, I'm thrilled for Marylouise Burke

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:51am

aware that many productions sponsor or pay-to-play these award but...wow.

embarrassing omissions:  Oedipus (revival/direction), Little Bear Ridge Road (new play), Marjorie Prime (revival), Sam Tutty (Two Strangers),Mark Strong (Oedipus), Jordan Donica (Wild Party), June Squibb (Marjorie Prime), Joshua Boone (Joe Turner).

Anna Christie, Proof and Joe Turner, You Got Older, Bigfoot, Saturday Church, The Lost Boys, Debbie Allen, Michael Arden, Rubin Santiago-Hudson, Marshall Pailet, Marcel on the Train nominations not necessary.

My vote:  Laurie Metcalf in performer.

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:51 AM

[DaveyG]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:52am

The Drama League and OCC nominations are usually full of nonsense. 

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:52 AM

[jazzicat]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:53am

I LOVE this list. Standouts for me are the Wild Party nominations… as it was just that good, Ethan Slater!, Carrie Coon, Sara Chase and of course, Jessica Voss for carrying the weight of an entire show on her back. 

As a huge, very vocal fan of the Lost Boys I was also so excited to see those nods as those two keep me going back. 

One miss for me that is not getting enough notice with the big 3 leads was Hannah Cruz in Chess as she makes Chess interesting and is doing an incredible job with Svetlana. 
 

Congrats to all! 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 11:55am

I'm rooting for Laurie Metcalf.  Two stunning (and very distinct) performances within a ~6 month span, plus her breadth of work before this season make her a no-brainer in my mind. 

Updated On: 4/20/26 at 11:55 AM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:02pm

Didn't they have a limit of two acting nominations per show?  I was surprised to see the three leads of Ragtime all nominated.

I would have assumed that Laurie Metcalf or Leslie Manville would win for performance, based on their reviews, but the omission of Oedipus from any other category (really???) makes me think that it will not be Manville.  I would see Joshua Henry as the most likely musical performance to be honored, but I suspect that Metcalf would get it first, from both a 2025/2026 and a career perspective.

No Sam Tutty also makes zero sense to me.

One the one hand, some really badly reviewed shows get nominated (Dog Day Afternoon???) and then Oedipus is snubbed.  What were they thinking?

I cannot remember for what, but I assume that Lithgow is a prior winner, as is Lane.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:02pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "I'm rooting for Laurie Metcalfe. Two stunning (and very distinct) performances within a ~6 month span, plus her breadth of work before this season makeher a no-brainer in my mind."

I’m inclined to agree. My heart belongs to Kara, but she will undoubtedly make the list next year with THE WHOOPI MONOLOGUES and MIX AND MASTER. Laurie Metcalf deserves her spot in the Distinguished Winners group.

Also, Nicholas Christopher just posted on Instagram that his is his first award nomination in his entire career and I’m like 🥹🥹

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:05pm

Jarethan said: “I cannot remember for what, but I assume that Lithgow is a prior winner, as is Lane."

Lithgow in 1988 for M. BUTTERFLY and Lane in 2013 for THE NANCE

 

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:12pm

For me, best performance is a race between Joshua Henry and Laurie Metcalf's double duty, and I find myself leaning ever so slightly more to Henry. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:38pm

I feel like this group either silently changed some rules without announcing it, or they tallied things incorrectly.

They have previously had a limit of two performers per show in the distinguished performance category. So even if 3 or 4 actors technically earned enough votes to get in, only the top two vote getters would ultimately be nominated. And yet, all three leads for Ragtime are nominated here. 

Didn't they also used to have a rule about Off-Broadway shows being ineligible when things transferred? Cats/Andre and Titanique/Marla/Constantine are all nominees. Perhaps they have changed the rules so that if a production didn't WIN for the Off Broadway version, then it can be nominated again? 

[Owen22]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:42pm

Yay! No Oedipus!

[Markie27]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 12:53pm

I am thrilled that The Gospel At Colonus was not forgotten this awards season even though it’s such a small musical in Little Island!  I really really love that show and its direction. I would have loved to see Stephanie Berry with a distinguished performance nomination but that maybe asking too much.  
 

Oedipus and Sam Tutty were truly a head scratcher.  Laurie for the win.   

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 1:05pm

Mexodus! Brilliant show and deserves every single award.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 3:15pm

What changed to deem City Center productions eligible this year? 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/20/26 at 3:20pm

I am truly shocked at the exclusion of Oedipus. It’s one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time.