Drama League Awards 2026 — Page 3

quizking101 said: "malcs98 said: "Ithink most of the time they are, but you never know…Jellicle Ball could pull an upset at the Tonys"

It bears repeating that CATS was not up for a lot of the undercard awards this year because they were deemed whole or in part eligible last year.

I expect CATS to walk off with AT LEAST three wins - Costumes, Choreography, and André de Shields. Ideally, they’ll pick up Direction and Revival."

What I'm worried about is how this will impact Cats long-term... right now tickets are on sale until September 6th but I think they really need some MAJOR awards love, and I fear if they don't win for direction or revival that's going to be a problem

Updated On: 5/15/26 at 04:13 PM

Updated On: 5/15/26 at 05:06 PM

WithoutATrace said: "Congratulations to Joshua Henry for winning the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award for 2026. Definitely the best performance of the season. Well deserved!

And Ragtime also won Revival of a Musical and Direction of a Musical. Glad that this brilliant show is finally getting the credit it deserves!"

Yesssss. All the awards. All of em. Phenomenal direction from Lear. Guess the wheels on this dream are very much intact.... 

And fun fact, Mexodus winning Best Production of a Musical is the first off Broadway show to win since Rent.

Updated On: 5/15/26 at 05:19 PM

I'm thinking Ragtime is gonna take Revival, Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor, and will probably be filmed for PBS.

Sutton Ross said: And Ragtime also won Revival of a Musical and Direction of a Musical. Glad that this brilliant show is finally getting the credit it deserves!"

Yesssss. All the awards. All of em. Phenomenal direction from Lear. Guess the wheels on this dream are very much intact....

Sutton, do you think Ragtime will sweep the Tony awards? 

Sutton, do you think Ragtime will sweep the Tony awards? 

I'm not sure, but I think it should due to how exciting, relevant, and stunning it is. When they all walk towards us at the beginning, the joyous applause and electricity in the room was something I haven't felt in a long time. Everything about it was just so phenomenal to me and the cast is one of the best I've ever seen. The score is filled with power, beauty, and pathos, it's one of the greatest scores of all time, honestly. 

And at my performance Nichelle was incredible regarding her acting but the sound was not balanced so Joshua, being so powerful, just drowned her out. It was not until I saw their tiny desk concert that I truly heard her truly gorgeous, clear voice. Wow. 

Just so brillant and beautiful from start to finish, truly Broadway at its very best. And it's in my favorite Broadway venue so that helped a lot. All that to say...I hope so!!!! 

Updated On: 5/16/26 at 08:23 PM

malcs98 said: "Sutton Ross said: "Sutton, do you think Ragtime willsweep the Tony awards?

I'm not sure, but I think it should due to how exciting, relevant, and stunning it is. When they all walk towards us at the beginning, the joyous applause and electricity in the room was something I haven't felt in a long time. Everything about it was just so phenomenal to me and the cast is one of the best I've ever seen. The score is filled with power, beauty, and pathos, it's one of the greatest scores of all time, honestly.

And at my performance Nichelle was incredible regarding her acting but the sound was not balanced so Joshua, being so powerful, just drowned her out. It was not until I saw theirtiny desk concertthat I truly heard her truly gorgeous, clear voice. Wow.

Just so stunningand beautiful from start to finish, truly Broadway at its very best. And it's in my favorite Broadway venue so that helped a lot. All that to say...I hope so!!!!"

Well you do make some good points there, but you have to admit there’s no denying what cats is doing in terms of what a musical revival is groundbreaking in its own way."

The drama league more than drama desk surprisingly seems to be more in line with what happens at the Tony’s. 

Lear winning today and also being nominated for a Tony has me thinking people are underestimating her. 

I agree with Sutton and loved Ragtime. But also think CATS reinvents the wheel in a brilliant way. 

If you asked me a month ago I would’ve said CATS had revival on lock. Now I wouldn’t be shocked at all if we see a ton of RAGTIME love at the Tony’s. 

Updated On: 5/15/26 at 09:31 PM

Ensemble1698878795 said: "

Well you do make some good points there, but you have to admit there’s no denying what cats is doing in terms of what a musical revival is groundbreaking in its own way."

Agreed. Ragtime is the legacy pick. It never won the Tony, but nothing about this new production is re-inventive. It’s timely because the worldis on fire, but essentially it’s the same show it was 20 plus years ago. Cats is not and no one can argue otherwise."

Yeah and I think the problem really comes down to the Lear’s direction. Again I have hope for Zhailon & Bill to get best direction of a musical, so we will see what happens. But honestly I think both revivals of Ragtime and Cats should be celebrated equally without really having to take sides 

theblackumbrella said: "I'm thinking Ragtime is gonna take Revival, Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor, and will probably be filmed for PBS."

Very doubtful.. 

malcs98 said: "quizking101 said: "malcs98 said: "Ithink most of the time they are, but you never know…Jellicle Ball could pull an upset at the Tonys"

It bears repeating that CATS was not up for a lot of the undercard awards this year because they were deemed whole or in part eligible last year.

I expect CATS to walk off with AT LEAST three wins - Costumes, Choreography, and André de Shields. Ideally, they’ll pick up Direction and Revival."

What I'mworried about is how this will impact Catslong-term... right now tickets are on sale until September 6th but I think they really need some MAJOR awards love, and I fear if they don'twin for direction or revival that's going to be a problem"

If any production is even slightly affected by not winning a Drama League Award, they were doomed from the beginning lol

Some people's kids.

Ensemble1698878795 said: "Theater fans off the street could literally buy tickets online and vote for the Drama Leagues. It’s definitely not the barometer of truth for the season.


Ragtime may win revival because of politics, but I don’t think any show will sweep the Tonys. It’s a meh season with touring house Tony voters at play. Should make for a very unpredictable evening all around."

Do we really know what the barometer of truth for the season really is…

Robbie2 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "CoffeeBreak said: "theblackumbrella said: "I'm thinking Ragtime is gonna take Revival, Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor, and will probably be filmed for PBS."

Very doubtful.."

Agreed. Theater fans off the street could literally buy tickets online and vote for the Drama Leagues. It’s definitely not the barometer of truth for the season.


Ragtime may win revival because of politics, but I don’t think any show will sweep the Tonys. It’s a meh season with touring house Tony voters at play. Should make for a very unpredictable evening all around."

Agree that RAGTIME will most likely take revival even though CATS is more deserving!"

How/why has the consensus shifted after one award? I still think Cats has the edge 

I hope Rocky Horror wins Best Revival of a musical.