Drama League Awards 2026- Page 3
Drama League Awards 2026
Drama League Awards 2026#50
Posted: 5/15/26 at 4:13pm
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
Leading Actor Joined: 5/10/04
Drama League Awards 2026#51
Posted: 5/15/26 at 4:31pm
This entire production is Lear's direction! Every scene is staged very intentionally. I'll never understand how folks think this production is a "park and bark" concert. The staging has gotten a lot more complex since its origins at City Center.
Understudy Joined: 10/6/17
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#53
Posted: 5/15/26 at 5:19pm
kidmanboy said: "This entire production is Lear's direction! Every scene is staged very intentionally. I'll never understand how folks think this production is a "park and bark" concert. The staging has gotten a lot more complex since its origins at City Center."
Look I saw it first preview at LCT, so we will see but if jellicle ball doesn't win best direction and revival, I will never trust the tony's ever again
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#54
Posted: 5/15/26 at 5:19pm
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.
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#55
Posted: 5/15/26 at 5:23pm
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"
With the Broadway landscape the way it is, I can’t imagine theatre owners are looking to toss out tenants at the first sign of bad sales (case in point - BEACHES), and there are a ton of limited run plays on their way out the door right as summer kicks off. Plus, as it stands, RAGTIME is closing on August 2nd regardless of what it wins - unless they opt for another extension.
Stand-by Joined: 5/30/19
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#56
Posted: 5/15/26 at 5:24pm
I'm thinking Ragtime is gonna take Revival, Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor, and will probably be filmed for PBS.
Understudy Joined: 10/16/13
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#57
Posted: 5/15/26 at 5:58pm
GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Drama League is still essentially pay-to-vote, correct? Hence why I've never given these much weight."
It sure is!!!
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#58
Posted: 5/15/26 at 6:23pm
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?
Broadway Star Joined: 4/14/12
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#59
Posted: 5/15/26 at 7:50pm
ELP said: "GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Drama League is still essentially pay-to-vote, correct? Hence why I've never given these much weight."
It sure is!!!"
Over the years, there have always been some head scratchers when it comes to inclusions and omissions among the nominees, which is kind of a list of participation trophy winners anyway. As I recall, James Monroe Iglehart, Jeremy Jordan, and Taylor Trensch were left off the list last year, (all of whom were later nominated for the Tony), and yet they found it in their hearts to include a place for Nick Jonas for a performance that was not at all well received by the critics or the general public. That kind of inclusion is much more suspicious than any of the omissions. The Drama League's over the top emphasis on recognizing sponsors seems to reinforce the "pay to play" narrative as well. It's nice to see deserving artists like Joshua Henry receive recognition, but most of the rest of it should not be taken seriously.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#60
Posted: 5/15/26 at 8:23pm
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 stunning 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!!!! 
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#61
Posted: 5/15/26 at 9:10pm
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.
Understudy Joined: 10/3/22
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#62
Posted: 5/15/26 at 9:31pm
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/1/23
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#63
Posted: 5/15/26 at 9:32pm
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 world is on fire, but essentially it’s the same show it was 20 plus years ago. Cats is not and no one can argue otherwise.
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#64
Posted: 5/15/26 at 10:26pm
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#65
Posted: 5/15/26 at 10:55pm
kidmanboy said: "This entire production is Lear's direction! Every scene is staged very intentionally. I'll never understand how folks think this production is a "park and bark" concert. The staging has gotten a lot more complex since its origins at City Center."
Because it is. Lear's direction is NOT good. Never is.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#66
Posted: 5/15/26 at 10:58pm
theblackumbrella said: "I'm thinking Ragtime is gonna take Revival, Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor, and will probably be filmed for PBS."
Very doubtful..
Drama League Awards 2026 on TDF#67
Posted: 5/15/26 at 11:27pm
CoffeeBreak said: "Because it is. Lear's direction is NOT good. Never is.
and apparently now the rumor is LCT’s next production for the Beaumont (which once again Lear will be directing) is The Sound of Music, and we all know that directions probably gonna be the same
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