The Drama Desk Awards 2024 — Page 2

Updated On: 6/11/24 at 11:59 AM

Tied awards are a failure of voting method more than an indicator of a great year. Sound Design of a Musical having 3 winners is ridiculous. PICK ONE! This is not a participation trophy! (And the Drama Desks are known for egregious ties.)

I assume voters are simply selecting one winner per category, as with the Tonys

But if the voting process is yielding that many ties then the natural solution is to switch to ranked-choice voting to find a consensus (which the Oscars do for Best Picture, and which some states do successfully for real elections)

that also assumes that the DDs are following an ethical and consistent voting protocol. They don’t employ an outside accounting firm, as far as I know, which could make it incredibly easy for leadership to elevate faves or push their own agendas.

I understand how the new Performance categories work. I think that's an ideal way to handle gender-neutral categories and I wouldn't mind if the Tonys moved to that two-winners format. It's not the issue.

The issue is that in this century, by my quick count, at least 17 categories have had ties. Compared to one tie at the Tonys this century and zero ties at the Oscars this century. That should be enough to convince any reputable awards body that a big change is needed. But I don't know if the Drama Desks would like to be viewed as a reputable body; perhaps they just like inviting people to their ceremony.

The Tonys having up to 7 nominees in certain categories depending on the closeness of the voting is similarly egregious.

1. 2024 — Sound Design (Musical) (threeway tie!!)
2. 2024 — Actor (Musical)
3. 2022 — Lighting Design (Play)
4. 2022 — Lighting Design/Musical
5. 2017 — Director (Musical)
6. 2016 — Director (Musical)
7. 2014 — Actor (Musical)
8. 2014 — Supp Actress (Musical)
9. 2013 — Sound Design (Musical) (threeway tie!!)
10. 2013 — Lighting Design
11. 2011 — Costume Design
12. 2010 — Actress (Musical)
13. 2010 — Play Revival
14. 2007 — Actress (Musical)
15. 2007 — Orchestrations
16. 2004 — Actress (Play)
17. 2002 — Play