While the Tony Awards focus on Broadway; the Drama Desk Awards include Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway productions. The annual awards were held June 10 at the Skirball Center at NYU with Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit as hosts.
The Off Broadway production “Dead Outlaw” was the most nominated production with eleven; but the Broadway play “Stereophonic” topped the winner’s list with seven wins. “Water for Elephants” took home the most awards in the musical categories with four.
Nathan Lane was honoured with the Harold S. Prince Award for his lifetime achievement in the theater.
The Drama Desk Awards actor awards does not distinguish between male and female awards; but instead presents a gender-neutral outstanding performance award and two award winners.
2024 Drama Desk Award winners:
Outstanding Play: “Stereophonic”
Outstanding Musical: “Dead Outlaw”
Outstanding Revival of a Play: “Appropriate”
Outstanding Revival of a Musical: “I Can Get it for You Wholesale”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play: Jessica Lange in “Mother Play” and Sarah Paulson in “Appropriate”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical: “Brian d’Arcy James in “Days of Wine and Roses”, Maleah Joi Moon in “Hell’s Kitchen”, and Kelli O’Hara in “Days of Wine and Roses”
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play: Celia Keena-Bolger in “Mother Play” and Kara Young in “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch”
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical: Kecia Lewis in “Hell’s Kitchen” and Bebe Neuwirth in “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club”
Outstanding Direction of a Play: Daniel Aukin for “Stereophonic”
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Jessica Stone for “Water for Elephants”
Outstanding Choreography: Justin Peck for “Illinoise”
Outstanding Music: Shaina Taub for “Suffs”
Outstanding Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna for “Dead Outlaw”
Outstanding Book of a Musical: Itamar Moses for “Dead Outlaw”
Outstanding Orchestrations: Marco Paguia for “Buena Vista Social Club”
Outstanding Music in a Play: “Will Butler for “Stereophonic”
Outstanding Revue: “Amid Falling Walls”
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play: David Zinn for “Stereophonic”
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical: Paul Tate dePoo III for “The Great Gatsby”
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play: Enver Chakartash for “Stereophonic”
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical: Paul Tazewell for “Suffs”
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play: Jane cox for “Appropriate”
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical: Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim for “The Outsiders”
Outstanding Projection and Video Design: Peter Nigrini for “Hell’s Kitchen”
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play: Ryan Rumery for “Stereophonic”
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical: Nick Lidster for “Autograph” and “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club”, Cody Spencer for “The Outsiders”, and Walter Trarbach for “Water for Elephants”
Outstanding Wig and Hair: Nikiya Mathis for “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”
Outstanding Solo Performance: Patrick Page in “All the Devils are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain”
Unique Theatrical Experience: Grenfell: in the words of survivors”
Outstanding Fight Choreography: Cha Ramos for “Water for elephants”
Outstanding Adaptation: Amy Herzog for “An Enemy of the People”
Outstanding Puppetry: Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman, and Camille Labarre for “Water for Elephants”
Outstanding Ensemble Award: the cast of “Stereophonic”
Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award: Cole Escola
The “How to Dance in Ohio” Authentic Autistic Representation Team earned a Special Award
Isabella Byrd earned a Lighting Designer Award
Press agent Lady Irene Gandy also earned a Special Award