2020 Drama League Awards Nominees

First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. They are the only major theater awards chosen by a cross-section of the theatre community — specifically, by the industry professionals, producers, artists, audiences, and critics who are Drama League members nationwide.

Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the highly coveted Distinguished Performance Award have been announced. Voting is open for Drama League members from May 1 – May 22. Award winners will be announced by Gabriel Stelian-Shanks & Bevin Ross via livestream in June. The Drama League Awards Event Chair is Bonnie Comley.

Joe Ngo, Abraham Kim, Francis Jue, Jane Lui, Courtney Reed and Moses Villarama in CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND. Photo by Joan Marcus

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Cambodian Rock Band
Directed by Chay Yew
Written by Lauren Yee
Signature Theatre Company

Deirdre O’Connell in Dana H. Photo: Carol Rosegg

Dana H.
Directed by Les Waters
Written by Lucas Hnath
Vineyard Theatre

Ashley Park, Michael Urie, Jane Alexander, and James Cromwell in Grand Horizons. Photo by Joan Marcus

Grand Horizons
Directed by Leigh Silverman
Written by Bess Wohl
Second Stage/Helen Hayes Theater

Nicco Annan, Toussaint Jeanlouis, Korey Jackson, Sheldon Best, and Cecil Blutcher star in Katori Hall’s The Hot Wing King, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, at Signature Theatre. (© Monique Carboni)

The Hot Wing King
Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III
Written by Katori Hall
Signature Theatre Company

John Benjamin Hickey, Dylan Frederick, and cast of The Inheritance. Photo by Matthew Murphy

The Inheritance
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Matthew Lopez
Barrymore Theatre

The Michaels
Written and Directed by Richard Nelson
Public Theater

Rebecca Henderson and Ako in Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow. Photo by Joan Marcus

Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow
Directed by Trip Cullman
Written by Halley Feiffer
MCC Theater

From left to right: Leland Fowler, Jamyl Dobson, and Edward Mawere star in one in two. Monique Carboni

One in Two
Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb
Written by Donja R. Love
The New Group

Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Sturridge, ‘Sea Wall/A Life’ Photo by Richard Hubert Smith

Sea Wall/A Life
Directed by Carrie Cracknell
Written by Simon Stephens/Nick Payne
Hudson Theater

Raúl Esparza in Seared. Photo by Joan Marcus

Seared
Directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel
Written by Theresa Rebeck
MCC Theater

The cast of “Slave Play,” (on ground l. to r.): Ato Blankson-Wood, James Cusati-Moyer, Sullivan Jones, Annie McNamara, Joaquina Kalukango, Paul Alexander Nolan. (In red boxes l. to r.) Irene Sofia Lucio and Chalia La Tour.(Courtesy of Matthew Murphy)

Slave Play
Directed by Robert O’Hara
Written by Jeremy O. Harris
New York Theatre Workshop/John Golden Theatre

Toni Lachelle Pollitt, Kristin Dodson, Nikkole Salter and Portia in Stew. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Stew
Directed by Colette Robert
Written by Zora Howard
Page 73

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Girl from the North Country
Directed by Conor McPherson
Book by Conor McPherson, Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan
Belasco Theatre

The Broadway cast of ‘Jagged Little Pill.’ (Photo: Matthew Murphy)

Jagged Little Pill
Directed by Diane Paulus
Music by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, Lyrics by Alanis Morissette, Book by Diablo Cody
Broadhurst Theatre

Moulin Rouge!
Directed by Alex Timbers
Book by John Logan, Music and Lyrics by Various Artists
Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Cast of Octet. Photo by Joan Marcus

Octet
Directed by Annie Tippe
Written by Dave Malloy
Signature Theatre Company

Saycon Sengbloh, Nathaniel Stampley, Eisa Davis, Anastacia McCleskey, and LaChanze in The Secret Life of Bees. Photo: Ahron R. Foster

The Secret Life of Bees
Directed by Sam Gold
Book by Lynn Nottage, Music by Duncan Sheik, Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
Atlantic Theater Company

Jakeim Hart, Max William Bartos, Zara Devlin, Sam Poon, Brenock O’Connor, Brendan C. Callahan, and Gian Perez in Sing Street at New York Theatre Workshop.(© Matthew Murphy)

Sing Street
Directed by Rebecca Taichman
Book by Enda Walsh, Music and Lyrics by Gary Clark and John Carney
New York Theatre Workshop

Cast of Six. Photo by Liz Lauren

Six
Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage
Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Brooks Atkinson Theatre

Conrad Ricamora and the cast of SOFT POWER. Photo by Joan Marcus

Soft Power
Directed by Leigh Silverman
Book and Lyrics by David Henry Hwang, Music and Additional Lyrics by Jeanine Tesori
Public Theater

Michael R. Jackson, A Strange Loop. Playwrights Horizons, New York, 2019. From left to right: James Jackson, Jr., John-Michael Lyles, Jason Veasey, Larry Owens, Antwayn Hopper, John-Andrew Morrison, L Morgan Lee. Photo by Joan Marcus

A Strange Loop
Directed by Stephen Brackett
Book, Music and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson
Playwrights Horizons

Adrienne Warren, company, ‘Tina – The Tina Turner Musical’ Photo by Manuel Harlan

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, Music by Various Artists
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Betrayal
Directed by Jamie Lloyd
Written by Harold Pinter
Jacobs Theatre

Alexandria Wailes and cast of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. Photo by Joan Marcus

for colored girls who have considered suicide
/when the rainbow is enuf
Directed by Leah C. Gardiner
Written by Ntozake Shange
Public Theater

Michael Benjamin Washington in Fires in the Mirror. Photo by Joan Marcus

Fires in the Mirror
Directed by Saheem Ali
Written by Anna Deavere Smith
Signature Theatre Company

Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald in Frankie and Johnny. Photo by Deen van Meer

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune
Directed by Arin Arbus
Written by Terrence McNally
Broadhurst Theatre

Judgment Day
Directed by Richard Jones
Written by Ödön von Horváth, Adapted by Christopher Shinn
Park Avenue Armory

Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne in MEDEA. Photo by Richard Termine

Medea
Directed by Simon Stone
Written by Simon Stone after Euripides
Brooklyn Academy of Music

Lorenzo Jackson, Katherine Renee Turner, Rosalyn Coleman and Galen Ryan Kane in A NATIVE SON. Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Native Son
Directed by Seret Scott
Written by Nambi E. Kelley, based on the novel by Richard Wright
The Acting Company

Emun Elliott, Marisa Tomei in The Rose Tattoo. Photo: Joan Marcus

The Rose Tattoo
Directed by Trip Cullman
Written by Tennessee Williams
Roundabout Theatre Company

A Soldier’s Play
Directed by Kenny Leon
Written by Charles Fuller
Roundabout Theatre Company

The Woman in Black
Directed by Robin Herford
Written by Stephen Mallatratt, based on the novel by Susan Hill
The McKittrick Hotel

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

Farah Alvin, Alison Fraser, Allie Trimm, and Dana Costello in Enter Laughing. © Carol Rosegg

Enter Laughing
Directed by Stuart Ross
Book by Joseph Stein, Music and Lyrics by Stan Daniels
York Theatre Company

Jonathan Groff and Christian Borle in Little Shop of Horrors. © Emilio Madrid

Little Shop of Horrors
Directed by Michael Mayer
Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
Westside Theatre

The 2019 cast of Rock of Ages at New World Stages. Photo: © Matthew Murphy

Rock of Ages
Directed by Kristin Hanggi
Book by Chris D’Arienzo, Music and Lyrics by Various Artists
New World Stages

Beth Malone (center) leads the off-Broadway cast of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. (© Carol Rosegg)

The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Directed by Kathleen Marshall
Book and New Lyrics by Dick Scanlan, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
The Transport Group

West Side Story
Directed by Ivo van Hove
Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Broadway Theatre

DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD
David Acton, The Woman in Black
Jeffrey Bean, Dublin Carol
Ato Blankson-Wood, The Rolling Stone and Slave Play

James Cusati-Moyer and Ato Blankson-Wood in Slave Play Matthew Murphy

Christian Borle, Little Shop of Horrors
Danielle Brooks, Much Ado About Nothing
Danny Burstein, Moulin Rouge!

Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! © Matthew Murphy

Rose Byrne, Medea
Len Cariou, Harry Townsend’s Last Stand
Patrice Johnson Chevannes, runboyrun & In Old Age

Chiké Johnson plays Disciple Ufot, and Patrice Johnson Chevannes plays Abasiama Ufot in runboyrun. (© Joan Marcus)

Liza Colón-Zayas, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven

Liza Colón-Zayas plays Sarge and Elizabeth Rodriguez plays Miss Rivera in ”Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven.” (© Monique Carboni)

Kate del Castillo, the way she spoke
Edmund Donovan, Greater Clements
Raúl Esparza, Seared
Francesca Faridany, The Half-Life of Marie Curie
Halley Feiffer, The Pain of My Belligerence
Danyel Fulton, Broadbend, Arkansas
Annie Golden, Broadway Bounty Hunter

Annie Golden and the off-Broadway cast of Broadway Bounty Hunter. (© Matthew Murphy)

Donnetta Lavinia Grays, Where We Stand
David Alan Grier, A Soldier’s Play
Jonathan Groff, Little Shop of Horrors
Jake Gyllenhaal, Sea Wall/A Life
Tom Hiddleston, Betrayal
Paul Hilton, The Inheritance
Kathryn Hunter, Timon of Athens
Galen Ryan Kane, Native Son
Brittney Mack, Six
April Matthis, Toni Stone

Eric Berryman, Jonathan Burke, April Matthis, Daniel J. Bryant, and Ezra Knight inThe Roundabout Theatre Company production of Lydia R. Diamond’s Toni Stone. Photo by Joan Marcus

Susannah Millonzi, The Crucible
Kate Mulgrew, The Half-Life of Marie Curie
Joe Ngo, Cambodian Rock Band

Courtney Reed and Joe Ngo in a scene from Cambodian Rock Band at the Pershing Square Signature Center. © Joan Marcus

Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H.
Brenock O’Connor, Sing Street
Okwui Okpokwasili, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge!

Karen Olivo and Aaron Tveit in Moulin Rouge! © David Gordon

Larry Owens, A Strange Loop
Lauren Patten, Jagged Little Pill
Chris Perfetti, Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow
Ben Porter, The Woman in Black
Isaac Powell, West Side Story
Jonathan Pryce, The Height of the Storm
Elizabeth Rodriguez, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Michael Shannon, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Tom Sturridge, Sea Wall/A Life
Marisa Tomei, The Rose Tattoo
Blair Underwood, A Soldier’s Play
Michael Urie, Grand Horizons
Adrienne Warren, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Michael Benjamin Washington, Fires in the Mirror
Portia, Stew

The Drama League also wishes to acknowledge the previous recipients of the Distinguished Performance Award who appeared in Broadway or Off-Broadway productions this season.  As the Award can only be won once in a performer’s lifetime, they are ineligible to be nominated; however, their exemplary work is recognized and applauded.
Harvey Fierstein, Bella Bella
Mary-Louise Parker, The Sound Inside
Audra McDonald, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Membership is open to everyone; for more information about membership or the Drama League Awards, please call (212) 244-9494 or visit www.dramaleague.org.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers,  musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs.

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