For better or worse, theatre and awards have gone hand-in-hand since the ancient Greek theatre festivals. While the COVID-19 pandemic halted the Tony Awards this year, many of the other awards persevered by moving their ceremonies online.
Award-wise, one of the biggest changes this season, the Outer Critics Circle opted to celebrate up to five honorees in each of its 26 categories in lieu of nominees and winners.
And at press time, DG Council member Michael R. Jackson continues to collect more awards including the Hull-Warriner Award, Frederick Loewe Award, and the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, just to name a few.
In this incomplete list, we celebrate all the nominees and honorees. Guild members are listed in all caps and winners are denoted by an asterisk.
Drama Desk Awards
Outstanding Play
*The Inheritance by MATTHEW LOPEZ
Cambodian Rock Band by LAUREN YEE, Signature Theatre
Greater Clements by SAMUEL D. HUNTER, Lincoln Center Theater
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Atlantic Theater/LAByrinth Theater Company
Heroes of the Fourth Turning by WILL ARBERY, Playwrights Horizons
Outstanding Musical
*A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON, Playwrights Horizons/Page 73 Productions
Octet by DAVE MALLOY, Signature Theatre
The Secret Life of Bees book by LYNN NOTTAGE, music by DUNCAN SHEIK, lyrics by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD, Atlantic Theater
Soft Power book & lyrics by DAVID HENRY HWANG, music & lyrics by JEANINE TESORI, The Public Theater
The Wrong Man book, music, and lyrics by Ross Golan, MCC Theater
Outstanding Revival of a play
*A Soldier’s Play by CHARLES FULLER, Roundabout Theatre Company
Fefu and Her Friends by MARIA IRENE FORNES, Theatre for a New Audience
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by NTOZAKE SHANGE, The Public Theater
Mac Beth by Erica Schmidt, Red Bull Theater/Hunter Theater Project
Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare, The Public Theater
Outstanding Revival of a musical
*Little Shop of Horrors music by ALAN MENKEN, book & lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
The Unsinkable Molly Brown book & new lyrics by DICK SCANLAN, music & lyrics by MEREDITH WILLSON, Transport Group
West Side Story book by ARTHUR LAURENTS, music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN, lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Outstanding Music
*Octet music by DAVE MALLOY
A Strange Loop music by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
The Secret Life of Bees music by DUNCAN SHEIK
Soft Power music by JEANINE TESORI
The Wrong Man music by Ross Golan
Einstein’s Dreams music by Joshua Rosenblum
Outstanding Lyrics
*A Strange Loop lyrics by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
The Secret Life of Bees lyrics by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD
Scotland, PA lyrics by ADAM GWON
Einstein’s Dreams lyrics by JOANNE SYDNEY LESSNER and Joshua Rosenblum
Octet lyrics by DAVE MALLOY
Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn lyrics by MARK SALTZMAN
Outstanding Book of a musical
*A Strange Loop book by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
Soft Power book by DAVID HENRY HWANG
Octet, book by DAVE MALLOY
The Secret Life of Bees book by LYNN NOTTAGE
Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn book by MARK SALTZMAN
The Unsinkable Molly Brown book by DICK SCANLAN
Outstanding Adaptation
*A Christmas Carol by Jack Thorne
Judgment Day by Ödön von Horváth, adapted by CHRISTOPHER SHINN
Mojada by Luis Alfaro
Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow by HALLEY FEIFFER
2020 Lambda Literary Award – LGBTQ Drama
*MICHAEL R. JACKSON, A Strange Loop
Liza Birkenmeier, Dr. Ride’s American Beach House
JORDAN HARRISON, The Amateurs
2020 Pulitzer Prize
*MICHAEL R. JACKSON, A Strange Loop
WILL ARBERY, Heroes of the Fourth Turning
DAVID HENRY HWANG and JEANINE TESORI, Soft Power
Lucille Lortel Awards
Outstanding Play
*Heroes of the Fourth Turning by WILL ARBERY, Playwrights Horizons
Blks by Aziza Barnes, MCC Theater
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Atlantic Theater Company and LAByrinth Theater Company
Is This A Room by Tina Satter, Vineyard Theatre
Mrs. Murray’s Menagerie by The Mad Ones and Phillip James Brannon, Brad Heberlee, Carmen M. Herlihy, January LaVoy, Ars Nova
Outstanding Musical
*Octet by DAVE MALLOY, Signature Theatre
A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON, Playwrights Horizons/Page 73 Productions
In the Green by Grace McLean, Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3
Soft Power book & lyrics by DAVID HENRY HWANG, music & lyrics by JEANINE TESORI, The Public Theater/Centre Theater Group
The Secret Life of Bees book by LYNN NOTTAGE, music by DUNCAN SHEIK, lyrics by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD, Atlantic Theater
Outstanding Revival
*for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by NTOZAKE SHANGE, The Public Theater
A Bright Room Called Day by TONY KUSHNER, The Public Theater
Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith, Signature Theatre
Little Shop of Horrors music by ALAN MENKEN, book & lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
Mac Beth Adapted by Erica Schmidt, Red Bull Theater
Outstanding Solo Show
*Dana H. by Lucas Hnath, Vineyard Theatre/Goodman Theatre/Center Theater Group
the way she spoke by ISAAC GOMEZ, Audible
We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time book & lyrics by DAVID CALE, music by DAVID CALE and Matthew Dean Marsh, Public Theater/Goodman Theatre
Where We Stand by DONNETTA LAVINIA GRAYS, WP/Baltimore Center Stage
Bella Bella by Harvey Fierstein, Manhattan Theatre Club
Honorary Award - Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Anna Deavere Smith
Outer Critics Circle
In lieu of selecting traditional nominees with one winner from each category, the 2020 Outer Critics Circle Awards celebrate up to five honorees in each of its 26 categories.
Outstanding New Broadway Play
Grand Horizons by BESS WOHL
The Inheritance by MATTHEW LOPEZ
Linda Vista by TRACY LETTS
The Sound Inside by ADAM RAPP
The Height of the Storm by Florian Zeller
Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Jagged Little Pill music & lyrics by Alanis Morissette and GLEN BALLARD, book by Diablo Cody
Moulin Rouge! book by JOHN LOGAN
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical book by Katori Hall
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play
Cambodian Rock Band by LAUREN YEE
Greater Clements by SAMUEL D. HUNTER
Make Believe by BESS WOHL
Seared by THERESA REBECK
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Octet by DAVE MALLOY
The Secret Life of Bees book by LYNN NOTTAGE, music by DUNCAN SHEIK, lyrics by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD
Soft Power book & lyrics by DAVID HENRY HWANG, music & lyrics by JEANINE TESORI
A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
Darling Grenadine by Daniel Zaitchik
Outstanding Revival of a Play
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by NTOZAKE SHANGE
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune by TERRENCE MCNALLY
A Soldier’s Play by CHARLES FULLER
Betrayal by Harold Pinter
Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith
Outstanding Revival of a musical
Little Shop of Horrors music by ALAN MENKEN, book & lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
The Unsinkable Molly Brown book & new lyrics by DICK SCANLAN, music & lyrics by MEREDITH WILLSON
West Side Story book by ARTHUR LAURENTS, music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN, lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
John Gassner Awards
Heroes of the Fourth Turning by WILL ARBERY
Our Dear Dead Drug Lord by ALEXIS SCHEER
Paris by EBONI BOOTH
Georgia Mertching Is Dead by Catya McMullen
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Diablo Cody, Jagged Little Pill
DAVID HENRY HWANG, Soft Power
MICHAEL R. JACKSON, A Strange Loop
LYNN NOTTAGE, The Secret Life of Bees
MARK SALTZMAN, Romeo and Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn
Outstanding New Score
SUSAN BIRKENHEAD and DUNCAN SHEIK, The Secret Life of Bees
Ross Golan, The Wrong Man
MICHAEL R. JACKSON, A Strange Loop
DAVE MALLOY, Octet
JEANINE TESORI and DAVID HENRY HWANG, Soft Power
Antonyo Awards
Best Book
*A Strange Loop, MICHAEL R. JACKSON
The Secret Life of Bees, LYNN NOTTAGE
Tina: A Tina Turner Musical, Katori Hall
Broadbend, Arkansas, HARRISON DAVID RIVERS
Best Original Score
*The Secret Life of Bees by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD and DUNCAN SHEIK
A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
Broadbend, Arkansas by HARRISON DAVID RIVERS, ELLEN FITZHUGH, and TED SHEN
We’re Gonna Die by YOUNG JEAN LEE, Tim Simmonds, and John-Michael Lyles
The Wrong Man by Ross Golan
Off Broadway Alliance Awards
Best New Play
*Life Sucks by Aaron Posner
Ain’t No Mo’ by Jordan Cooper
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Make Believe by BESS WOHL
The Confession of Lily Dare by CHARLES BUSCH
Best Play Revival
*The Woman in Black adapted by Stephen Mallatratt
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by NTOZAKE SHANGE, The Public Theater
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Best New Musical
*A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
Cambodian Rock Band by LAUREN YEE
Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn book and lyrics by MARK SALTZMAN
Sing Street book by ENDA WALSH, music and lyrics by John Carney and Gary Clark
The Secret Life of Bees book by LYNN NOTTAGE, music by DUNCAN SHEIK, lyrics by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD
Emojiland book, music, and lyrics by Keith Harrison and Laura Schein
Best Musical revival
*The Unsinkable Molly Brown book & new lyrics by DICK SCANLAN, music & lyrics by MEREDITH WILLSON
Baby book by SYBILLE PEARSON, music by DAVID SHIRE, lyrics by RICHARD MALTBY, JR.
Little Shop of Horrors music by ALAN MENKEN, book & lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
Enter Laughing book by JOSEPH STEIN, music and lyrics by Stan Daniels
Rock of Ages book by Chris D’Arienzo
Best Solo Performance
*The Day I Became Black by Bill Mosley
A Woman of the World by REBECCA GILMAN
American Moor by KEITH HAMILTON COBB
Bella Bella by Harvey Fierstein
Gospel of John by Ken Jennings
Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom by Aedin Moloney and Colum McCann
Best Family Show
*She Persisted, The Musical book and lyrics by Adam Tobin, music by DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA
Dog Man: The Musical music by BRAD ALEXANDER, book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila
Paddington Gets in a Jam by DOUG KMIOTEK
The Big One-Oh! book by Timothy Allen McDonald, music by DOUG BESTERMAN, lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Taste the Clouds by Hit the Lights! Theater Co
Legends of Off Broadway
GRETCHEN CRYER
BARBARA ZINN KRIEGER
Woodie King, Jr.
Eric Krebs
2020 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting
First Place: Drive by DEBORAH YARCHUN
Second Place: Override by ELIZABETH KEEL
2020 Smith Prize for Political Theater
VICKIE RAMIREZ
New York Drama Critics Circle Award
Best Play
Heroes of the Fourth Turning by WILL ARBERY
Best MUSICAL
A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
DRAMA LEAGUE AWARDS
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
*The Inheritance by MATTHEW LOPEZ
Cambodian Rock Band by LAUREN YEE
Dana H. by Lucas Hnath
Grand Horizons by BESS WOHL
The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall
The Michaels by Richard Nelson
Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow by HALLEY FEIFFER
One in Two by Donja R. Love
Sea Wall/A Life by Simon Stephens and Nick Payne
Seared by THERESA REBECK
Slave Play by JEREMY O. HARRIS
Stew by ZORA HOWARD
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
*Moulin Rouge! book by JOHN LOGAN
Girl from the North Country book by Conor McPherson, Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan
Jagged Little Pill music & lyrics by Alanis Morissette and GLEN BALLARD, book by Diablo Cody
Octet by DAVE MALLOY
The Secret Life of Bees book by LYNN NOTTAGE, music by DUNCAN SHEIK, lyrics by SUSAN BIRKENHEAD
Sing Street book by ENDA WALSH, music and lyrics by John Carney and Gary Clark
Six by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Soft Power book & lyrics by DAVID HENRY HWANG, music & lyrics by JEANINE TESORI
A Strange Loop by MICHAEL R. JACKSON
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical book by Katori Hall
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
*A Soldier’s Play by CHARLES FULLER
Betrayal by Harold Pinter
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by NTOZAKE SHANGE
Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune by TERRENCE MCNALLY
Judgment Day by Ödön von Horváth, adapted by CHRISTOPHER SHINN
Medea by Simon Stone, after Euripedes
Native Son by NAMBI E. KELLEY, based on the novel by Richard Wright
The Rose Tattoo by TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
The Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
*Little Shop of Horrors music by ALAN MENKEN, book & lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
Enter Laughing book by JOSEPH STEIN, music and lyrics by Stan Daniels
Rock of Ages book by Chris D’Arienzo
The Unsinkable Molly Brown book & new lyrics by DICK SCANLAN, music & lyrics by MEREDITH WILLSON
West Side Story book by ARTHUR LAURENTS, music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN, lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
DG AWARDS
2020 Frederick Loewe Award
MICHAEL R. JACKSON
2020 Flora Roberts Award
KIA CORTHRON
2020 Horton Foote Award
LYDIA R. DIAMOND
2020 Lanford Wilson Award
MADHURI SHEKAR
2019 Hull-Warriner Award
*MICHAEL R. JACKSON, A Strange Loop
MADELEINE GEORGE, Hurricane Diane
SAMUEL D. HUNTER, Greater Clements
Donja R. Love, one in two
Jackie Sibblies Drury, Marys Seacole
Stephen Adly Guirgis, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
