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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Awards – 2019/2020 Season
Floating envelope against yellow backdrop

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