Tony Award Winners 2016

Lin-Manuel Miranda (center) and the company of Hamilton. Photo: Joan Marcus.

Hamilton led the winners with 11 Tonys. Winners are in RED.

Best Play

Eclipsed Author: Danai Gurira 

The Father Author: Florian Zeller 
The Humans Author: Stephen Karam 
King Charles IIIAuthor: Mike Bartlett 

Best Musical

Bright Star

Hamilton 

School of Rock—The Musical

Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Waitress

Best Revival of a Play

Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
Blackbird
Long Day's Journey Into NightNoises Off

Best Revival of a Musical

The Color Purple

Fiddler on the Roof

She Loves Me

Spring Awakening

Best Book of a Musical

Bright Star

Steve Martin

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda

School of Rock—The Musical

Julian Fellowes

Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

George C. Wolfe

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Bright Star

Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
Lyrics: Edie Brickell

Hamilton

Music and Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda

School of Rock—The Musical

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Glenn Slater

Waitress

Music and Lyrics: Sara Bareilles

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Gabriel Byrne, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Jeff Daniels, Blackbird
Frank Langella, The Father
Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
Mark Strong, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Laurie Metcalf, Misery
Lupita Nyong'o, Eclipsed
Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Michelle Williams, Blackbird

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Alex Brightman, School of Rock—The Musical
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Jessie Mueller, Waitress
Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Reed Birney, The Humans
Bill Camp, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
David Furr, Noises Off
Richard Goulding, King Charles III
Michael Shannon, Long Day's Journey Into Night

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Pascale Armand, Eclipsed
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
Andrea Martin, Noises Off
Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress
Jonathan Groff, Hamilton
Christopher Jackson, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin
Christopher Oram, Hughie
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
David Zinn, The Humans

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Es Devlin & Finn Ross, American Psycho
David Korins, Hamilton
Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jane Greenwood, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Michael Krass, Noises Off
Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Tom Scutt, King Charles III

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting
Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me
Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Natasha Katz, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Justin Townsend, The Humans
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend, American Psycho

Best Direction of a Play

Rupert Goold, King Charles III
Jonathan Kent, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Joe Mantello, The Humans
Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed
Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden, Spring Awakening
John Doyle, The Color Purple
Scott Ellis, She Loves Me
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof
Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan

Best Orchestrations

August Eriksmoen, Bright Star
Larry Hochman, She Loves Me
Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton
Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Sheldon Harnick

Marshall W. Mason

Special Tony Award

National Endowment for the Arts

Miles Wilkin

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Paper Mill Playhouse

Millburn, NJ

Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award

Brian Stokes Mitchell 

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre

Seth Gelblum

Joan Lader

Sally Ann Parsons

My 2016 Tony Award Predictions

Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton (Photo: Joan Marcus)

The Tony Awards are Sunday at 8 on CBS. Tune in to find out who takes home the awards for the 2015-2016 season.

Here are my predictions:

Hamilton.

Thanks. See you next season.

OK, it isn't quite that cut and dried, but the musical sensation by Lin-Manuel Miranda has captures the hearts and imaginations of many since its debut at the Public Theatre and susequent transfer to Broadway.  The hip-hop retelling of the Founding Fathers and the birthing of our nation has struck a chord, especially with younger audiences, because of its inclusion of people from many ethnic backgrounds -- a true melting pot representing the diverse makeup of our nation. The only character played by a white actor is the foppish King George III.

Hamilton is nominated for a record 16 Tony Awards and likely will will many of them. See below where I think some other musical nominees have the best shot at a trophy as well as my preductions for the plays. My predictions are in RED. And remember, these aren't necessarily the ones I think SHOULD win, but the ones I think WILL win. This year really is a crap shoot because of the Hamilton factor. I cam not even going to keep track.....

Best Play

Eclipsed Author: Danai Gurira 

The Father Author: Florian Zeller 
------------The Humans Author: Stephen Karam 
King Charles IIIAuthor: Mike Bartlett 

Best Musical

Bright Star

-----------Hamilton 

School of Rock—The Musical

Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Waitress

Best Revival of a Play

Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
Blackbird
Long Day's Journey Into NightNoises Off

Best Revival of a Musical

The Color Purple

Fiddler on the Roof

---------She Loves Me

Spring Awakening

Best Book of a Musical

Bright Star

Steve Martin

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda

School of Rock—The Musical

Julian Fellowes

Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

George C. Wolfe

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Bright Star

Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
Lyrics: Edie Brickell

Hamilton

Music and Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda

School of Rock—The Musical

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Glenn Slater

Waitress

Music and Lyrics: Sara Bareilles

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Gabriel Byrne, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Jeff Daniels, Blackbird
Frank Langella, The Father
Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
Mark Strong, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Danny Burstein. Photo: Joan Marcus

Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Laurie Metcalf, Misery
Lupita Nyong'o, Eclipsed
Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Michelle Williams, Blackbird

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Alex Brightman, School of Rock—The Musical
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Jessie Mueller, Waitress
Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Reed Birney, The Humans
Bill Camp, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
David Furr, Noises Off
Richard Goulding, King Charles III
Michael Shannon, Long Day's Journey Into Night

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Pascale Armand, Eclipsed
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans  
Andrea Martin, Noises Off
Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress
Jonathan Groff, Hamilton
Christopher Jackson, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin
Christopher Oram, Hughie
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
David Zinn, The Humans

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Es Devlin; Finn Ross, American Psycho
David Korins, Hamilton
Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jane Greenwood, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Michael Krass, Noises Off
Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Tom Scutt, King Charles III

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting
Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me
Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Natasha Katz, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Justin Townsend, The Humans
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend, American Psycho

Best Direction of a Play

Rupert Goold, King Charles III
Jonathan Kent, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Joe Mantello, The Humans
Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed
Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden, Spring Awakening
John Doyle, The Color Purple
Scott Ellis, She Loves Me
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof
Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan

Best Orchestrations

August Eriksmoen, Bright Star
Larry Hochman, She Loves Me
Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton
Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Off-Broadway Theater Review: Shining City

Matthew Broderick and Billy Carter. Photo: Carol Rosegg

This Story Just Might Have You Believing in Ghosts

By Lauren Yarger

Broken relationships, guilt and a ghost combine to tell the stories of two men searching for life's answers in Conor McPherson's Shining City getting an Off-Broadway revival at Irish Repertory Theatre.

John (Matthew Broderick, sporting an Irish brogue thanks to Dialect Coach Stephen Gabis) has recently lost his wife in a tragic accident. He has been having trouble sleeping, especially after seeing a terrifying sight: the ghost of his wife. He visits therapist Ian (Billy Carter) in his newly established Dublin office (designed by Charlie Corcoran) to seek help. The timid man has been unable to return home since the disturbing experience which he hopes Ian believes him and doesn't think he is losing his mind.

Ian lends a sympathetic ear as John speaks (often in very long monologues) about his marriage and it soon becomes apparent that guilt over his infidelity might be the real culprit behind his lack of sleep and inability to put his wife's death behind him. Meanwhile, Ian might need a few sessions with a therapist himself.

We discover that he recently left the priesthood and became involved with Neasa (Lisa Dwan), with whom he has a newborn daughter. It's become too much, however, and he seeks to end the relationship with an uncomprehending Neasa who begs him to return with her to his brother's where they have been staying. She feels overwhelmed, alone and unwelcome by Ian's sister-in-law.

Parallels are apparent in the relationship between John and his wife and Ian and Neasa including a deterioration brought on by a lack of communication and infidelity. For Ian there's an added difficulty. In his quest to discover who he is post-priesthood, he considers trying sex with Laurence (James Russell), a prostitute he picks up in the park. 

McPherson's lyrical writing (it certainly helps us not fall asleep during those long monologues -- Broderick appeared to be looking for a couple of lines) has us questioning just who is helping whom here and just what reality is, despite what we see -- or don't see -- right in front of our eyes. Loneliness and desperation (common themes for the playwright, along with ghosts) drip off the sentiments expressed, even as the text is peppered with humor.

Directed here by Ciaran O'Reilly, the 100-minute, no intermission production is engaging, but a special effect fails to have the impact it should, partly because we aren't as frightened as we should be by the character's appearance as costumed by Martha Holly. Let's just say there weren't gasps like there were in the original on Broadway which received two Tony Award nominations and starred Brian O'Byrne and Oliver Platt. This revival is the first since that production in 2006.

Shining City plays through July 3 at Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 West 22nd St., NYC. Performances are Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm; Wednesday at 3 and 8 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm;  Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets are $50-$70: irishrep.org; 212-727-2737.

Additional credits;

Lighting Design by Michael Gottlieb; Sound Design by M. Florian Staab's Original Music by Ryan Rumery; Property Design by Sven Henry Nelson.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:

-- Language

-- God's name taken in vain

-- Homosexuality

Off-Broadway Theater Review: The Total Bent

Curtis Wiley, Ato Blankson-Wood, and Jahi Kearse. Photo: Joan Marcus.

Father-Son Conflict Fuels New Musical from Passing Strange Team
By Lauren Yarger
Stew and Heid Rodewald, who brought us he musical Passing Strange, have reunited for another satisfying rock tale with The Total Bent getting a run at the Public Theater.

Stew writes the text and joins with Rodewald for the the music (and both even play in the on-stage band Music Directed by Marty Beller) to tell the story of a complex love-hate relationship between a father and son in Civil-Rights-era Birmingham, AL. Music prodigy Marty (Alto Blankson-Wood) has been the secret to the success of his father, Joe Roy (Vondie Curtis Hall), a gospel-singing evangelist and faith healer.

The young boy yearns to take his music in a new direction -- to bring the gospel to the streets and express his feelings about the recent protests taking place. His father wants to continue on a path that keeps the money rolling in. He isn't excited about lyrics that say, "That's why He's Jesus and you're not, whitey." He also is in denial about the possibility that his son might be a homosexual.

"Shut up and get back on the bus," is his response.

Joanna Settle (who collaborated with Stew and Rodewald up in Connecticut when she was Artistic Director of Shakespeare on the Sound), directs the anatomy of the deteriorating relationship on Andrew Lieberman's eclectic sound studio set set of platforms, microphones and musical instruments. She visualizes the cavern between father and son when Joe tries finally tries to reach out -- from a separate platform which doesn't allows him to really get close enough to fix things.

Filling out the cats of characters are Kenny Brawner as Deacon Charlie, Damian Lemar Hudson as Deacon Dennis, Jahi Kearse and Curtis Wiley as Andrew and Abee, back-up singers for Marty, and David Cale, as Byron Blackwell, a British record producer who thinks Marty -- without Joe Roy -- might be a music sensation.

The terrific score is bright and jazzy and spirit- satisfying. The tune "Meet My God" would cause me to walk into any church where its strains could be heard outside. A final number "Scared of Your Love" is just heart-wrenching.

"Their suffering remains after the myth of your live was explained."

It's hard, soul-searching stuff (and clocks in a just under two hours without intermission and I have to admit to enjoying watch a bunch of white audience members bop off beat). Religious themes are  intertwined with the father-son story. Blackwell, for instance, questions why any black person would be believe in God any more. It's hard to believe a benevolent God would allow slavery and segregation, he reasons. Even Joe Roy appears to sell out with the questionable, but revenue-producing faith-healing.  The strongest faith comes in Marty's unexpected response that "hell ain't bad when you know you're going to heaven."

The Total Bent has been extended at The Public Theater through June 26. Performances are Tuesday-Sunday at 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm. Tickets start at $65: publictheater.org; 212-967-7555.

Additional Credits: Choreography David Neumann; Costume Design by Gabriel Berry; Lighting Design by Thom Weaver; Sound Design by Obadiah Eaves and Sten Severson; Hair and Wig Design by Cookie Jordan.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- Very strong language
-- The "N" word
-- God's name taken in vain

Episcopal Actors' Guild Sponsors Summer Soiree

Courtesy of EAG

Event Notice: Kick off your summer with hot fun at EAG's 2nd Annual Summertime Soiree Benefit!

When:  Monday, June 20th at  6 pm

Where: The Brazen Fox, 106 Third Avenue (at 13th Street), NYC

Tickets: $35 - $250: 212- 685-2927; office@actorsguild.org

​Join EAG for a fun night of live entertainment, cocktails, and prizes with proceeds benefiting New York’s performing artists in need.  The Second Annual Summertime Soiree starts will feature performances by Tony-nominee Jane Summerhays (A Chorus Line, Me and My Girl) and singer Jason McCullum.  

Appetizers and cocktails will be served throughout the evening and with a raffle.

Ticket Pricing:

$35: Individual Ticket (includes food and two drink tickets)

$50: Individual Reserved (includes food, two drink tickets and a reserved seat)

$250: VIP Table for four (includes food, three drink tickets per person and a reserved table in the front)

About EAG:

The Episcopal Actors’ Guild was established in 1923 and is a charitable organization offering emergency assistance and career support to professional performers “of all faiths, and none.” We also host a full calendar of events and fundraisers including concerts, variety shows, play readings, and professional workshops. Learn more at www.actorsguild.org. 

2016 Drama Desk Award Winners

Jessica Lange and Frank Langella won Drama Desk Awards. Photo: Barry Gordin

Winners in Bold

Outstanding Play
The Christians, Playwrights Horizons
The Humans, Roundabout Theatre Company
John, Signature Theatre
King Charles III
The Royale, Lincoln Center Theater

Outstanding Musical
First Daughter Suite, Public Theater
Daddy Long Legs
School of Rock
Shuffle Along
Waitress

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Cloud Nine, Atlantic Theater Company
Death of a Salesman, New Yiddish Rep
Henry IV, Donmar Warehouse at St. Ann’s Warehouse
Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Roundabout Theatre Company
A View From the Bridge
Women Without Men, Mint Theater Company

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
The Color Purple
The Golden Bride, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene
Fiddler on the Roof
She Loves Me, Roundabout Theatre Company
Spring Awakening

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Andrew Garman, The Christians, Playwrights Horizons
Avi Hoffman, Death of a Salesman
Frank Langella, The Father, Manhattan Theatre Club
Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
Mark Strong, A View From the Bridge

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Georgia Engel, John, Signature Theatre
Mamie Gummer, Ugly Lies the Bone, Roundabout Underground
Marin Ireland, Ironbound, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater/Women’s Project Theater
Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Nicola Walker, A View From the Bridge

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Robert Creighton, Cagney, York Theatre Company
Michael C. Hall, Lazarus, New York Theatre Workshop
Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
Benjamin Walker, American Psycho

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Jessie Mueller, Waitress
Annette O’Toole, Southern Comfort, Public Theater

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Bill Camp, The Crucible
David Furr, Noises Off, Roundabout Theatre Company
Matt McGrath, The Legend of Georgia McBride, MCC Theater
Richard Thomas, Incident at Vichy, Signature Theatre
Michael Shannon, Long Day's Journey Into Night

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Brooke Bloom, Cloud Nine
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Kellie Overbey, Women Without Men
Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed, Public Theater
Jeanine Serralles, Gloria, Vineyard Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Nicholas Barasch, She Loves Me
Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress
Baylee Littrell, Disaster!
Paul Alexander Nolan, Bright Star
A.J. Shively, Bright Star

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Alison Fraser, First Daughter Suite
Rachel Bay Jones, Dear Evan Hansen, Second Stage
Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
Mary Testa, First Daughter Suite

Outstanding Director of a Play
Rachel Chavkin, The Royale
Sam Gold, John
Rupert Goold, King Charles III
Joe Mantello, The Humans
Jenn Thompson, Women Without Men
Ivo van Hove, A View From the Bridge

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Michael Arden, Spring Awakening
John Doyle, The Color Purple (TIE)
Rupert Goold, American Psycho
Bartlett Sher, Fiddler on the Roof (TIE)
Bryna Wasserman, Motl Didner, The Golden Bride

Outstanding Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, Cagney
Spencer Liff, Spring Awakening
Lynne Page, American Psycho
Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea
Savion Glover, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Music
Sara Bareilles, Waitress
Michael John LaChiusa, First Daughter Suite
Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock
The Lobbyists, SeaWife, Naked Angels
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star

Outstanding Lyrics
Sara Bareilles, Waitress
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dear Evan Hansen
Glenn Slater, School of Rock
Michael John LaChiusa, First Daughter Suite

Outstanding Book of a Musical: 
John Caird, Daddy Long Legs 
Michael John LaChiusa, First Daughter Suite 
Jessie Nelson, Waitress

Outstanding Orchestrations
August Eriksmoen, Bright Star
Larry Hochman, She Loves Me, Roundabout Theatre Company
Joseph Joubert/Catherine Jayes, The Color Purple
Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock
Michael Starobin/Bruce Coughlin, First Daughter Suite

Outstanding Music in a Play
Billie Joe Armstrong, These Paper Bullets!, Atlantic Theatre Company Estelle Bajou, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, One Year Lease Theater Company
Shaun Davey, Pericles, Theatre for a New Audience
Philip Glass, The CrucibleTom Kitt, Cymbeline, Public Theater

Outstanding Set Design for a Play
Riccardo Hernandez, Red Speedo, New York Theatre Workshop
Mimi Lien, JohnG.W. Mercier, Head of Passes, Public Theater
Christopher Oram, Hughie
Derek McLane, Fully Committed

Outstanding Set Design for a Musical
Es Devlin, American Psycho
Emily Orling, Matt Saunders, Eric Farber, Futurity, Soho Rep/Ars Nova
David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Outstanding Costume Design for a Play
Jessica Ford, These Paper Bullets!
Martha Hally, Women Without Men
Constance Hoffman, Pericles
William Ivey Long, Shows for Days, Lincoln Center Theater
Anita Yavich, The Legend of Georgia McBride
 
Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical
Jane Greenwood, Bright Star
Katrina Lindsay, American Psycho
Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me
Alejo Vietti, Allegiance
Ann Roth, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play
Neil Austin, Hughie
Mark Barton, John
Bradley King, Empanada Loca, Labyrinth Theater Company
Tyler Micoleau, Antlia Pneumatica, Playwrights Horizons
Justin Townsend, The Humans

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
Jane Cox, The Color Purple
Jake DeGroot, SeaWife
Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend, American Psycho
Jules Fisher/Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Projection Design
Nicholas Hussong, These Paper Bullets!
Darrel Maloney, Tappin’ Thru Life
Peter Nigrini, Dear Evan Hansen
Finn Ross, American Psycho
Tal Yarden, Lazarus

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Fitz Patton, An Act of God
Fitz Patton, The Humans
Mikhail Fiksel/Miles Polaski, Fulfillment, The Flea Theater
Bray Poor, JohnRyan Rumery, Empanada Loca

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Mick Potter, School of Rock
Brian Ronan, Lazarus
Nevin Steinberg, Bright Star
Dan Moses Schreier, American Psycho
Scott Lehrer, Shuffle Along 

Outstanding Wig and Hair
David Brian Brown, She Loves Me
Jason Hayes, The Legend of Georgia McBride
Robert-Charles Vallance, Women Without Men
Charles G. LaPointe, The School for Scandal, Red Bull Theater
Mia M. Neal, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Solo Performance
Simon Callow, Tuesdays at Tesco’s, 59E59
Kathleen Chalfant, Rose, Nora’s Playhouse
James Lecesne, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Empanada Loca
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fully Committed

Unique Theatrical Experience
ADA/AVA, Manual Cinema/3LD/The Tank
Antigona – Soledad Barrio/Noche Flamenca
That Physics Show
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
YOUARENOWHERE – 3LD/The Tank/Andrew J. Schneider Performance/Lingua Franca Arts

Special AwardsThe Humans – Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble
Cassie Beck, Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell, Lauren Klein, Arian Moayed, and Sarah Steele spend a very special Thanksgiving Day together in Stephen Karam’s play, reminding us that home is indeed where The Humans are.

The Royale – Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding EnsembleThe heavyweight cast of McKinley Belcher III, Khris Davis, Montego Glover, John Lavelle, and Clarke Peters gels as a unit in bringing Marco Ramirez’s story, inspired by Jack Johnson, to unforgettable life, offering a trenchant statement on racism in America.

Sheldon Harnick – Special Drama Desk Award
New productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Rothschild and Sons, and She Loves Me this season remind us that this veteran lyricist’s takes on faith, family and community are as resonant as ever.

Camp Broadway – Special Drama Desk Award
For more than 20 years, this indispensable organization has introduced young people to the magic of theater. Camp Broadway plays a crucial role in creating tomorrow’s audiences.

Danai Gurira – Sam Norkin AwardWhether writing about women in wartime Liberia in Eclipsed or about an affluent immigrant family from Zimbabwe struggling with assimilation in Familiar, Danai Gurira demonstrates great insight, range, and depth, bringing a fresh new voice to American theater.