Drama Desk Nominations, Tony's More Inclusive Cousin
Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 5:14PM 
Lin-Manuel Miranda as "Hamilton"The Drama Desk Nominations for the 2014/2015 theater season have been announced and the Tony Awards follow suit in a week's tim (theater seasons run summer to spring). The chief difference, besides the level of fame, is that the Drama Desk categories have more nominees but also more eligible contenders since Off Broadway productions (and there are lots more of those) are also considered for the top prizes. Hamilton, the new hip-hop Off Broadway musical about the founding fathers from Lin-Manuel Miranda of "The Heights" fame dominated with 13 nominations but it's not eligible for the Tonys.
It's also impossible to get tickets to and popular with celebrities (Madonna famously was barred from going backstage after using her cel phone -ugh - but everyone's been to it including Michelle Pfeiffer). In the reverse situation, "Fun Home," which is an absolute must see and could lead the Tony nominations, is not eligible for the Drama Desk nominations since it was already eligible in its Off Broadway run last season. "Hamilton" is moving to Broadway in the summer which means it'll be eligible for the 2016 Tony Awards.
The full nominee list, which also included a lot of nominations for screen-to-stage transfer "Let the Right One In" is after the jump...
I've helpfully placed in red the shows that I've personally seen. I go to the theater fairly frequently (twice a month?) but it's really hard to keep up with everything and too expensive to pay full price so I only go with discounts or if I'm offered a ticket which accounts for some big misses. My current desires that have alluded me due to high prices / no discounts are The King and I and On the Twentieth Century.
Outstanding Play
Clare Barron, You Got Older
Lisa D’Amour, Airline Highway
Anthony Giardina, The City of Conversation
Stephen Adly Guirgis, Between Riverside and Crazy
Elizabeth Irwin, My Manãna Comes
Simon Stephens, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Jack Thorne, Let the Right One In
I assumed Let the Right One In would be a cheap cash in but apparently I assumed incorrectly. the reviews were raves and then it was hard to get tickets.
Outstanding Musical
An American in Paris
Hamilton
Fly By Night
Pretty Filthy
Something Rotten
The Visit
I don't really understand the appeal of "something rotten" but everyone else seems to
Outstanding Revival of a Play
The Elephant Man
Fashions for Men
Ghosts
The Iceman Cometh
Tamburlaine the Great
The Wayside Motor Inn
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Into the Woods
The King and I
On the Town
On the Twentieth Century
Pageant
Side Show
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Reed Birney, I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard
Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Ben Miles, Wolf Hall, Parts 1 & 2
Bill Pullman, Sticks and Bones
Alexander Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Tonya Pinkins was indeed excellent in "Rasheeda Speaking" with TFE favorite Dianne Wiest
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Brooke Bloom, You Got Older
Kathleen Chalfant, A Walk in the Woods
Kristin Griffith, The Fatal Weakness
Jan Maxwell, The City of Conversation
Helen Mirren, The Audience
Carey Mulligan, Skylight
Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Brian d’Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Robert Fairchild, An American in Paris
Jeremy Kushnier, Atomic
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Matthew Morrison, Finding Neverland
Ryan Silverman, Side Show
It was a thrill to see Chita Rivera on stage again
Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, John & Jen
Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century
Leanne Cope, An American in Paris
Erin Davie, Side Show
Lisa Howard, It Shoulda Been You
Chita Rivera, The Visit
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
F. Murray Abraham, It’s Only a Play
Reed Birney, You Got Older
K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway
Jonathan Hadary, Rocket to the Moon
Jason Butler Harner, The Village Bike
Jonathan Hogan, Pocatello
José Joaquin Perez, My Mañana Comes
Annaleigh Ashford (Masters of Sex) stole the show
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Annaleigh Ashford, You Can’t Take It with You
Beth Dixon, The City of Conversation
Julie Halston, You Can’t Take It with You
Paola Lázaro-Muñoz, To the Bone
Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall, Parts 1 & 2
Julie White, Airline Highway
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Christian Borle, Something Rotten!
Peter Friedman, Fly By Night
Josh Grisetti, It Shoulda Been You
Andy Karl, On the Twentieth Century
Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton
Brad Oscar, Something Rotten!
Max von Essen, An American in Paris - we just barely sang his praises!
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Carolee Carmello, Finding Neverland
Tyne Daly, It Shoulda Been You
Elizabeth A. Davis, Allegro
Renee Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Luba Mason, Pretty Filthy
Nancy Opel, Honeymoon in Vegas
Elizabeth Stanley, On the Town
I'm a bit surprised that it was Elizabeth Stanley who was singled out for On the Town. She's good in it so this is no slight on her but her co-star Alysha Humphrees has the single biggest showstopping number with "I Can Cook"
Outstanding Director of a Play
Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Jeremy Herrin, Wolf Hall, Parts 1 & 2
Anne Kauffman, You Got Older
Lila Neugebauer, The Wayside Motor Inn
Austin Pendleton, Between Riverside and Crazy
Joe Tantalo, Deliverance
John Tiffany, Let the Right One In
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Carolyn Cantor, Fly By Night
Bill Condon, Side Show
John Doyle, The Visit
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris
and the rest
Outstanding Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, On the Town
Warren Carlyle, On the Twentieth Century
Steven Hoggett, The Last Ship
Austin McCormick, Rococo Rouge
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris
Outstanding Music
Jason Robert Brown, Honeymoon in Vegas
Michael Friedman, The Fortress of Solitude
John Kander, The Visit
Dave Malloy, Ghost Quartet
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Sting, The Last Ship
Outstanding Lyrics
Jason Robert Brown, Honeymoon in Vegas
Fred Ebb, The Visit
Michael Friedman, The Fortress of Solitude
Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten!
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Benjamin Scheuer, The Lion
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Hunter Bell & Lee Overtree, Found
Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell, Something Rotten!
Craig Lucas, An American in Paris
Terence McNally, The Visit
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Kim Rosenstock, Will Connolly, & Michael Mitnick, Fly By Night
Outstanding Orchestrations
Christopher Austin, An American in Paris
Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Allegro
Larry Hochman, Something Rotten!
Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton
Rob Mathes, The Last Ship
Don Sebesky, Larry Blank, Jason Robert Brown, & Charlie Rosen, Honeymoon in Vegas
Outstanding Music in a Play
Cesar Alvarez, An Octoroon
Danny Blackburn & Bryce Hodgson, Deliverance
Sean Cronin, Kill Me Like You Mean It
Bongi Duma, Generations
Freddi Price, The Pigeoning
Arthur Solari & Jane Shaw, Tamburlaine the Great
Outstanding Revue
Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging!
Just Jim Dale
Lennon: Through a Glass Onion
Lonesome Traveler
Outstanding Set Design
Bob Crowley, An American in Paris
Christine Jones, Let The Right One In
David Korins, Hamilton
Mimi Lien, An Octoroon
Scott Pask, The Visit
Daniel Zimmerman, Fashions for Men
Yes it's true. There are two current Broadway musicals that are derived from Leslie Caron movies. They're both nominated for costume design.
Outstanding Costume Design
Bob Crowley, An American in Paris
Bob Crowley, The Audience
Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall, Parts 1 & 2
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Andrea Varga, The Fatal Weakness
Catherine Zuber, Gigi
Outstanding Lighting Design
Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Paule Constable, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Paule Constable & David Plater, Wolf Hall, Parts 1 & 2
Maruti Evans, Deliverance
Natasha Katz, The Iceman Cometh
Ben Stanton, Our Lady of Kibeho
Outstanding Projection Design
59 Productions, An American in Paris
Roger Hanna & Price Johnston, Donogoo
Darrel Maloney, Found
Peter Nigrini, Our Lady of Kibeho
Finn Ross, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Austin Switser, Big Love
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Peter Hylenski, Side Show
Scott Lehrer, The King & I
Scott Lehrer & Drew Levy, Honeymoon in Vegas
Brian Ronan, The Last Ship
Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton
Jon Weston, An American in Paris
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Nathan Davis, The Other Mozart
Ien Denio, Deliverance
Ian Dickinson (for Autograph), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Gareth Fry, Let the Right One In
John Gromada, Lives of the Saints
Matt Tierney, Our Lady of Kibeho
Outstanding Solo Performance
Christina Bianco, Application Pending
Jonny Donahoe, Every Brilliant Thing
Tom Dugan, Wiesenthal
Mona Golabek, The Pianist of Willesden Lane
Joely Richardson, The Belle of Amherst
Benjamin Scheuer, The Lion
I love Christina Bianco and her crazy-pipes but Application Pending was a rough sit. She was game but the play just wasn't strong enough to sustain a whole full length show - even a short one without an intermission.
Unique Theatrical Experience
Catch Me!
Everybody Gets Cake
The Human Symphony
Queen of the Night
A Rap Guide to Religion
Reader Comments (13)
This reminds me how much has happened in NYC this year that I want(ed) to see. Surprised to see no Kelli O'Hara. Julie Halston's nomination for YCTIWY is no doubt for the stair sequence alone - for which she deserves all of the awards. She was excellent.
No Kelli O'Hara?
Really surprised to see such little representation for The King and I after the raves it got from NYT and the trades. Hope this doesn't ruin Kelli O'Hara's chances at a Tony (again).
KELLI!!!! :(
I have a feeling it's going to Chenoweth this year. Sigh.
I really loved SOMETHING ROTTEN. So much fun. Can't wait to see FUN HOME whenever I get a chance to. And HAMILTON of course.
I was lucky enough to study abroad in London fall 2013 and we saw Let The Right One In for class and it was amazing. And actually scary. It was super interesting to see horror on stage.
I haven't been able to see as much theater as I'd like since moving to NYC in September (low on funds), but I did see Something Rotten and had fun but didn't think it was great. Hated Christian Borle, liked Brian D'Arcy James, and LOVED Brad Oscar. It also contains what just may be the single greatest, best-staged musical number I've ever seen on a Broadway stage - it comes about a quarter of the way into the first act and got a standing ovation. Really incredible. But most of the rest of the show doesn't live up to it.
For those worrying about Kelli O'Hara's Tony chances - don't. She'll get nominated; the Tonys love her. But, NYT notwithstanding, I've mostly heard just polite praise for The King and I. From what I've seen/heard, it's between Cheno and Chita for the Tony.
One of my best friends, who is very selective with her praise of stage shows, saw Hamilton in one of the last previews at the Public, told me it was completely brilliant the next day, and then it promptly sold out for the rest of the run. I have entered that damn lottery every damn day since, to no avail. Can't wait to see it when it comes to Broadway.
Let the Right One In is my favourite movie of the 21st Century.
And yet I somehow missed knowing that A) the National Theatre of Scotland had created a critically acclaimed stage version of Let the Right One In, and that B) after its successful London run, it played at St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York for another seven weeks. So sorry I missed it. It got raves.
“Had i but known…” as they say in Gothic romance novels.
It’s a bit strange seeing adults play Oskar and Eli, although, of course, adults have been playing Romeo and Juliet for centuries. And many of the 30ish actors who play high school kids on American TV shows would be arrested on suspicion if they ever started hanging out near school playgrounds.
How on earth did the do the swimming pool scene?
Joe & Denny -- i think Kelli O'Hara's problem winning is that she's just not an "exciting" actress. She's certainly able and her voice is a gorgeous thing to listen to but I'm surprised actually that she's become such a big Broadway star because, at least to me, she just doesn't inspire the obsession that other musical theater divas seem to inspire so easily
I LOVED Chita in The Visit but i haven't seen Cheno yet.
Nathaniel - for what it's worth, I TOTALLY agree on Kelli O'Hara. The only thing I've unreservedly liked her in was South Pacific (although I didn't get a chance to see Bridges of Madison County), but I also pretty much unreservedly love Nellie Forbush as a character, so...
But yeah, she's in the bottom tier of the modern musical theater queens for me. She no Sutton Foster or Laura Benanti, and she's certainly no Audra McDonald or Kristen Chenoweth (who is SUPERB in Twentieth Century, even if she's no Madeline Kahn and even if I strongly dislike the show itself).
Can I get a waaa-waaa for soap actors! Tonya Pinkins played Livia on All My Children and Renee Elise Goldsberry played Evangeline on One Life To Live. Discuss.
Represent. And Oscar winner Julianne Moore won an Emmy for As the World Turns. Yeah.
At least with the Drama Desk Awards, Laura Benanti will be hosting.
Goldsberry also has a recurring on Good Wife. Pine, the da who is trying to frame Diane into turning on Bishop.