Drama Desk Nominees + Dorian Awards expand to honor theater
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 9:00PM by Nathaniel R
"Shucked" is a hit and leads the Drama Desk Nominations
Are there too many awards groups? We've often bemoaned the ever expanding roster. But, in a stunning feat of hypocrisy I'm personally excited to announce that I'm part of a new group. Or, rather, an already established group expanding to cover something else! So, two things to report. First the Drama Desk Awards (which honor Broadway and Off Broadway productions) and then a new theatrical wing of GALECA: The Society for LGTBQ Entertainment Critics. Several members of Team Experience are part of GALECA but the Dorian Theater Awards are a small subsection of that large group of national critics. In the inaugural year I am excited to be among its 31 charter members. We have covered Broadway (and random theatrical events) on and off over the years here at TFE but we've always wanted to make that a weekly happening so now hopefully we can make that happen.
But first the Drama Desk Nominations...
The Drama Desk has given out annual prizes since 1955. In the first decade of its existence it was strictly for Off and Off-off-off Broadway shows but by 1969 Broadway shows were also included. The Drama Desk has more than 100 members (critics, editors, and journalists) with the whole membership voting on winners but nominating committees handling the difficult initial honors of selecting the shortlists considering the vast swath of eligible shows that open each year in NY once you include theaters of any size.
Their nominees for the 2022/2023 season are...
Outstanding Play
A Case for the Existence of God, by Samuel D. Hunter
Fat Ham, by James Ijames
Leopoldstadt, by Tom Stoppard
Love, by Alexander Zeldin
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller
Wish You Were Here, by Sanaz Toossi
Playwright Samuel D Hunter scores a nomination so he's having a good year given the success of The Whale in movie theaters just months ago.
It's worth noting that Life of Pi, a theatrical adaptation of the book that's also already been a movie, led the Drama Desk nominations for plays with 5 honors but missed in the top category.
Outstanding Musical
& Juliet
Between the Lines
F*ck7thGrade
Shucked
Some Like it Hot
White Girl in Danger
Tony favourite Kimberly Akimbo wasn't eligible at the Drama Desk Awards since it won Best Musical last year at their awards (the show transferred to Broadway this year) ... the sometimes differing timelines given Off Broadway eligiblity are one of the ways the Drama Desk Awards sometimes don't align at all with the Tonys.
Speaking of not aligning: While Some Like It Hot is nominated here it doesn't lead the nominations as it did at the Tonys. That honor goes to the comedy Shucked for this band of voters.
Outstanding Revival of a Play
A Raisin in the Sun
Death of a Salesman
Endgame
The Piano Lesson
Ohio State Murders
Wedding Band
Ohio State Murders and Death of a Salesman were both eligible at the Tonys but weren't nominated. We love a difference of opinion since there's no other reason to have so many awards shows!
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
A Man of No Importance
Into the Woods
Merrily We Roll Along
Parade
Sweeney Todd
Notably absent here is Camelot which did score a Tony nod in their equivalent category.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
Hiran Abeysekera as puppets in "Life of Pi"
Hiran Abeysekera, Life of Pi
Kyle Beltran, A Case for the Existence of God
Will Brill, A Case for the Existence of God
Brittany Bradford, Wedding Band
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House
Sharon D Clarke, Death of a Salesman
Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
Denise Manning, Amani
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Wendell Pierce, Death of a Salesman
John Douglas Thompson, Endgame
Kara Young, Twelfth Night
Chastain, Hayes, McDonald, and Pierce also scored Tony nominations this week. The lone nominee here who was eligible at the Tonys and wasn't nominated there is Hiran Abeysekera from Life of Pi.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Andrew Burnap (and Philippa Soo) in "Camelot"
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd
Nicholas Barasch, The Butcher Boy
Sara Bareilles, Into the Woods
Andrew Burnap, Camelot
Micaela Diamond, Parade
Andrew Durand, Shucked
Callum Francis, Kinky Boots
J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like it Hot
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along
Somi Kakoma, Dreaming Zenzile
Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along
Anna Uzele, New York, New York
This list makes a notable departure from the Tony selection in that Andrew Burnap, playing King Arthur in Camelot, Anna Uzele from New York New York, and Andrew Durand from Shucked (all missing from Tony's lineup) are honored despite plentiful competition from Off Broadway shows as well as various Tony-honored performances that didn't place here.
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
Danielle Brooks in "The Piano Lesson"
Emily Bergl, Good Night, Oscar
Danielle Brooks, The Piano Lesson
Amelda Brown, Love
Ray Fisher, The Piano Lesson
K. Todd Freeman, Downstate
Francis Guinan, Downstate
Nick Holder, Love
Arian Moayed, A Doll’s House
Brian Quijada, Wolf Play
Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt
Kara Young, Cost of Living
Three more Tony nomination no-shows are honored by the Drama Desk: Emily Bergl, Danielle Brooks, Ray Fisher
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, Shucked
Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like it Hot
Robyn Hurder, A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
Mark Jacoby, A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
Tarra Conner Jones, White Girl in Danger
Julia Lester, Into the Woods
Alex Newell, Shucked
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along
Phillipa Soo, Into the Woods
Mare Winningham, A Man of No Importance
Fascinating difference of opinion with Tony voters in this category with Robyn Hurder, Mark Jacoby, and Phillipa Soo all honored here despite the lack of Tony love.
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Zi Alikhan, On That Day in Amsterdam
Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Public Obscenities
Miranda Cromwell, Death of a Salesman
Adam Meggido, Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Max Webster, Life of Pi
Alexander Zeldin, Love
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Jeff Calhoun, Between the Lines
John Doyle, A Man of No Importance
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along
Thomas Kail, Sweeney Todd
Jack O’Brien, Shucked
Outstanding Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Only Gold
Tislarm Bouie, the bandaged place
Edgar Godineaux, The Harder They Come
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like it Hot
Susan Stroman, New York, New York
Jennifer Weber, KPOP
Outstanding Music
Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked
Michael R. Jackson, White Girl in Danger
Tom Kitt and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal designer), Almost Famous
Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, Between the Lines
The Kilbanes, Weightless
Outstanding Lyrics
Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked
Jonathan Hogue, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical
Michael R. Jackson, White Girl in Danger
Adam Schlesinger and Sarah Silverman, The Bedwetter
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Some Like it Hot
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Jonathan Hogue, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical
Robert Horn, Shucked
Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, Some Like it Hot
Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, Titanique
David West Read, & Juliet
Outstanding Orchestrations
Bruce Coughlin, A Man of No Importance
Jason Howland, Shucked
Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, Some Like it Hot
Kenny Seymour, The Harder They Come
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, New York, New York
Outstanding Music in a Play
Ben Edelman, Zane Pais, and Sinan Refik Zafar, Letters from Max, a ritual
Mauricio Escamilla, the bandaged place
Suzan-Lori Parks, Plays for the Plague Year
Ian Ross, Wuthering Heights
Daniel Schlosberg, Montag
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Jason Ardizzone-West, Wedding Band
Beowulf Boritt, Ohio State Murders
dots, Public Obscenities
Tim Hatley, Life of Pi
Natasha Jenkins, Love
John McDermott, Chains
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York
David Korins, Only Gold
Scott Pask, Shucked
Walt Spangler and Brendan McCann (production props), Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical
Michael Yeargan, Camelot
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
Kara Branch, According to the Chorus,
Enver Chakartash, Public Obscenities
Qween Jean, Wedding Band
Sarah Laux, Wish You Were Here
Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’
Roberto Surace, Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Some Like it Hot
Tilly Grimes, Shucked
Jennifer Moeller, Camelot
Clint Ramos and Sophia Choi, KPOP
Anita Yavich, Only Gold
Donna Zakowska, New York, New York
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, Epiphany
Jiyoun Chang, The Far Country
Natasha Chivers and Willie Williams (video), Prima Facie
Allen Lee Hughes, Ohio State Murders
Cha See, On That Day in Amsterdam
Japhy Weideman, The Piano Lesson
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Jeff Croiter, Only Gold
Heather Gilbert, Parade
David Grill, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’
Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Projection and Video Design
Simon Baker, Wuthering Heights
Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi
Caite Hevner, Between the Lines
Josh Higgason, White Girl in Danger
Nicholas Hussong, On That Day in Amsterdam
Johnny Moreno, Public Obscenities
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington, Ohio State Murders
Tom Gibbons, Hamlet
Josh Anio Grigg, Love
Lee Kinney and Daniel Kluger, You Will Get Sick
Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll’s House
Mikaal Sulaiman, Fat Ham
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski, Almost Famous
Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, Into the Woods
John Shivers, Shucked
Joanna Lynne Staub, Weightless, WP Theater
Jon Weston, Parade
Outstanding Wig and Hair
Campbell Young Associates, Almost Famous
Cookie Jordan, The Piano Lesson
Mia M. Neal, Ain’t No Mo’
Earon Nealey, Twelfth Night
Mitsuteru Okuyama, Chushingura 47 Ronin
Luc Verschueren, A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
Outstanding Solo Performance
Jodie Comer, Prima Facie
David Greenspan, Four Saints in Three Acts
Jessica Hendy, Walking With Bubbles
Anthony Rapp, Without You
Tracy Thorne, Jack Was Kind
Unique Theatrical Experience
Asi Wind’s Inner Circle
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Plays for the Plague Year
Zephyr
Outstanding Fight Choreography
B.H. Barry, Camelot
Rocio Mendez, Día Y Noche
Rocio Mendez, How to Defend Yourself
Unkledave’s Fight-House, soft
Outstanding Adaptation
A Doll’s House, by Amy Herzog
Arden of Faversham, by Jeffrey Hatcher and Kathryn Walat
black odyssey, by Marcus Gardley
Oresteia, by Robert Icke
Wuthering Heights, by Emma Rice
Outstanding Puppetry
John Leader, Wuthering Heights
James Ortiz (design), Kennedy Kanagawa (as Milky White), Into the Woods
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi
Kirjan Waage, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl
AND REGARDING THE DORIAN AWARDS
Our first press release for our new theater wing went out last week....
Tuesday April 25, 2023 - GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics today announced it is expanding its mission to honor Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, across a variety of inaugural categories, beginning with the current 2022-2023 theater season.Like GALECA’s Dorian film and TV honors, the Dorian Theater Awards will celebrate both mainstream and LGBTQ+-themed productions. While GALECA counts over 460 members in all, the organization’s new theater wing includes 31 stage critics and/or journalists who regularly cover NYC theater for notable media outlets. The wing’s charter voting members are listed below."The 2022-2023 theater season features a bold crop of plays and musicals which empower all kinds of audience members, no matter their identity,” said Gold Derby contributor Sam Eckmann, who with Merryn Johns, editor-in-chief of the website QueerForty, co-chairs the new wing. "As the industry continues to elevate diversity and queerness, I can think of no better time to expand the Dorian Awards to the stage. The LGBTQ community has long been a champion of the theater, and we will have plenty to cheer about this Pride Month as we celebrate the best that Broadway and Off-Broadway has to offer.”One winner and two finalists will be selected per category. In the future, the wing may expand to a more traditional nominations/winners timeline.The voting period this year is Monday, May 22, 2023 to Monday, May 29, 2023. Winners and finalists will be announced on June 1, 2023, in time for Pride Month.Dorian Theater Awards inaugural categories:Outstanding Broadway MusicalOutstanding Broadway PlayOutstanding Broadway Revival of a MusicalOutstanding Broadway Revival of a PlayOutstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway MusicalOutstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway PlayOutstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway MusicalOutstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway PlayOutstanding LGBTQ Broadway ProductionOutstanding Broadway EnsembleThe Broadway Showstopper Award(To a standout production number or scene)LGBTQIA+ Theater Trailblazer AwardOutstanding Off-Broadway ProductionOutstanding Off-Broadway PerformanceGALECA theater wing members, 2022-23:Merryn Johns (co-chair), Queer FortySam Eckmann (co-chair), Gold Derby
Marshall Heyman (Broadway lead), Town and Country,Cary Wong (Off-Broadway lead), Film Score Monthly Online, etc.Frank J. Avella (Industry Liaison), Edge Media Network, Awards DailyKerensa Cadenas, GQ, etc.
Chris Carpenter, Rage magazine, etc.Murtada Elfadl, The A.V. Club, etc.
Adam Feldman, Time OutBrian Herrera, StinkyLulu Says podcast
James Kleinmann, The Queer ReviewNaveen Kumar, Variety, etc.
Stacy Lambe, ET OnlineBrian Scott Lipton, Cititour, etc.Soraya McDonald, AndscapeCharles O’Keefe, E! News
Dan Meyer, TheatrelyAbby Monteil, them, etc.
Michael Musto, The Village Voice, etc.Louis Peitzman, High Drama newsletter (Substack), etc.Juan Michael Porter II, The Body, TDF Stages
Juan A. Ramirez, Theatrely
Mathew Rodriguez, them
Nathaniel Rogers, The Film ExperienceGillian Russo, New York Theatre Guide
Michael Schulman, The New YorkerTim Teeman, The Daily BeastKyle Turner, Slant, etc.
Lindsey Weber, Not Broadway newsletter (Substack), etc.
Abbey White, VarietyCurtis Wong, HuffPostABOUT GALECAGALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and its Dorian Awards honor the best in film, television and, under its theater wing, Broadway and Off-Broadway. More than 450-members strong, GALECA seeks to remind society that the world loves the Q+ eye on all things entertainment. A nonprofit organization, GALECA also advocates for better pay and access for a segment of journalists whose work is often undervalued by the very media they support.Support our efforts by following @DorianAwards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit GALECA.org.
Broadway and Stage, Dorian Awards, GALECA, LGBTQ+
Reader Comments (11)
Zero interest in acting categories with ten nominees. As random as flipping a coin.
I also like the varying opinions of Drama Desk vs. Tony Award. I still wish some of those people (like Danielle Brooks) got a nod. SHUCKED being the lead pick here also makes me smile.
Also, Peggy, the categories are inclusive of gender so would you rather they divide it into 5 per gender? What's the difference there?
Is Emily Bergl the same Emily Bergl who was in Carrie II
I'm actually glad the Dorian Awards have included theatre. I've often wondered by an entertainment critics collective was only on film and tv. TBH, they should include gaming and music, too!
Congratulations!
Yes, congratulations, Nathaniel! You’ve said that you wanted to see more theatre. It’s nice when the things we want to happen, do happen.
Yay, Nathaniel! And other TFE contributors too!
Ooh, Brittany Bradford with a Drama Desk nom for Wedding Band. She is so good in HBO Max's Julia as Alice, and certainly one to watch.
All the Sweeney, Merrily, Woods noms shows the sustaining power of Sondheim. Which is also why Schmigadoon!/Schmicago! is so fun because the Sondheim/Fosse/Kander/Ebb thematic musical mash-up is delicious.
Mr Ripley -- yes, one and the same!
McGill -- i know. and trust me when I say it's rare. Getting invites is very rewarding since they're infinitely harder to come by (given understandable limits in number of press tickets with sometimes short runs for live theater) than critics movie screenings.
Pam -- we should write more about Schmigadoon. this season was so good.
Congrats, Nathaniel <3
Always love to see you succeed.
I also have zero interest in gender neutral acting categories with 10 nominees. But yes, let's all pretend this is progress (even though the shift to identity over biology is confirming stereotypes more than it dismantles it). And in a few years we won't have a Best actress category anymore at the oscars, mark my words.
Nathaniel has always been strongly against gender neutral categories but I guess free tickets top everything.