Les Drama League Awards, créés en 1922, récompensent des productions et des spectacles de Broadway et Off-Broadway, en plus de reconnaître des réalisations professionnelles exceptionnelles dans le domaine du théâtre, du théâtre musical et de la mise en scène. Chaque année en mai, les récompenses sont présentées par la Drama League lors de remise des prix annuel en présence d'artistes, de réalisateurs, de producteurs et de membres de la Drama League. Les membres de la Drama League regroupent l'ensemble de la communauté théâtrale, y compris des acteurs primés, des concepteurs, des metteurs en scène, des dramaturges, des producteurs, des vétérans de l'industrie, des critiques et des publics de théâtre de tous les États-Unis.
Les Drama League Awards sont les plus anciennes distinctions honorant le théâtre en Amérique du Nord. Les récompenses ont été établies en 1922 et officialisées en 1935. Katharine Cornell a reçu le premier prix en 1935, pour Distinguished Performance. Cinq prix compétitifs sont présentés: Production exceptionnelle d'une pièce de théâtre (Outstanding Production of a Play), Production exceptionnelle d'une comédie musicale (Outstanding Production of a Musical), Exceptionnelle reprise d'une pièce de théâtre (Outstanding Revival of a Play), Exceptionnelle d'une comédie musicale (Outstanding Revival of a Musical) et Prix d'interprétation distinguée (Distinguished Performance Award). Le Distinguished Performance Award récompense un artiste chaque année et le lauréat ne peut recevoir ce prix qu'une fois dans sa carrière. La Ligue d'art dramatique décerne également trois distinctions spéciales à la cérémonie de remise des prix: Réalisation remarquable dans un théâtre musical (Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater), contribution unique au théâtre (Unique Contribution to the Theater) et Prix du fondateur pour l'excellence en réalisation (The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing).
Liste des gagnants Gagnants 2018–2019
Bryan Cranston pour Network – Distinguished Performance Award Hadestown – Outstanding Production of a Musical The Ferryman – Outstanding Production of a Play Kiss Me, Kate – Outstanding Revival of a Musical The Waverly Gallery – Outstanding Revival of a Play Kelli O'Hara – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Taylor Mac – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Alex Timbers – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2017–2018
Glenda Jackson pour Three Tall Women – Distinguished Performance Award The Band's Visit – Outstanding Production of a Musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Outstanding Production of a Play My Fair Lady – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Angels in America – Outstanding Revival of a Play Idina Menzel – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award National Endowment for the Arts – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Casey Nicholaw – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2016–2017
Ben Platt pour Dear Evan Hansen – Distinguished Performance Award Dear Evan Hansen – Outstanding Production of a Musical Oslo – Outstanding Production of a Play Hello, Dolly! – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Jitney – Outstanding Revival of a Play Bette Midler – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Bill Berloni – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Michael Greif – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2015–2016Gans, Andrew."Winners of Drama League Awards Announced" playbill.com, May 20, 2016
Lin-Manuel Miranda pour Hamilton – Distinguished Performance Award Hamilton – Outstanding Production of a Musical The Humans – Outstanding Production of a Play The Color Purple – Outstanding Revival of a Musical A View from the Bridge – Outstanding Revival of a Play Sheldon Harnick – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Deaf West Theatre – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Ivo van Hove – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2014–2015Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. " 'An American in Paris', 'Curious Incident' and Chita Rivera Win Drama League Awards" , playbill.com, May 15, 2015
Chita Rivera pour The Visit – Distinguished Performance Award An American in Paris – Outstanding Production of a Musical The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Outstanding Production of a Play The King and I – Outstanding Revival of a Musical You Can't Take It with You – Outstanding Revival of a Play Joel Grey – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award Neal Shapiro et David Horn – Unique Contribution to the Theater Award Stephen Daldry – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2013–2014Gans, Andrew. "80th Annual Drama League Award Winners Announced; Neil Patrick Harris Wins Distinguished Performance Honor" playbill.com, May 16, 2014
Neil Patrick Harris pour Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Distinguished Performance Award A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder – Outstanding Production of a Musical All the Way – Outstanding Production of a Play Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Outstanding Revival of a Musical The Glass Menagerie – Outstanding Revival of a Play Barbara Cook – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Key Brand Entertainment/Broadway Across America: John Gore – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award John Tiffany – The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2012–2013Gans, Andrew. " 'Kinky Boots', 'Pippin', 'Vanya and Sonia', 'Virginia 'Woolf? and More Win Drama League Awards" playbill.com, May 17, 2013
Nathan Lane pour The Nance – Distinguished Performance Award Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – Outstanding Production of a Play Kinky Boots – Outstanding Production of a Musical Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Outstanding Revival of a Play Pippin – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Bernadette Peters – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award (présenté par Joel Grey) Madison Square Garden Entertainment & the Rockettes – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award (présenté par Tommy Tune) Jerry Mitchell – The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (présenté par Cyndi Lauper)
Gagnants 2011–2012Gans, Andrew. " 'Other Desert Cities', 'Salesman', 'Follies', 'Once', Audra McDonald Are Drama League Winners" playbill.com, May 18, 2012
Audra McDonald pour Porgy and Bess – Distinguished Performance Award Other Desert Cities – Outstanding Production of a Play Death of a Salesman – Outstanding Revival of a Play Once – Outstanding Production of a Musical Follies – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Alan Menken – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Rosie O'Donnell – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award Diane Paulus – The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (formerly the Julia Hansen Award)
Gagnants 2010–2011Gans, Andrew. " 'Mormon', 'War Horse', 'Normal Heart', 'Anything Goes', Mark Rylance Win Drama League Awards" playbill.com, May 20, 2011
Mark Rylance pour Jerusalem et La Bête – Distinguished Performance Award War Horse – Outstanding Production of a Play The Book of Mormon – Outstanding Production of a Musical The Normal Heart – Outstanding Revival of a Play Anything Goes – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Whoopi Goldberg – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award Liza Minnelli – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Susan Stroman – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.
Gagnants 2009–2010 Source: Playbill.comGans, Andrew."Sondheim, 'Red', 'Bridge', 'La Cage' and Molina Win Drama League Awards" playbill.com, May 21, 2010
Alfred Molina pour Rouge (Red) – Distinguished Performance Award Sondheim on Sondheim – Outstanding Production of a Musical Rouge (Red) – Outstanding Production of a Play La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding Revival of a Musical A View from the Bridge – Outstanding Revival of a Play Nathan Lane – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Kenny Leon – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Macy's Parade et Entertainment Group – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
Gagnants 2008–2009Gans, Andrew.Billy, Carnage, Hair, Blithe and Rush Win Drama League Awards" , playbill.com, May 15, 2009
Geoffrey Rush pour Exit the King – Distinguished Performance Award God of Carnage, par Yasmina Reza – Outstanding Production of a Play Billy Elliot, the Musical, Musiques d'Elton John; Livre et paroles de Lee Hall – Outstanding Production of a Musical Blithe Spirit, par Noël Coward – Outstanding Revival of a Play Hair, Musiques par Galt MacDermot; Livret et paroles par Gerome Ragni, James Rado – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Elton John – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Arthur Laurents – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Angela Lansbury – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Herb Blodgett – The 75th Anniversary Leadership Award
Gagnants 2007–2008 Source:VarietyCox, Gordon. " 'Catered Affair' nabs League honor" Variety, May 16, 2008
Patti LuPone pour Gypsy – Distinguished Performance Award August: Osage County par Tracy Letts – Outstanding Production of a Play A Catered Affair, Livret de Harvey Fierstein; Musiques et paroles de John Bucchino – Outstanding Production of a Musical Macbeth de William Shakespeare – Outstanding Revival of a Play South Pacific, Livret de Joshua Logan et Oscar Hammerstein II, Musique de Richard Rodgers; Paroles de Oscar Hammerstein II – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Paul Gemignani – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Bartlett Sher – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Ellen Stewart – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
Gagnants 2006–2007
Liev Schreiber pour Talk Radio et Macbeth – Distinguished Performance Award The Coast of Utopia – Outstanding Production of a Play Spring Awakening – Outstanding Production of a Musical Journey's End – Outstanding Revival of a Play |Company – Outstanding Revival of a Musical John Kander et Fred Ebb – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Michael Mayer – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids – Unique Contribution to the Theatre
Gagnants 2005–2006
Christine Ebersole pour Grey Gardens – Distinguished Performance Award The History Boys – Outstanding Production of a Play Jersey Boys – Outstanding Production of a Musical Awake and Sing! – Outstanding Revival of a Play Sweeney Todd – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Patti LuPone – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Marian Seldes – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Des McAnuff- Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2004–2005
Norbert Leo Butz pour Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Distinguished Performance Award Doubt – Outstanding Production of a Play Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Outstanding Production of a Musical Twelve Angry Men – Outstanding Revival of a Play La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding Revival of a Musical BMI Musical Theatre Workshop – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre The Billy Rose Theatre Collection at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Mike Nichols – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2003–2004
Hugh Jackman pour The Boy from Oz– Distinguished Performance Award I Am My Own Wife – Outstanding Production of a Play Wicked – Outstanding Production of a Musical Henry IV – Outstanding Revival of a Play Assassins – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Donna Murphy – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre City Center Encores – Unique Contribution to the Theatre George C. Wolfe – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Gagnants 2002–2003
Harvey Fierstein pour Hairspray – Distinguished Performance Award Take Me Out – Outstanding Production of a Play Hairspray – Outstanding Production of a Musical A Day in the Death of Joe Egg – Outstanding Revival Twyla Tharp – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Roundabout Theatre Company : Todd Haimes – Unique Contribution to the Theatre