2024 Drama Desk Award winners announced

The Broadway play-with-music Stereophonic, written by David Adjmi and featuring songs by Arcade Fire's Will Butler, won the most prizes of the night with seven.

Winners have been named for the 2024 Drama Desk Awards, which recognize outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway productions during the 2022-24 season.

David Adjmi's play Stereophonic, currently playing on Broadway through January 5, 2025, won the most awards with seven, including Outstanding Play and a special award. The Broadway musical Water for Elephants, based on the bestselling novel, came second with four wins, including Best Direction of a Musical for Jessica Stone. The Outsiders, Suffs, Hell's Kitchen, The Great Gatsby, Illinoise, An Enemy of the People starring Jeremy Strong, Appropriate starring Sarah Paulson, and Mother Play starring Jessica Lange were among the other currently running Broadway shows recognized.

Special awards given out included the Ensemble Award for the Stereophonic cast; the Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award for Cole Escola, the writer and star of the Off-Broadway hit Oh, Mary!, coming to Broadway this summer; special awards for the autistic representation team of the musical How to Dance in Ohio and lighting designer Isabella Byrd; and a career achievement award for press agent Irene Gandy.

Read the full list of 2024 Drama Desk Award winners below.

Outstanding Play

• Infinite Life, by Annie Baker, Atlantic Theater Company
• Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, by Jocelyn Bioh, Manhattan Theatre Club
• Mother Play, by Paula Vogel, Second Stage Theater
• Stereophonic, by David Adjmi, Playwrights Horizons*
• Swing State, by Rebecca Gilman, Goodman Theatre
• The Ally, by Itamar Moses, The Public Theater

Outstanding Musical

• Dead Outlaw*
• Illinoise, Park Avenue Armory
• Lizard Boy, Prospect Theater Company
• Teeth, Playwrights Horizons
• The Connector, MCC Theater
• The Outsiders

Outstanding Revival of a Play

• Appropriate, Second Stage Theater*
• Doubt: A Parable, Roundabout Theatre Company
• Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Irish Repertory Theatre
• Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
• Uncle Vanya, OHenry Productions

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

• Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
• Gutenberg! The Musical!
• I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Classic Stage Company*

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

• Nicole Cooper, Macbeth (an undoing), Theatre for a New Audience, Rose Theatre, and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
• William Jackson Harper, Primary Trust, Roundabout Theatre Company
• Jessica Lange, Mother Play, Second Stage Theater*
• Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane, Manhattan Theatre Club
• Tobias Menzies, The Hunt, St. Ann’s Warehouse and Almeida Theatre
• Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
• Sarah Paulson, Appropriate, Second Stage Theater*
• A.J. Shively, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Irish Repertory Theatre
• Juliet Stevenson, The Doctor, Park Avenue Armory
• Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical

• Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
• Santino Fontana, I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Classic Stage Company
• Brody Grant, The Outsiders
• Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses, Atlantic Theater Company*
• Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen*
• Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses, Atlantic Theater Company*
• Liam Pearce, How to Dance in Ohio
• Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
• Ben Levi Ross, The Connector, MCC Theater
• Ricky Ubeda, Illinoise, Park Avenue Armory

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

• Brittany Adebumola, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Manhattan Theatre Club
• Marylouise Burke, Infinite Life, Atlantic Theater Company
• Michael Esper, Appropriate, Second Stage Theater
• Marin Ireland, Uncle Vanya, OHenry Productions
• Will Keen, Patriots
• Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play, Second Stage Theater*
• Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
• Sheila Tousey, Manahatta, The Public Theater
• Bubba Weiler, Swing State, Goodman Theatre
• Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical

• Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen
• Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club, Atlantic Theater Company
• Dorian Harewood, The Notebook
• Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Spamalot
• Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen*
• Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club*
• Steven Pasquale, Teeth, Playwrights Horizons
• Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook
• Thom Sesma, Dead Outlaw
• Emily Skinner, Suffs

Outstanding Direction of a Play

• Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons*
• Rupert Goold, The Hunt, St. Ann’s Warehouse and Almeida Theatre
• Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
• Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate, Second Stage Theater
• Ciarán O'Reilly, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Irish Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

• David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
• Rebecca Frecknall, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
• Daisy Prince, The Connector, MCC Theater
• Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants*
• Danya Taymor, The Outsiders

Outstanding Choreography

• Camille A. Brown, Hell’s Kitchen
• Graciela Daniele and Alex Sanchez, The Gardens of Anuncia, Lincoln Center Theater
• Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders (includes fight choreography)
• Lorin Latarro, The Heart of Rock and Roll
• Justin Peck, Illinoise, Park Avenue Armory*
• Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants (includes circus choreography)

Outstanding Music

• Jason Robert Brown, The Connector, MCC Theater
• Justin Huertas, Lizard Boy, Prospect Theater Company
• Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
• Shaina Taub, Suffs*
• David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, Dead Outlaw

Outstanding Lyrics

• Rachel Bloom, Eli Bolin, and Jack Dolgen, Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Show
• Jason Robert Brown, The Connector, MCC Theater
• Michael R. Jackson, Teeth, Playwrights Horizons
• Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
• David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, Dead Outlaw*

Outstanding Book of a Musical

• Justin Huertas, Lizard Boy, Prospect Theater Company
• Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs, Teeth, Playwrights Horizons
• Michael John LaChiusa, The Gardens of Anuncia, Lincoln Center Theater
• Rebekah Greer Melocik, How to Dance in Ohio
• Itamar Moses, Dead Outlaw*

Outstanding Orchestrations

• Timo Andres, Illinoise, Park Avenue Armory
• Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons
• Andy Evan Cohen, The Greatest Hits Down Route 66, New Light Theater Project
• Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club, Atlantic Theater Company*
• Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek, Dead Outlaw
• Michael Starobin, Shaina Taub (vocal arrangements), and Andrea Grody (vocal arrangements), Suffs

Outstanding Music in a Play

• Michael “Mikey J” Asante, The Effect, The Shed
• S T A R R Busby and JJJJJerome Ellis, (pray), Ars Nova and National Black Theatre
• Will Butler, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons*
• Dionne McClain-Freeney, The Harriet Holland Social Club Presents The 84th Annual Star-Burst Cotillion in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel, New Georges and The Movement Theatre Company
• Ben Steinfeld, Pericles, Classic Stage Company and Fiasco Theater

Outstanding Revue

• Amid Falling Walls, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene*

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play

• Es Devlin, The Hunt, St. Ann’s Warehouse and Almeida Theatre
• dots, Appropriate, Second Stage Theater
• Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
• Scott Pask, Grey House
• David Zinn, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons*

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical

• AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders
• Paul Tate dePoo III, The Great Gatsby (includes projections)*
• Riccardo Hernández, Suffs
• Arnulfo Maldonado, Dead Outlaw
• Grace Smart, Good Vibrations: A Punk Rock Musical, Irish Arts Center

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play

• Alex Berry, Macbeth (an undoing), Theatre for a New Audience, Rose Theatre, and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
• Karen Boyer, Warrior Sisters of Wu, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre
• Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons*
• Lux Haac, Manahatta, The Public Theater
• Rodrigo Muñoz, Sally & Tom, The Public Theater

Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical

• Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club, Atlantic Theater Company
• Márion Talán de la Rosa, The Connector, MCC Theater
• Loren Elstein, Once Upon a One More Time
• David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants
• Paul Tazewell, Suffs*

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play

• Jane Cox, Appropriate, Second Stage Theater*
• Stacey Derosier, Uncle Vanya, OHenry Productions
• Natasha Katz, Grey House
• Lizzie Powell, Macbeth (an undoing), Theatre for a New Audience, Rose Theatre, and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
• Eric Southern, Swing State, Goodman Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical

• Lap Chi Chu, Suffs
• Heather Gilbert, Dead Outlaw
• Bradley King, Water for Elephants
• Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim (projections), The Outsiders*
• Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, The Connector, MCC Theater

Outstanding Projection and Video Design

• Eric Dunlap, Our Class, MART Foundation and Arlekin Players Theatre
• Jared Mezzocchi, Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy, Vineyard Theatre
• Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen*
• Olivia Sebesky, Melissa Etheridge: My Window
• Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, The Connector, MCC Theater

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play

• Adam Cork, The Hunt, St. Ann’s Warehouse and Almeida Theatre
• Tom Gibbons, Grey House
• Palmer Hefferan, The Comeuppance, Signature Theatre
• Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate, Second Stage Theater
• Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons*

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical

• Jason Crystal, Suffs
• Kai Harada and Joshua Millican, Dead Outlaw
• Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club*
• Cody Spencer, The Outsiders*
• Walter Trarbach, Water for Elephants*

Outstanding Wig and Hair

• J. Jared Janas and Cassie Williams, Sally & Tom, The Public Theater
• Charles G. LaPointe, Suffs
• Nikiya Mathis, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Manhattan Theatre Club*
• Nikiya Mathis, The Harriet Holland Social Club Presents The 84th Annual Star-Burst Cotillion in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel, New Georges and The Movement Theatre Company
• Robert Pickens and Katie Gell, Stereophonic, Playwrights Horizons

Outstanding Solo Performance

• Michael Cruz Kayne, Sorry for Your Loss
• Madeleine MacMahon, Breathless, Theatre Royal Plymouth
• Wade McCollum, Make Me Gorgeous!, triangle productions!
• Robert Montano, SMALL, Penguin Rep Theatre
• Patrick Page, All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain*

Unique Theatrical Experience

• A Eulogy for Roman, Through the Tollbooth Co.
• A Simulacrum, Atlantic Theater Company
• ADRIFT: A Medieval Wayward Folly, Happenstance Theater
• I Love You So Much I Could Die, New York Theatre Workshop
• Grenfell: in the words of survivors, St. Ann’s Warehouse, National Theatre, and KPPL Productions*

Outstanding Fight Choreography

• Michael G. Chin, Warrior Sisters of Wu, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre
• Cha Ramos, Water for Elephants*
• Steve Rankin, The Who’s Tommy

Outstanding Adaptation

• An Enemy of the People, by Amy Herzog*
• Macbeth (an undoing), by Zinnie Harris, Theatre for a New Audience, Rose Theatre, and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
• The Comedy of Errors, by Rebecca Martínez and Julián Mesri, The Public Theater Mobile Unit
• The Doctor, by Robert Icke, Park Avenue Armory
• The Hunt, by David Farr, St. Ann’s Warehouse and Almeida Theatre
• The Whole of Time, by Romina Paula, Joben Studios

Outstanding Puppetry

• Matt Acheson, Hotel Happy, Houses on the Moon Theater Company
• Adrian Kohler and Handspring Puppet Company, Life & Times of Michael K, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Baxter Theatre Centre, and Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus
• Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman, and Camille Labarre, Water for Elephants*
• David Valentine, Poor Yella Rednecks, Manhattan Theatre Club