Awards & Winners

2008 Drama Desk Award

Check winners and nominations of 2008 Drama Desk Award. Check awards winners of 53rd Drama Desk Awards. (Click on the Award name to show winners and nominees)

53rd Drama Desk Awards

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations

Jason Carr

Honored for : Sunday in the Park with George

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Carr Sunday in the Park with George
Michael Starobin The Glorious Ones
Tim Weil 10 Million Miles
Jonathan Tunick A Catered Affair
Heidi Rodewald Passing Strange
Stew Passing Strange
Doug Besterman Young Frankenstein
Drama Desk Special Award

Edward Albee

(Whose provocative plays, including this season's Peter and Jerry, enrich the American theater)
Drama Desk Special Award

James Earl Jones

(Who has been a commanding force on the stage for nearly half a century)
Drama Desk Special Award

Playwrights Horizons

(For ongoing support to generations of theater artists and undiminished commitment to producing new work)
Drama Desk Special Award

59E59 Theaters

(Whose imaginative curatorial vision has created a stimulating environment to nurture a diverse range of artists)
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Paulo Szot

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Matthew Morrison 10 Million Miles
Daniel Breaker Passing Strange
Daniel Evans Sunday in the Park with George
Cheyenne Jackson Xanadu
Paulo Szot South Pacific
André DeShields Black Nativity
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play

Mark Rylance

Honored for : Boeing Boeing

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mark Rylance Boeing Boeing
Bill Champion Intimate Exchanges
Kevin Kline Cyrano de Bergerac
Bill Pullman Peter and Jerry
Tobias Segal From Up Here
Rufus Sewell Rock 'n' Roll
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Patti LuPone

Honored for : Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patti LuPone Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Alice Ripley Next to Normal
Faith Prince A Catered Affair
Kelli O'Hara South Pacific
Jenna Russell Sunday in the Park with George
Sierra Boggess The Little Mermaid
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play

Deanna Dunagan

Honored for : August: Osage County

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Amy Morton August: Osage County
Deanna Dunagan August: Osage County
Fiona Shaw Happy Days
Julie White From Up Here
Sinéad Cusack Rock 'n' Roll
Frances McDormand The Country Girl
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography

Rob Ashford

Honored for : Cry-Baby

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rob Ashford Cry-Baby
Peter Pucci Queens Boulevard: The Musical
Shana Carroll Traces
Gypsy Snider Traces
Karole Armitage Passing Strange
Dan Knechtges Xanadu
Susan Stroman Young Frankenstein
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical

Douglas Carter Beane

Honored for : Xanadu

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Douglas Carter Beane Xanadu
Ben Katchor The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Jason Loewith Adding Machine
Joshua Schmidt Adding Machine
Eric H. Weinberger Wanda's World
Harvey Fierstein A Catered Affair
Stew Passing Strange
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design

Katrina Lindsay

Honored for : Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Katrina Lindsay Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Michael Bottari Die Mommie Die!
Ronald Case Die Mommie Die!
Jessica Jahn Die Mommie Die!
Mara Blumenfeld The Glorious Ones
Ann Hould-Ward A Catered Affair
Ana Kuzmanic August: Osage County
William Ivey Long Young Frankenstein
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical

Bartlett Sher

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bartlett Sher South Pacific
Christopher Ashley Xanadu
Sam Buntrock Sunday in the Park with George
David Cromer Adding Machine
John Doyle A Catered Affair
Bob McGrath The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play

Anna D. Shapiro

Honored for : August: Osage County

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Anna D. Shapiro August: Osage County
David Schweizer Horizon
Leigh Silverman From Up Here
Jonathan Silverstein The Dining Room
Deborah Warner Happy Days
Matthew Warchus Boeing Boeing
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Boyd Gaines

Honored for : Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christopher Fitzgerald Young Frankenstein
Boyd Gaines Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Danny Burstein South Pacific
Shuler Hensley Young Frankenstein
Bobby Steggert The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Tom Wopat A Catered Affair
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Conleth Hill

Honored for : The Seafarer

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Conleth Hill The Seafarer
John Cullum The Conscientious Objector
Francis Jue Yellow Face
Arian Moayed Masked
Michael T. Weiss Scarcity
Jeff Perry August: Osage County
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Laura Benanti

Honored for : Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mare Winningham 10 Million Miles
Laura Benanti Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Leslie Kritzer A Catered Affair
Mary Testa Xanadu
Andrea Martin Young Frankenstein
Amy Warren Adding Machine
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Linda Lavin

Honored for : The New Century

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Linda Lavin The New Century
Elizabeth Ashley Dividing the Estate
Johanna Day Peter and Jerry
Zoe Kazan 100 Saints You Should Know
Rondi Reed August: Osage County
Marisa Tomei Top Girls
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

Stew

Honored for : Passing Strange

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stew Passing Strange
Lynn Ahrens The Glorious Ones
Ben Katchor The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Jason Loewith Adding Machine
Joshua Schmidt Adding Machine
John Bucchino A Catered Affair
Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music

Heidi Rodewald, Stew

Honored for : Passing Strange

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Heidi Rodewald Passing Strange
Stew Passing Strange
Stephen Flaherty The Glorious Ones
Tom Kitt Next to Normal
Mark Mulcahy The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Joshua Schmidt Adding Machine
John Bucchino A Catered Affair
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play

Tracy Letts

Honored for : August: Osage County

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tracy Letts August: Osage County
Tom Stoppard Rock 'n' Roll
Horton Foote Dividing the Estate
Liz Flahive From Up Here
Rinde Eckert Horizon
Alan Ayckbourn Intimate Exchanges
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical

Lincoln Center Theater

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lincoln Center Theater South Pacific
Classical Theatre of Harlem Black Nativity
Irish Repertory Theatre Take Me Along
Roger Berlind Gypsy: A Musical Fable
The R/F/B/V Group Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Roy Furman Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Debra Black Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Ted Hartley Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Roger Horchow Gypsy: A Musical Fable
David Ian Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Scott Rudin Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Jack Viertel Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Roundabout Theatre Company Sunday in the Park with George
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sonia Friedman Productions Boeing Boeing
Bob Boyett Boeing Boeing
ACT Productions Boeing Boeing
Matthew Byam-Shaw Boeing Boeing
Robert G. Bartner Boeing Boeing
The Weinstein Company Boeing Boeing
Susan Quint Gallin Boeing Boeing
Mary Lu Roffe Boeing Boeing
Broadway Across America Boeing Boeing
Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. Boeing Boeing
Norman Tulchin Boeing Boeing
Steven Tulchin Boeing Boeing
The Araca Group Boeing Boeing
Keen Company The Dining Room
Goodspeed Musicals Happy Days
Mint Theater Company The Return of the Prodigal
Duncan C. Weldon Macbeth
Paul Elliott Macbeth
Jeffrey Archer Macbeth
Bill Ballard Macbeth
Terri Childs Macbeth
Timothy Childs Macbeth
Rodger Hess Macbeth
David Mirvish Macbeth
Adriana Mnuchin Macbeth
Emanuel Azenberg Macbeth
Brooklyn Academy of Music Macbeth
Ostar Productions The Country Girl
Bob Boyett The Country Girl
The Shubert Organization The Country Girl
Eric Falkenstein The Country Girl
Roy Furman The Country Girl
Lawrence Horowitz The Country Girl
Jam Theatricals The Country Girl
Stephanie P. McClelland The Country Girl
Bill Rollnick The Country Girl
Nancy Ellison Rollnick The Country Girl
Daryl Roth The Country Girl
Debra Black The Country Girl
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design

Scott Lehrer

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Scott Lehrer South Pacific
Jorge Cousineau Opus
Joseph Fosco The Conversation
Tony Smolenski, IV Adding Machine
Adam Cork Macbeth
Mic Pool The 39 Steps
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue

John Freedson, Jon B. Platt, Harriet Yellin

Honored for : Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Freedson Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening
Jon B. Platt Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening
Harriet Yellin Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening
Dreamlight Theatre Company Fugitive Songs
Jamie deRoy Make Me a Song
Eric Falkenstein Make Me a Song
Larry Hirschhorn Make Me a Song
Junkyard Dog Productions Make Me a Song
Stacey Mindich Make Me a Song
Jayson Raitt Make Me a Song
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design

Kevin Adams

Honored for : The 39 Steps

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maruti Evans Slaughterhouse-Five
Keith Parham Adding Machine
Kevin Adams The 39 Steps
Donald Holder South Pacific
Ken Billington Sunday in the Park with George
Natasha Katz The Little Mermaid
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance

Laurence Fishburne

Honored for : Thurgood
(Outstanding Solo Performance)

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Laurence Fishburne Thurgood
Outstanding Solo Performance
Kris Andersson Dixie's Tupperware Party
Outstanding Solo Performance
Stephen Lang Beyond Glory
Outstanding Solo Performance
April Yvette Thompson Liberty City
Outstanding Solo Performance
Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Flicker Addiss The 39 Steps
Bob Boyett The 39 Steps
Marek J. Cantor The 39 Steps
Bonnie Comley The 39 Steps
Douglas Denoff The 39 Steps
Fiery Angel Ltd The 39 Steps
Huntington Theatre Company The 39 Steps
Stewart F. Lane The 39 Steps
Harriet Leve The 39 Steps
Manocherian Golden Productions The 39 Steps
Ron Nicynski The 39 Steps
Olympus Theatricals The 39 Steps
Wakka Wakka Productions Fabrik
Parallel Exit Cut to the Chase
The New Victory Theater Company Traces
1927 Theatre Company Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design of a Musical

Michael Yeargan

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Yeargan South Pacific
Takeshi Kata Adding Machine
Derek McLane 10 Million Miles
David Gallo A Catered Affair
George Tsypin The Little Mermaid
Robin Wagner Young Frankenstein
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design of a Play

Scott Pask

Honored for : Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Scott Pask Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Beowulf Boritt Spain
Scott Bradley Eurydice
David Korins Hunting and Gathering
Santo Loquasto Trumpery
Clint Ramos The Return of the Prodigal
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Projection and Video Design

Timothy Bird, The Knifedge Creative Network

Honored for : Sunday in the Park with George

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Paul Barritt Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Jim Findlay The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Jeff Sugg The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Timothy Bird Sunday in the Park with George
The Knifedge Creative Network Sunday in the Park with George
Zachary Borovay A Catered Affair
Lorna Heavey Macbeth
Tal Yarden The Misanthrope
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical

Nominations »

Nominee Nominated Work
Barbara Freitag Passing Strange
Buddy Freitag Passing Strange
Broadway Across America Passing Strange
Emily Landau Passing Strange
Peter May Passing Strange
Boyett Ostar Productions Passing Strange
Larry Hirschhorn Passing Strange
Janet Pailet Passing Strange
Steve Klein Passing Strange
Elie Hirschfeld Passing Strange
Jed Bernstein Passing Strange
Spring Sirkin Passing Strange
Ruth Hendel Passing Strange
Vasi Laurence Passing Strange
Patricia Flicker Addiss Passing Strange
Wendy Federman Passing Strange
Jacki Barlia Florin Passing Strange
Bill Kenwright Passing Strange
The Shubert Organization Passing Strange
Chase Mishkin Passing Strange
Elizabeth Ireland McCann Passing Strange
Margaret Cotter Adding Machine
Scott Morfee Adding Machine
Tom Wirtshafter Adding Machine
Lincoln Center Theater The Glorious Ones
Vineyard Theatre The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Jujamcyn Theaters A Catered Affair
Jordan Roth A Catered Affair
Harvey Entertainment A Catered Affair
Ron Fierstein A Catered Affair
Daryl Roth A Catered Affair
John O'Boyle A Catered Affair
Ricky Stevens A Catered Affair
Davis-Tolentino A Catered Affair
Barbra Russell A Catered Affair
Ron Sharpe A Catered Affair
Richie Jackson A Catered Affair
Robert Ahrens Xanadu
Dan Vickery Xanadu
Sara Murchison Xanadu
Dale Smith Xanadu
Tara Smith Xanadu
Brian Swibel Xanadu