Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. For two years, in addition to the award for Outstanding Book, an award was presented to the writers of the Most Promising Book. Recipients of this honor were Melvin Van Peebles for Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death in 1972 and Ron House and Diz White for El Grande de Coco-Cola in 1973. † - indicates the performance won the Tony Award ‡ - indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award

Check all the winners of Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical presented under Drama Desk Award since 1969 .


Robert L. Freedman

Honored for : A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Chad Beguelin Aladdin
Robert L. Freedman A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Joe Kinosian Murder for Two
Kellen Blair Murder for Two
Lisa Kron Fun Home
Douglas McGrath Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Marsha Norman The Bridges of Madison County

Dennis Kelly

Honored for : Matilda the Musical

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sybille Pearson Giant
Joseph Robinette A Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer The Other Josh Cohen
Steve Rosen The Other Josh Cohen
Jeff Whitty Bring It On the Musical
Dennis Kelly Matilda the Musical
Doug Wright Hands on a Hardbody

Joe DiPietro

Honored for : Nice Work If You Can Get It

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joe DiPietro Nice Work If You Can Get It
Joy Gregory The Shaggs, Philosophy of the World
Peter Stone Death Takes a Holiday
Michael John LaChiusa Queen of the Mist
Thomas Meehan Death Takes a Holiday
Janus Cercone Leap of Faith
Warren Leight Leap of Faith
Douglas Carter Beane Lysistrata Jones

Adam Mathias

Honored for : See Rock City & Other Destinations

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kristen Anderson-Lopez In Transit
James-Allen Ford In Transit
Sara Wordsworth In Transit
Russ Kaplan In Transit
Adam Mathias See Rock City & Other Destinations
Michael Zam The Kid
Stephan Elliott Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Allan Scott Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Robert Lopez The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker The Book of Mormon
Matt Stone The Book of Mormon
Iris Rainer Dart The People in the Picture

Alex Timbers

Honored for : Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alex Timbers Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Joe Iconis Bloodsong of Love
David Thompson The Scottsboro Boys
David Zellnik Yank!
Dick Scanlan Everyday Rapture
Sherie Rene Scott Everyday Rapture
Joe DiPietro Memphis

Lee Hall

Honored for : Billy Elliot the Musical

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lee Hall Billy Elliot the Musical
Jim Lewis This Beautiful City
Steven Cosson This Beautiful City
Joe DiPietro The Toxic Avenger
Brian Hill The Story of My Life
David Lindsay-Abaire Shrek The Musical
Patricia Resnick 9 to 5

Douglas Carter Beane

Honored for : Xanadu

Nominations 2008 »

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

Rupert Holmes, Peter Stone

Honored for : Curtains

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Scott Brown Gutenberg! The Musical!
Anthony King Gutenberg! The Musical!
Rupert Holmes Curtains
Peter Stone Curtains
Heather Hach Legally Blonde: The Musical
Alfred Uhry LoveMusik
Julian Fellowes Mary Poppins
Steven Sater Spring Awakening

Bob Martin, Don McKellar

Honored for : The Drowsy Chaperone

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Doug Wright Grey Gardens
Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone
Don McKellar The Drowsy Chaperone
Marshall Brickman Jersey Boys
Rick Elice Jersey Boys

Rachel Sheinkin

Honored for : The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rachel Sheinkin The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Laurence O'Keefe Cam Jansen
Nell Benjamin Cam Jansen
Kevin Del Aguila Altar Boyz
Mark Harelik The Immigrant
Jeffrey Lane Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Eric Idle Spamalot

Winnie Holzman

Honored for : Wicked

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Winnie Holzman Wicked
Tony Kushner Caroline, or Change

Thomas Meehan, Mark O'Donnell

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Thomas Meehan Hairspray
Mark O'Donnell Hairspray
Tim Acito Zanna, Don't!
Alexander Dinelaris Zanna, Don't!
Terrence McNally A Man of No Importance
Didier Van Cauwelaert Amour
Jeremy Sams Amour
Jeff Whitty Avenue Q

John Lahr, Elaine Stritch

Honored for : Elaine Stritch: At Liberty

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Lahr Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
Elaine Stritch Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
Jonathan Larson Tick, Tick... Boom!
David Auburn Tick, Tick... Boom!
John Guare Sweet Smell of Success
Richard Morris Thoroughly Modern Millie
Dick Scanlan Thoroughly Modern Millie

Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan

Honored for : The Producers

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mel Brooks The Producers
Thomas Meehan The Producers
Kirsten Childs The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Keythe Farley Bat Boy: The Musical
Brian Flemming Bat Boy: The Musical
Terrence McNally The Full Monty
Greg Kotis Urinetown

Alfred Uhry

Honored for : Parade

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alfred Uhry Parade
William Finn A New Brain
James Lapine A New Brain

Terrence McNally

Honored for : Ragtime

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Terrence McNally Ragtime

Jonathan Larson

Honored for : Rent

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jonathan Larson Rent
Laurence Klavan Bed and Sofa
Tina Landau Floyd Collins
John Weidman Big: the musical
Graciela Daniele Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Jim Lewis Chronicle of a Death Foretold

James Lapine

Honored for : Passion

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Lapine Passion
Michael John LaChiusa Hello Again

George C. Wolfe

Honored for : Jelly's Last Jam

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George C. Wolfe Jelly's Last Jam

Marsha Norman

Honored for : The Secret Garden

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marsha Norman The Secret Garden
John Weidman Assassins

Larry Gelbart

Honored for : City of Angels

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Larry Gelbart City of Angels

James Lapine

Honored for : Into the Woods

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Lapine Into the Woods

Stephen Fry

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Fry Me and My Girl
Douglas Furber Me and My Girl
Mike Ockrent Me and My Girl
L. Arthur Rose Me and My Girl
Barry Michael Harman Olympus On My Mind

Douglas Furber

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Fry Me and My Girl
Douglas Furber Me and My Girl
Mike Ockrent Me and My Girl
L. Arthur Rose Me and My Girl
Barry Michael Harman Olympus On My Mind

Mike Ockrent

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Fry Me and My Girl
Douglas Furber Me and My Girl
Mike Ockrent Me and My Girl
L. Arthur Rose Me and My Girl
Barry Michael Harman Olympus On My Mind

L. Arthur Rose

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Fry Me and My Girl
Douglas Furber Me and My Girl
Mike Ockrent Me and My Girl
L. Arthur Rose Me and My Girl
Barry Michael Harman Olympus On My Mind

Rupert Holmes

Honored for : Drood

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rupert Holmes Drood
David Crane Personals
Marta Kauffman Personals
Seth Friedman Personals
Warren Leight Mayor

Jerry Colker

Honored for : 3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerry Colker 3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down

James Lapine

Honored for : Sunday in the Park with George

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Lapine Sunday in the Park with George
Garry Trudeau Doonesbury
Harvey Fierstein La Cage aux Folles

Hugh Wheeler

Honored for : Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Wheeler Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Jerome Kass Ballroom
Neil Simon They're Playing Our Song

Thomas Meehan

Honored for : Annie

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Thomas Meehan Annie

Hugh Wheeler

Honored for : Candide

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Wheeler Candide

Hugh Wheeler

Honored for : A Little Night Music

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Wheeler A Little Night Music

John Guare, Mel Shapiro

Honored for : Two Gentlemen of Verona

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Guare Two Gentlemen of Verona
Mel Shapiro Two Gentlemen of Verona

Burt Shevelove

Honored for : No, No, Nanette

Nominations 1971 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Burt Shevelove No, No, Nanette

George Furth

Honored for : Company

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Furth Company

Peter Stone

Honored for : 1776

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Peter Stone 1776