Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The awards were established in 1955, with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director being presented to directors of both plays and musicals. The new award categories were later created in the 1975 ceremony. † - 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 Director of a Play presented under Drama Desk Award since 1975 .


Tim Carroll

Honored for : Twelfth Night

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joe Calarco A Christmas Carol
Tim Carroll Twelfth Night
Thomas Kail Family Furniture
Bill Rauch All The Way
Anna D. Shapiro Domesticated
Julie Taymor A Midsummer Night's Dream

Pam MacKinnon

Honored for : Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lear DeBessonet Good Person of Szechwan
Sam Gold Uncle Vanya
Ed Sylvanus Iskandar Restoration Comedy
Ruben Santiago-Hudson The Piano Lesson
Pam MacKinnon Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Lynne Meadow The Assembled Parties

Mike Nichols

Honored for : Death of a Salesman

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mike Nichols Death of a Salesman
Jo Anne Bonney By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
David Cromer Tribes
Ed Sylvanus Iskandar These Seven Sicknesses
Sam Mendes Richard III
Tony Speciale Unnatural Acts

George C. Wolfe, Joel Grey

Honored for : The Normal Heart

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Trip Cullman A Small Fire
Moisés Kaufman Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Davis McCallum A Bright New Boise
Daniel J. Sullivan The Merchant of Venice
Kirjan Waage Baby Universe: A Puppet Odyssey
Gwendolyn Warnock Baby Universe: A Puppet Odyssey
George C. Wolfe The Normal Heart
Joel Grey The Normal Heart

Michael Grandage

Honored for : Red

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Grandage Red
Jonathan Bank So Help Me God!
Jack Cummings III The Boys in the Band
Sam Gold Circle Mirror Transformation
Michael Grandage Hamlet
Ethan Hawke A Lie of the Mind

Matthew Warchus

Honored for : The Norman Conquests: Living Together, The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden, The Norman Conquests: Table Manners

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Matthew Warchus The Norman Conquests: Living Together","The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden","The Norman Conquests: Table Manners
Garry Hynes The Cripple of Inishmaan
Kate Whoriskey Ruined
Michael Blakemore Blithe Spirit
Terry Kinney Reasons to Be Pretty
Sarah Benson Blasted

Anna D. Shapiro

Honored for : August: Osage County

Nominations 2008 »

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

Jack O'Brien

Honored for : The Coast of Utopia: Voyage, The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck, The Coast of Utopia: Salvage

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jack O'Brien The Coast of Utopia: Voyage","The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck","The Coast of Utopia: Salvage
Declan Donnellan Twelft Night or What You Will
Ciarán O`Reilly The Hairy Ape
Tom Ridgely Marco Millions
Michael Grandage Frost/Nixon
Doug Hughes Inherit the Wind

Nicholas Hytner

Honored for : The History Boys

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Ayckbourn Private Fears in Public Places
Gisela Cardenas Agamemnon
Daniel J. Sullivan Stuff Happens
Robert J. Wilson Peer Gynt
Nicholas Hytner The History Boys
Jerry Zaks The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

Doug Hughes

Honored for : Doubt: A Parable

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Josh Carlebach Frankenstein
Scott Elliott Hurlyburly
Edward Hall Rose Rage
Doug Hughes Doubt: A Parable
Joe Mantello Glengarry Glen Ross
Scott Ellis Twelve Angry Men

Jack O'Brien

Honored for : Henry IV

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jack O'Brien Henry IV
Hilary Adams Moby Dick
Dexter Bullard Bug
Edward Hall A Midsummer Night's Dream
Kenny Leon A Raisin in the Sun
Moisés Kaufman I Am My Own Wife

Robert Falls

Honored for : Long Day's Journey Into Night

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Robert Falls Long Day's Journey Into Night
Joe Mantello Take Me Out
Deborah Warner Medea
Philip Seymour Hoffman Our Lady of 121st Street
Sam Mendes Uncle Vanya","Twelfth Night

Mary Zimmerman

Honored for : Metamorphoses

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Carl Forsman The Voice of the Turtle
Neil LaBute The Shape of Things
Bartlett Sher Cymbeline
Mary Zimmerman Metamorphoses
Howard Davies Private Lives
Richard Eyre The Crucible

Jack O'Brien

Honored for : The Invention of Love

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mark Brokaw Lobby Hero
Michael Greif Dogeaters
Philip Seymour Hoffman Jesus Hopped the A Train
Jonathan Kent Richard II
Matthew Warchus The Unexpected Man
Jack O'Brien The Invention of Love

Michael Blakemore

Honored for : Copenhagen (2000 Broadway)

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tom Hulce The Cider House Rules: Part One, Here in St. Cloud's
Jane Jones The Cider House Rules: Part One, Here in St. Cloud's
Marion McClinton Jitney
Daniel J. Sullivan Dinner with Friends
Michael Blakemore Copenhagen (2000 Broadway)
James Lapine Dirty Blonde
Michael Mayer Uncle Vanya

Trevor Nunn

Honored for : Not About Nightingales

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Trevor Nunn Not About Nightingales
Derek Anson Jones Wit
Nicholas Martin Betty's Summer Vacation
Patrick Marber Closer
Robert Falls Death of a Salesman
Howard Davies The Iceman Cometh

Michael Mayer

Honored for : A View From the Bridge

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Mayer A View From the Bridge
Michael Mayer Side Man
Garry Hynes The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Simon McBurney The Chairs
Scott Elliott Goose-Pimples
Jim Houghton The American Clock
Joe Mantello Mizlansky/Zilinsky or 'Schmucks'

Michael Mayer

Honored for : Side Man

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Mayer A View From the Bridge
Michael Mayer Side Man
Garry Hynes The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Simon McBurney The Chairs
Scott Elliott Goose-Pimples
Jim Houghton The American Clock
Joe Mantello Mizlansky/Zilinsky or 'Schmucks'

Mark Brokaw

Honored for : How I Learned to Drive

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mark Brokaw How I Learned to Drive
Deborah Warner The Waste Land
Robert Lepage The Seven Streams of the River Ota
Lynne Meadow Nine Armenians
Mark Wing-Davey The Skriker

Gerald Gutierrez

Honored for : A Delicate Balance

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gerald Gutierrez A Delicate Balance
Adrian Noble A Midsummer Night's Dream
Lloyd Richards Seven Guitars
George C. Wolfe The Tempest
Scott Elliott The Monogamist
Doug Hughes The Grey Zone

Gerald Gutierrez

Honored for : The Heiress

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gerald Gutierrez The Heiress
David Esbjornson Iphigenia and Other Daughters
Declan Donnellan As You Like It
Emily Mann Having Our Say
Sean Mathias Indiscretions
Joe Mantello Love! Valour! Compassion!

Stephen Daldry

Honored for : An Inspector Calls

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Daldry An Inspector Calls
JoAnne Akalaitis In the Summer House
Jonathan Kent Medea
Mark Wing-Davey The Lights
Mary Zimmerman Arabian Nights

George C. Wolfe

Honored for : Angels in America: Millennium Approaches

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George C. Wolfe Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Christopher Ashley Jeffrey
Adrian Hall As You Like It
Ariane Mnouchkine Les Atrides
Daniel J. Sullivan The Sisters Rosensweig

Patrick Mason

Honored for : Dancing at Lughnasa

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patrick Mason Dancing at Lughnasa
David Chambers Search and Destroy
Mark Wing-Davey Mad Forest
Michael Bloom Sight Unseen
JoAnne Akalaitis Tis Pity She's a Whore

Jerry Zaks

Honored for : Six Degrees of Separation

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerry Zaks Six Degrees of Separation
Richard Jones La Bête
Kevin Kline Hamlet
Michael Greif Machinal

Frank Galati

Honored for : The Grapes of Wrath

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Frank Galati The Grapes of Wrath
Adrian Noble The Art of Success
Norman René Prelude to a Kiss
Roger Michell Some Americans Abroad
Lloyd Richards The Piano Lesson

Jerry Zaks

Honored for : Lend Me a Tenor

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerry Zaks Lend Me a Tenor
Simon Callow Shirley Valentine
Daniel J. Sullivan The Heidi Chronicles
Norman René Reckless
Jack O'Brien The Cocktail Hour
Robin Lefèvre Aristocrats

John Dexter

Honored for : M. Butterfly

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
William H. Macy Boy's Life
Lynne Meadow Woman in Mind
John Dexter M. Butterfly
Lloyd Richards Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Gregory Mosher Speed-the-Plow

Howard Davies

Honored for : Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Howard Davies Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Gene Saks Broadway Bound
Carole Rothman Coastal Disturbances
Lloyd Richards Fences
Simon Gray The Common Pursuit
Michael McGuire The Common Pursuit
Ron Lagomarsino Driving Miss Daisy

Jerry Zaks

Honored for : The House of Blue Leaves, The Marriage of Bette and Boo

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Tillinger Loot","It's Only a Play
Jonathan Miller Long Day's Journey Into Night
Jerry Zaks The House of Blue Leaves","The Marriage of Bette and Boo
Gary Sinise Orphans
Mary Robinson Lemon Sky
Liviu Ciulei Hamlet

John Malkovich

Honored for : Balm in Gilead

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Malkovich Balm in Gilead
Claudia Weill Found a Peanut
Ron Lagomarsino Digby
Marshall W. Mason As Is
Gene Saks Biloxi Blues

Michael Blakemore

Honored for : Noises Off

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Blakemore Noises Off
Terry Kinney And a Nightingale Sang...
Gerald Gutierrez Isn't It Romantic
Lee Grant A Private View
Gregory Mosher Glengarry Glen Ross
Mike Nichols The Real Thing

Trevor Nunn

Honored for : All's Well That Ends Well

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Arthur Sherman The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
George C. Scott Present Laughter
Trevor Nunn All's Well That Ends Well
Michael Bennett Third Street
Robert Allan Ackerman Extremities
Gary Sinise True West

Tommy Tune

Honored for : Cloud 9

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Athol Fugard Master Harold...and the Boys
Douglas Turner Ward A Soldier's Play
Tommy Tune Cloud 9
John Tillinger Entertaining Mr. Sloane
Jacques Levy Potsdam Quartet

Peter Hall

Honored for : Amadeus

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Peter Hall Amadeus
Melvin Bernhardt Crimes of the Heart
Geraldine Fitzgerald Mass Appeal
Douglas Seale The Winslow Boy

Vivian Matalon

Honored for : Morning's at Seven

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Vivian Matalon Morning's at Seven
Kevin Conway Mecca
Gordon Davidson Children of a Lesser God
Alan Schneider Loose Ends
Lynne Gannaway Strider
Robert Kalfin Strider
Marshall W. Mason Talley's Folly

Jack Hofsiss

Honored for : The Elephant Man

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jack Hofsiss The Elephant Man
Horacena J. Taylor Nevis Mountain Dew
Ted Weiant The Miracle Worker
Alan Ayckbourn Bedroom Farce
Peter Hall Bedroom Farce
Stephen Porter Man and Superman
John Madden Wings

Melvin Bernhardt

Honored for : Da

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Melvin Bernhardt Da
Peter Bennett The Passion Of Dracula
Joseph Chaikin The Dybbuk
Steve Robman Uncommon Women and Others
Garland Wright K
Mike Nichols The Gin Game

Alan Schneider

Honored for : A Texas Trilogy: The Oldest Living Graduate, A Texas Trilogy: The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia, A Texas Trilogy: Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Schneider A Texas Trilogy: The Oldest Living Graduate","A Texas Trilogy: The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia","A Texas Trilogy: Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander
Mike Nichols Comedians
Ulu Grosbard American Buffalo
Oz Scott For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf
Tony Giordano G.R. Point
Frank Dunlop The New York Idea

Mike Nichols

Honored for : Comedians

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Schneider A Texas Trilogy: The Oldest Living Graduate","A Texas Trilogy: The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia","A Texas Trilogy: Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander
Mike Nichols Comedians
Ulu Grosbard American Buffalo
Oz Scott For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf
Tony Giordano G.R. Point
Frank Dunlop The New York Idea

Ellis Rabb

Honored for : The Royal Family

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ellis Rabb The Royal Family
Arvin Brown A Memory of Two Mondays / 27 Wagons Full of Cotton
Tom Signorelli Lamppost Reunion
Mike Nichols Streamers
Stephen Porter They Knew What They Wanted
Edward Albee Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

John Dexter

Honored for : Equus

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Dexter Equus
Ron Link Women Behind Bars
Gene Saks Same Time, Next Year
Frank Dunlop Sherlock Holmes
Athol Fugard Sizwe Banzi is Dead
Athol Fugard The Island