Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. † - 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 Lyrics presented under Drama Desk Award since 1969 .


Robert L. Freedman, Steven Lutvak

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

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Chad Beguelin Aladdin
Tim Rice Aladdin
Howard Ashman Aladdin
Jason Robert Brown The Bridges of Madison County
Steven Lutvak A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Robert L. Freedman A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Michael Friedman Love's Labour's Lost
Michael Korie Far From Heaven
Lisa Kron Fun Home

Tim Minchin

Honored for : Matilda the Musical

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tim Minchin Matilda the Musical
Dave Malloy Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Michael John LaChiusa Giant
Amanda Green Hands on a Hardbody
Steve Rosen The Other Josh Cohen
David Rossmer The Other Josh Cohen
Lin-Manuel Miranda Bring It On the Musical
Amanda Green Bring It On the Musical

Markéta Irglová, Glen Hansard

Honored for : Once

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gunnar Madsen The Shaggs, Philosophy of the World
Joy Gregory The Shaggs, Philosophy of the World
Don Black Bonnie & Clyde
Michael John LaChiusa Queen of the Mist
Maury Yeston Death Takes a Holiday
Jack Feldman Newsies
Markéta Irglová Once
Glen Hansard Once

Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, Matt Stone

Honored for : The Book of Mormon

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Adam Mathias See Rock City & Other Destinations
Jack Lechner The Kid
Rick Crom Newsical
Robert Lopez The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker The Book of Mormon
Matt Stone The Book of Mormon
Marc Shaiman Catch Me If You Can
Scott Wittman Catch Me If You Can
Glenn Slater Sister Act the Musical

John Kander, Fred Ebb

Honored for : The Scottsboro Boys

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Kander The Scottsboro Boys
Fred Ebb The Scottsboro Boys
Rick Crom Newsical
Kevin Del Aguila Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Dillie Keane Fascinating Aïda Absolutely Miraculous!
Adèle Anderson Fascinating Aïda Absolutely Miraculous!
David Zellnik Yank!
Andrew Lippa The Addams Family

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Road Show

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Road Show
Neil Bartram The Story of My Life
Jason Robert Brown 13
Marcy Heisler Dear Edwina
David Lindsay-Abaire Shrek The Musical
Dolly Parton 9 to 5

Stew

Honored for : Passing Strange

Nominations 2008 »

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

Steven Sater

Honored for : Spring Awakening

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Steven Sater Spring Awakening
Lin-Manuel Miranda In the Heights
William Strauss Capitol Steps
Elaina Newport Capitol Steps
Mark Eaton Capitol Steps
Fred Ebb Curtains
Rupert Holmes Curtains
John Kander Curtains
Laurence O'Keefe Legally Blonde: The Musical
Nell Benjamin Legally Blonde: The Musical
Marc Shaiman Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Scott Wittman Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison

Honored for : The Drowsy Chaperone

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lisa Lambert The Drowsy Chaperone
Greg Morrison The Drowsy Chaperone
Mark Campbell Songs from An Unmade Bed
Ryan Cunningham I Love You Because
Michael Korie Grey Gardens
Michael John LaChiusa See What I Wanna See
Chad Beguelin The Wedding Singer

Eric Idle

Honored for : Spamalot

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Eric Idle Spamalot
Gary Adler Altar Boyz
Michael Patrick Walker Altar Boyz
Douglas J. Cohen Children's Letters to God
Rick Crom Newsical
David Yazbek Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
William Finn The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Stephen Schwartz

Honored for : Wicked

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Schwartz Wicked
Joanne Bogart The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
Sean Hartley Cupid and Psyche
Joel Higgins Johnny Guitar
Boy George Taboo

Marc Shaiman

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tim Acito Zanna, Don't!
Alexander Dinelaris Zanna, Don't!
Lynn Ahrens A Man of No Importance
Marc Shaiman Hairspray
Scott Wittman Hairspray
Jeremy Sams Amour
Didier Van Cauwelaert Amour
Robert Lopez Avenue Q
Jeff Marx Avenue Q
Craig Carnelia Imaginary Friends

Scott Wittman

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tim Acito Zanna, Don't!
Alexander Dinelaris Zanna, Don't!
Lynn Ahrens A Man of No Importance
Marc Shaiman Hairspray
Scott Wittman Hairspray
Jeremy Sams Amour
Didier Van Cauwelaert Amour
Robert Lopez Avenue Q
Jeff Marx Avenue Q
Craig Carnelia Imaginary Friends

Jason Robert Brown

Honored for : The Last Five Years

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Robert Brown The Last Five Years
Jonathan Larson Tick, Tick... Boom!
Kevin Murphy Reefer Madness
Ben Schatz Dragapella Starring The Kinsey Sicks
Craig Carnelia Sweet Smell of Success
Dick Scanlan Thoroughly Modern Millie

Mel Brooks

Honored for : The Producers

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kirsten Childs The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Laurence O'Keefe Bat Boy: The Musical
Mel Brooks The Producers
Edward Kleban A Class Act
David Yazbek The Full Monty
Mark Hollmann Urinetown
Greg Kotis Urinetown

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Saturday Night

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Saturday Night
Boyd Graham The Big Bang
Erik Weiner The Bomb-itty of Errors
Jordan Allen-Dutton The Bomb-itty of Errors
Jason Catalano The Bomb-itty of Errors
GQ The Bomb-itty of Errors
Andrew Lippa The Wild Party

Gerard Alessandrini

Honored for : Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
William Finn A New Brain
Jason Robert Brown Parade
Gerard Alessandrini Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act

Lynn Ahrens

Honored for : Ragtime

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lynn Ahrens Ragtime
Susan Birkenhead Triumph of Love
Stephen Trask Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Gerard Alessandrini

Honored for : Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gerard Alessandrini Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back
Brian Crawley Violet
Mark Waldrop Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly

Jonathan Larson

Honored for : Rent

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jonathan Larson Rent
Mark Campbell Songs from An Unmade Bed
Adam Guettel Floyd Collins
Laurence Klavan Bed and Sofa
Richard Maltby, Jr. Big: the musical

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Passion

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Passion
Michael John LaChiusa Hello Again
Tim Rice Beauty and the Beast

Joel Paley

Honored for : Ruthless!

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Denis Markell A Backer's Audition
Douglas Bernstein A Backer's Audition
Joel Paley Ruthless!
Arthur Perlman Wings
David Zippel The Goodbye Girl

Susan Birkenhead

Honored for : Jelly's Last Jam

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Susan Birkenhead Jelly's Last Jam
Erik Frandsen Song of Singapore
Michael Garin Song of Singapore
Robert Hipkins Song of Singapore
Paula Lockheart Song of Singapore

William Finn

Honored for : Falsettoland

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marsha Norman The Secret Garden
Stephen Sondheim Assassins
William Finn Falsettoland

David Zippel

Honored for : City of Angels

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
David Zippel City of Angels
George Forrest Grand Hotel
Robert Wright Grand Hotel
Maury Yeston Grand Hotel
Richard Maltby, Jr. Closer Than Ever

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Into the Woods

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Into the Woods
Barry Michael Harman Romance/Romance

Roger Miller

Honored for : Big River

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerry Colker 3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down
Roger Miller Big River
Ellen Fitzhugh Grind

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Sunday in the Park with George

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Sunday in the Park with George
Richard Maltby, Jr. Baby
Garry Trudeau Doonesbury
Jerry Herman La Cage aux Folles

Howard Ashman

Honored for : Little Shop of Horrors

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Howard Ashman Little Shop of Horrors
Des McAnuff The Death of Von Richtofen as Witnessed From Earth
Michael Colby Charlotte Sweet
T. S. Eliot Cats

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Merrily We Roll Along

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Merrily We Roll Along
Maury Yeston Nine
Tom Eyen Dreamgirls
John Foley Pump Boys and Dinettes
Mark Hardwick Pump Boys and Dinettes
Debra Monk Pump Boys and Dinettes
Cass Morgan Pump Boys and Dinettes
Jim Wann Pump Boys and Dinettes
John Schimmel Pump Boys and Dinettes

Maury Yeston

Honored for : Nine

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Merrily We Roll Along
Maury Yeston Nine
Tom Eyen Dreamgirls
John Foley Pump Boys and Dinettes
Mark Hardwick Pump Boys and Dinettes
Debra Monk Pump Boys and Dinettes
Cass Morgan Pump Boys and Dinettes
Jim Wann Pump Boys and Dinettes
John Schimmel Pump Boys and Dinettes

Tim Rice

Honored for : Evita

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tim Rice Evita
Steve Brown Strider

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Gretchen Cryer I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road

Carol Hall

Honored for : The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Carol Hall The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Elizabeth Swados Runaways

Martin Charnin

Honored for : Annie

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Martin Charnin Annie
Alfred Uhry The Robber Bridegroom

Al Carmines

Honored for : The Faggot

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Al Carmines The Faggot

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : A Little Night Music

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim A Little Night Music

John Guare

Honored for : Two Gentlemen of Verona

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Guare Two Gentlemen of Verona

Bertolt Brecht

Honored for : Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Company
Bertolt Brecht Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Company

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Company
Bertolt Brecht Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

George Haimsohn

Honored for : Dames at Sea

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Haimsohn Dames at Sea
Robin Miller Dames at Sea
Fred Ebb Zorba

Robin Miller

Honored for : Dames at Sea

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Haimsohn Dames at Sea
Robin Miller Dames at Sea
Fred Ebb Zorba

Fred Ebb

Honored for : Zorba

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Haimsohn Dames at Sea
Robin Miller Dames at Sea
Fred Ebb Zorba