The Drama Desk Awards annually recognize high achievement in the theater arts. These custom awards are designated for those who have shown outstanding talent, skill and dedication to theater, including Broadway, Off-Broadway and other major theaters around New York. The Drama Desk, founded in 1955, includes theater critics, reporters and patrons of the arts. The original name was the Vernon Rice Awards, after a noted theater critic, but this was changed in 1963.
What Are the Awards?
The Drama Desk Awards are different than the Tony Awards in that they include non-Broadway theater nominees. In fact, Broadway shows were ineligible for consideration until 1968, at which point the nomination criteria was changed. The winners attend an awards ceremony where they receive a trophy.
Categories
The Drama Desk awards are broken into three categories:
Within each category are subcategories that feature important elements in the type of production. For example, the Play category includes awards for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Foreign Play, Outstanding Actor and Actress, Outstanding Director and Outstanding Music among others. Subcategories for Musical include many of the same awards, plus Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Orchestrations, among others. The Play and Musical Category features awards like Outstanding Lighting, Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Set Design and even Outstanding Special Effects.
Selection Process
Members receive official nomination ballots and submit their choices by a certain deadline. The Nominating Committee then reviews the nominations and narrows the list for each category to the finalists. The winners are announced at an elaborate gala celebration, generally held in the spring. Since the early part of the 21st century, the awards ceremony has been broadcast nationally.
Notable Recipients
The Drama Desk Awards go to notable actors, actresses, writers, composers and directors among others. Notable recipients include Dustin Hoffman, Matthew Broderick, Jeff Daniels, Harvey Fierstein, John Malkovich, Angela Landsbury, George C. Scott, Natasha Richardson, Stacy Keach, Michael Bennett, Rene Auberjonois and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Plays and musicals that receive honors also get more exposure, allowing them greater recognition.
 | The Kennedy Center Honors annually recognize some of the biggest stars in the performance arts. Learn how and why the cream of the performing art crop gathers-often with the President-at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for an evening of celebration. |
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Find articles about performing arts awards, including the Kennedy Center Honors, Drama Desk Awards and American Dance Awards. |&&| |
