Drama Desk Award
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2008-05-19T17:29:39Z
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{{Infobox award
| name = Drama Desk Award
| image = DramaDeskAward.jpg
| imagesize = 150px
| caption =
| description = Excellence in [[theatre]]
| presenter = [[Drama Desk]]
| country = {{USA}}
| year = 1955
| website = http://www.dramadesk.com/
}}
The '''Drama Desk Award''', created in 1955, is an award recognizing shows produced [[off-Broadway]], [[off-off-Broadway]], and for legitimate [[not-for-profit]] theaters, in addition to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions. Previously there had been only the [[Tony Awards]], which focused solely on Broadway shows, ignoring the hundreds of other productions mounted in [[New York City]] each year.
==Background==
Originally the '''Vernon Rice Awards''' in honor of theater critic [[Vernon Rice]] of the ''[[New York Post]]'', the name was changed in 1963. In its earliest years, a minimal number of prizes were awarded, but there now are as many categories as there are for the Tonys. The Drama Desk is composed of theatre critics, writers and editors; chairperson of the current Nominating Committee is Barbara Siegel (TalkinBroadway.com, TheaterMania.com).
The Drama Desk Awards have proven to be the first step towards stardom for numerous theatrical luminaries, including [[Edward Albee]], [[Wendy Wasserstein]], [[George C. Scott]], [[Stacy Keach]], [[Sada Thompson]], [[Jose Quintero]], and [[Dustin Hoffman]]. Off-Broadway productions such as ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]'', ''[[Steel Magnolias]]'', and ''[[The Boys in the Band (play)|The Boys in the Band]]'' were propelled to international recognition based on their wins.
The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is held annually at LaGuardia Concert Hall of the [[Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts]] in [[Lincoln Center]]. The nominations for 2007-08 were announced on April 28, 2008 and the ceremony was held on May 18, 2008.<ref>{{cite news | author=Andrew Gans | title=Drama Desk Nominees Announced; Catered Affair Garners 12 Noms | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117195.html | work=Playbill | date=28 April 2008| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref>
==Categories==
===Play===
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Foreign Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play]]
===Musical===
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography]]
===Play and musical===
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design/Music for a Play]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Special Effects]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Projection and Video Design]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience]]
*[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show]]
*[[Special Drama Desk Award]]
*[[Drama Desk Most Promising Awards]]
==See also==
* [[Obie Awards]]
* [[New York Drama Critics' Circle]]
* [[Theatre World Award]]
* [[Broadway theatre]]
* [[Off-Broadway]]
* [[Off-off-Broadway]]
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://www.dramadesk.com/ Drama Desk Awards official website]
[[Category:Culture of New York City]]
[[Category:Off-Broadway]]
[[Category:Off-Off Broadway]]
[[Category:Theatre awards]]