Drama Desk Award 417090 213507188 2008-05-19T17:29:39Z Emerson7 191157 copyediting; cleanup; {{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]]