The Drama League Announces Their Winners.

A star studded ceremony held May 17th at the Marriott Marquis The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) announced the winners of the 85th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony hosted by Kristine Nielsen and Julie White.

Outstanding Production of a Musical: Hadestown 

Outstanding Production of a Play: The Ferryman

Outstanding Revival of a Musical: Kiss Me, Kate

Outstanding Revival of a Play: The Waverly Gallery

Distinguished Performance Award: Bryan Cranston

The festivities also celebrated the 2019 Special Awards Recipients:

Tony® Award winning actress and singer Kelli O’Hara currently starring in Kiss Me, Kate on Broadway, received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award.

Two-time Tony® Award nominated director Alex Timbers, of the upcoming Beetlejuice and Moulin Rouge on Broadway, received the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.

MacArthur Genius Grant-winning playwright, actor, singer-songwriter, performance artist, director and producer Taylor Mac, writer of this season’s Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus on Broadway, received the Unique Contribution to the Theater Award.

During the ceremony, legendary writer Kenneth Lonergan and Director Lila Neugebauer introduced the 2019 Directing Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project: NJ Agwuna, Sharifa Elkady, Raz Golden, Chika Ike, Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly, Ismael Lara, Jr., Amanda McRaven, Lindsey Hope Pearlman, Ben Randle, Tai Thompson, Gabriel Torres, and Sophia Watt.

First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. The Drama League Awards recognize distinguished productions, performances, and exemplary career achievements. The first Drama League Award was presented to Katharine Cornell in 1935; since then, the Distinguished Performance Award has been accorded to a roster of theatre legends such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chita Rivera, Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, Liev Schreiber, Sir John Gielgud, Harvey Fierstein, Cherry Jones, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones, Helen Hayes, Jeremy Irons, Mary-Louise Parker, Sir Ian McKellen, Bernadette Peters, and Christopher Plummer.