This is an exciting year on Broadway and Off-Broadway as there are a multitude of productions that occurred or are still playing that showcase the talents of many phenomenal people of color, many of whom were recognized with nominations for the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards. The Drama Desk Awards always recognize excellence on and off-Broadway and are always extremely inclusive, which is amazing.
On Broadway, “Purpose” playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre on W 44th Street is nominated for outstanding play for playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Kara Young is nominated for outstanding featured performance in a play. “Gypsy”, playing at the Majestic Theatre on W 44th Street, which bought six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald back to Broadway in the lead role as Rose, is up for numerous Drama Desk nominations including and deservedly so, outstanding revival of a musical; Audra McDonald for outstanding lead performance in a musical; George C. Wolfe for outstanding direction of a musical; Camille A. Brown for outstanding choreography and Toni-Leslie James for outstanding costume design of a musical.
“BOOP! The Musical” playing at the Broadhurst Theatre on W 44th Street is up for a total of 11 Drama Desk Awards, including outstanding musical and Jasmine Amy Rogers for outstanding lead performance in a musical (she’s making her Broadway debut). The Broadway play by the late Samm Art Williams’ “HOME” that played earlier in the season is up for outstanding revival of a play. “Real Women Have Curves” playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre on W 48th Street has a nomination for Tatianna Cordóba for outstanding lead performance in a musical, she is also making her Broadway debut. “Pirates! The Penzance Musical” playing at the Todd Haimes Theatre on W 42nd Street earned a nomination for Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters for outstanding orchestration. Dede Ayite is nominated for outstanding costume design of a play for “Our Town” which ran earlier in the season. Paul Tazewell received a nomination for outstanding costume design of a musical for “Death Becomes Her,” which is also up for outstanding musical and is playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on W 46th Street.
On the off-Broadway front “Liberation” which played at the Laura Pels Theatre, earned multiple nominations, including outstanding direction of a play for Whitney White; and Nikiyia Mathis for outstanding wig and hair. Mathis, in fact, has a second nomination in this category for her work in “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” Speaking of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” which played at PAC NYC, the nominations are steady and flowing—including outstanding revival of a musical; André De Shields for outstanding featured performance in a musical; Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch for outstanding direction of a musical; Arturo Lyon and Omari Wiles for outstanding choreography and Qween Jeans for outstanding costume design of a musical.
This season saw a splendid production of “Wine in the Wilderness”, which was presented by Classic Stage Company. The late Alice Childress play, is up for outstanding revival of a play and Olivia Washington, outstanding lead performance in a play. The category of outstanding featured performance in a play got nominations for many talented individuals and acknowledged some wonderful productions. Adrienne C. Moore is nominated for her performance in Lincoln Center Theatre’s production of “The Blood Quilt”; Michael Rishawn is nominated for his role in the MCC Theater’s production of “Table 17”; Jude Tibeau is up for Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre’s production of “Bad Kreyol” and Anjana Vasan is nominated for her performance in BAM’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire”. “Medea: Re-Versed” performed at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture, earned two nominations for Luis Quintero for outstanding lyrics and outstanding adaptation. The New Federal Theatre production of “The World According to Micki Grant” is nominated for outstanding revue.