The Drama Desk Awards, always just one week prior to the Tony Awards, signify the homestretch of theater’s grueling awards season. With stage accolades, unlike film and television’s awards campaign counterparts, talent makes requisite press and event appearances—all the while still performing eight shows a week.
So perhaps it’s unsurprising that the name of the game at the 2019 Drama Desk Awards on June 2, held again at NYC’s Town Hall and hosted by Michael Urie, was exhaustion. Even still the evening, which recognizes the best of the year’s stage offerings on Broadway and Off-Broadway, awarded an eclectic group of winners, many of whom are also nominated for Broadway’s biggest night next weekend—but will it stand as a precursor?
Certainly, the night’s best play and musical winners will hope so; the former went to “The Ferryman,” while the latter recognized “The Prom.” Both are eligible for the corresponding Tony Awards June 9.
WATCH: Must-See Performances According to 2019 Tony Nominees
Also hoping Drama Desk wins will translate to 2019 Tonys gold will be Rachel Chavkin; the “Hadestown” director was the night’s first big winner, recognized for her avant-garde work on the Anaïs Mitchell musical. Same goes for Celia Keenan-Bolger, who won for her featured role in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Santino Fontana for “Tootsie,” Stephanie J. Block for “The Cher Show,” Elaine May for “The Waverly Gallery,” Andre de Shields for his featured role in “Hadestown,” and Ali Stroker for hers in “Oklahoma!”
Taking home the best revival of a musical trophy was the Yiddish production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” and best revival of a play went to “The Waverly Gallery.”
Check out a full list of winners right here, and follow along with Backstage right up until June 9 at Radio City Music Hall as we close out the 2018–19 New York theater season.
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