The 2019–20 New York theater season may go down as the one that was “lost,” but not if the Drama Desk Awards have anything to say about it. Hosted virtually by Frank DiLella on NY1 on June 13 (rescheduled from its planned date of May 31 due to the Black Lives Matter protests), the ceremony considered shows that had opened prior to the coronavirus-forced theater shutdown on March 12.
And though it certainly looked different from years’ past, the core virtue of the awards remained: toasting the best of the season’s Broadway and Off-Broadway performances.
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The former won big on the play front, while the latter notched top musical honors: Matthew Lopez’s two-part epic “The Inheritance” was awarded best play, while Michael R. Jackson’s “A Strange Loop”—also this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner—was named best musical. A number of acting awards went to performers in those respective shows, as well. Paul Hilton and Lois Smith won for featured actor and actress in a play, respectively, for “The Inheritance,” while Larry Owens was recognized for his leading performance in “A Strange Loop.”
Also on the acting front, other notable wins were for Adrienne Warren as the title role in “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” (a role that many had considered a Tony Award frontrunner before the industry shutdown), as well as Lauren Patton for her show-stopping turn in “Jagged Little Pill,” Edmund Donovan for “Greater Clements,” Liza Colón-Zayas for “Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven,” and Christian Borle for “Little Shop of Horror.”
Laura Linney was also singled out for her work in Broadway’s “My Name Is Lucy Barton,” receiving the prize for outstanding solo performance.
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On the creative front, “A Strange Loop” also reigned supreme, with Stephen Brackett nabbing director of a musical and Jackson triumphing again for both book of a musical and outstanding lyrics. Dave Malloy and his “Octet” won for best music, while Stephen Daldry earned the play directing prize for “The Inheritance.” Sonya Tayeh’s encompassing choreography for “Moulin Rouge!” was also awarded.
Though normally a harbinger for Tony Award winners, that is not the case this year as the Tonys have been postponed indefinitely since March. You can find the full list of Drama Desk Award winners here.
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