For New York City theater-makers (and their fans), spring is the most wonderful time of the year. Voters from various organizations are attending a final wave of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions opening in time to qualify for awards, distinctions, and other theater-related trophies.
The eligibility cut-off for the Tony Awards, New York theater’s highest honors, is April 27, 2017. By then the curtain will have already risen on the annual awards frenzy: the Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards will be taking stock of the best of Off-Broadway this season, while the Drama Desks will encompass Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway as well. This year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama, announced April 10, was awarded to Lynn Nottage for her working-class drama “Sweat” (making Nottage, incidentally, the first female playwright to ever win that award twice).
READ: “Everything You Need to Know About the 2017 Tony Awards”
Need to mark your calendar to keep track of all the celebrations? Below are the most important NYC theater awards season dates that belong on your radar. Stay tuned for further updates in Backstage’s awards coverage. See you on the Great White Way, fellow thespians!
April 2017
April 25 – Outer Critics Circle Awards nominations announcement
April 27 – Drama Desk Awards nominations announcement
May 2017
May – Theatre World Awards announcement
May – NY Drama Critics Circle Awards announcement
May 2 – Tony Awards nominations: Jane Krakowski and Christopher Jackson will announce the results, streamed live on TonyAwards.com
May 7 – 32nd annual Lucille Lortel Awards: Taran Killam will host the ceremony at New York University’s Skirball Center
May 19 – 83rd annual Drama League Awards: Audra McDonald and Will Swenson will host the ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Times Square
May 22 – 62nd annual Obie Awards: Lea DeLaria will host the ceremony at Webster Hall
May 22 – 8th annual Lilly Awards: Sarah Jones will host the ceremony at Playwrights Horizons
May 25 – 67th annual Outer Critics Circle Awards: ceremony held at Sardi’s Restaurant
June 2017
June 4 – 62nd annual Drama Desk Awards: Michael Urie will host the ceremony at Town Hall
June 11 – 71st annual Tony Awards: the ceremony will be held at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast 8:00–11:00 P.M. ET on the CBS Television Network and CBS All Access
UPDATE: Kevin Spacey has been announced as host of the 2017 Tony Awards
Ready to win your Tony Award? Check out our Broadway audition listings!