Drama Desk Awards Honor Norman and Billy

The 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards, which recognize the best of New York theater both on and off Broadway, were held tonight at LaGuardia Concert Hall in a ceremony hosted by Harvey Fierstein. Not surprisingly, Billy Elliot took the most honors, nabbing all 10 of the awards that it was nominated for, including Outstanding Musical, Director of a Musical, Choreography, Book, and the Best Music award for its composer, Elton John. The Norman Conquests conquered the Outstanding Revival of a Play category, Hair took Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and Pulitzer Prize winner Ruined got Outstanding Play. Special Outstanding Ensemble Performance awards were given to the casts of The Norman Conquests and The Cripple of Inishmaan. The Drama Desks are sometimes thought of as an early indicator of how the Tony Awards might go (much like the Golden Globes are to the Oscars), but this year there were some pretty significant differences between the two. The Drama Desk's Outstanding Play winner, Ruined, for instance, isn't even eligible for a Tony because it is an Off-Broadway production and the Tonys only recognize Broadway shows. Meanwhile Next To Normal, a major Tony contender for Best Musical and other awards, wasn't eligible for a Drama Desk this year because it had already been eligible last season, when it appeared in a high profile Off-Broadway production at Second Stage Theatre.

August: Osage County and Passing Strange Top List of Drama Desk Winners

The Drama Desk Awards, which honor the best shows and performers on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway, were held last night. August: Osage County took Best Play, Passing Strange won for Best Musical, and the top revival awards went to Boeing-Boeing and South Pacific. Gypsy nabbed three performance awards, for Patti Lupone, Laura Benanti, and Boyd Gaines. As expected Cry-Baby won for its excellent choreography, The 39 Steps won Unique Theatrical Experience, and Sunday in the Park with George got an award for its clever video/projection design. Best Music and Best Lyrics went to Passing Strange, while Best Book of a Musical was awarded to Xanadu.

Drama Desk Awards Ceremony Tomorrow

The Drama Desk Awards, which annually celebrate the best of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway theater, will be held tomorrow night in New York City's LaGuardia Concert Hall. The event, which commences at 9pm, will be hosted by the hilarious cast of Broadway-bound musical [title of show]. The Drama Desks are sometimes seen as an indicator of how the Tony Awards will go, so Broadway buffs will want to take note of the results. However, the most likely candidate to take home the Tony for Best Musical this year, In the Heights, isn't even nominated for the Drama Desk - because it was eligible last year as an Off-Broadway show (it lost to juggernaut Spring Awakening). The Drama Desk Awards broadcast can be heard live on XM satellite radio's Broadway channel.

Not One, but TWO Ties at the Drama Desks!

Last night at the Drama Desk Awards, which celebrate everything from Broadway to Off-Off Broadway, it was no surprise when The Coast of Utopia took Best Play and Spring Awakening took Best Musical. Nor did anyone raise any eyebrow when Journey's End and Company snagged Best Play and Musical Revival, respectively. What was unusual was the fact that there were two ties: Beloved Broadway divas Audra McDonald (110 in the Shade) and Donna Murphy (LoveMusik) shared the Best Actress in a Musical award. Even more interesting, Company revival orchestrator Mary-Mitchell Campbell shared the award with the man who wrote the orchestrations for the original Broadway production of that show, Jonathan Tunick (he won for LoveMusik).

The Drama Desk Awards

The Drama Desk Awards will be handed out this Sunday, May 20 at the LaGuardia Concert Hall in New York City. Unlike the Tonys, the Drama Desk doesn't only honor Broadway shows, but also includes Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway. We'll be sure to highlight the major winners here, but if you'd like to see the ceremony (which will be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth), NYC's PBS station will be broadcasting it on May 27 at 12:30pm.