This past Sunday, June 1, the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards took over NYU Skirball in downtown Manhattan, bringing together some of the most exciting voices in New York theater. With Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess at the helm—Burgess, notably, returning to Broadway this summer in Oh, Mary!—the ceremony was packed with both star power and heartfelt celebration.
The Drama Desk Awards continue to honor excellence across all platforms of NYC theater, from Broadway to Off and Off-Off Broadway. This year, the room was buzzing with talent, from presenters like Victoria Clark, Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, and Nicole Scherzinger to performers like Joshua Henry, Lesli Margherita, Norm Lewis, and the cast of Dead Outlaw.
Major winners included Maybe Happy Ending for Outstanding Musical and Purpose for Outstanding Play. Audra McDonald dazzled in her win for Gypsy, while Jasmine Amy Rogers lit up the stage with her win for BOOP! The Musical. With the Tony Awards around the corner, the Drama Desks gave a strong preview of what we might see next Sunday.
2025 Drama Desk Awards Winners Here:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Outstanding Play | Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins |
| Outstanding Musical | Maybe Happy Ending |
| Outstanding Revival of a Play | Eureka Day |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Gypsy |
| Lead Performance in a Play | Laura Donnelly (The Hills of California)Sarah Snook (The Picture of Dorian Gray) |
| Lead Performance in a Musical | Audra McDonald (Gypsy)Jasmine Amy Rogers (BOOP! The Musical) |
| Featured Performance in a Play | Amalia Yoo (John Proctor is the Villain)Kara Young (Purpose) |
| Featured Performance in a Musical | Brooks Ashmanskas (Smash)Jak Malone (Operation Mincemeat)Michael Urie (Once Upon a Mattress) |
| Outstanding Solo Performance | Andrew Scott (Vanya) |
| Direction of a Play | Danya Taymor (John Proctor is the Villain) |
| Direction of a Musical | Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Choreography | Jerry Mitchell (BOOP! The Musical) |
| Music | Will Aronson & Hue Park (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Lyrics | Will Aronson & Hue Park (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Book of a Musical | Will Aronson & Hue Park (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Orchestrations | Andrew Resnick & Michael Thurber (Just in Time) |
| Scenic Design of a Play | Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher (Stranger Things: The First Shadow) |
| Scenic Design of a Musical | Dane Laffrey & George Reeve (Maybe Happy Ending) |
| Costume Design of a Play | Dede Ayite (Our Town) |
| Costume Design of a Musical | Gregg Barnes (BOOP! The Musical) |
| Lighting Design of a Play | Jon Clark (Stranger Things: The First Shadow) |
| Lighting Design of a Musical | Jack Knowles (Sunset Blvd.) |
| Sound Design of a Play | Paul Arditti (Stranger Things: The First Shadow) |
| Sound Design of a Musical | Peter Hylenski (Just in Time) |
| Projection and Video Design | David Bergman (The Picture of Dorian Gray) |
| Wig and Hair | Charles G. LaPointe (Death Becomes Her) |
| Puppetry | Amanda Villalobos (Becoming Eve) |
| Fight Choreography | Rick Sordelet & Christian Kelly-Sordelet (Pirates! The Penzance Musical) |
| Outstanding Adaptation | Pirates! The Penzance Musical by Rupert Holmes |
| Outstanding Revue | Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song |
| Unique Theatrical Experience | The Picture of Dorian Gray |
| Ensemble Award | Liberation (Roundabout Theatre Company cast) |
| Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award | Stephen Michael Spencer |
| Special Awards | Pregones/PRTTStacey DerosierTeam behind Danger and Opportunity |
