Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City.

Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
Awarded forOutstanding Lead Performance in a Play
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First awarded2023
Currently held by
Websitedramadesk.org (defunct)

From 1955 to 1974, acting awards were given only for lead performances, without making distinctions between roles in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses. From 1975 to 2022, acting awards were presented in eight categories: separate categories by gender; further divided by lead or featured performer; producing four acting awards each for plays and musicals.

In 2023, the Drama Desk organization announced that, starting with that year's awards, the eight acting categories had been retired and replaced with four gender neutral categories with twice the winners and nominees: separate categories by lead or featured performer; producing two acting categories each for plays and musicals.[1] The former awards for Outstanding Actor in a Play and Outstanding Actress in a Play were merged to create this Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play category.

Nominees

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2020s

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Year Actor Title Character
2023
[2]
Sean Hayes Good Night, Oscar Oscar Levant
Jessica Chastain A Doll's House Nora Helmer
Hiran Abeysekera Life of Pi Pi
Kyle Beltran A Case for the Existence of God Keith
Will Brill A Case for the Existence of God Ryan
Brittany Bradford Wedding Band Julia Augustine
Sharon D. Clarke Death of a Salesman Linda Loman
Denise Manning Amani Amani
Audra McDonald Ohio State Murders Suzanne Alexander
Wendell Pierce Death of a Salesman Willy Loman
John Douglas Thompson Endgame Hamm
Kara Young Twelfth Night Viola
2024[3]
Jessica Lange Mother Play Phyllis
Sarah Paulson Appropriate Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette
Nicole Cooper Macbeth (an undoing) Lady Macbeth
William Jackson Harper Primary Trust Kenneth
Rachel McAdams Mary Jane Mary Jane
Tobias Menzies The Hunt Lucas
Leslie Odom, Jr. Purlie Victorious Purlie Victorious Judson
A.J. Shively Philadelphia, Here I Come! Gareth “Gar” O’Donnell
Juliet Stevenson The Doctor Ruth Wolff
Michael Stuhlbarg Patriots Boris Berezovsky

References

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  1. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 26, 2023). "Drama Desk Awards Go Gender Neutral". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Gordon, David (April 27, 2023). "Shucked, Some Like It Hot Lead 2023 Drama Desk Award Nominations". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards with 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play - Playbill.com". 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-06-13.