The 66th annual Drama Desk Awards were announced on May 16, 2022, honoring outstanding achievement by professional theater artists on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway. The Drama Desk Awards are voted on and bestowed by theater critics, journalists, editors, publishers and broadcasters covering theater.
Congratulations to membesr of the Tisch community who are nominated for an award! This year, 23 alumni and faculty are nominated or recognized for 23 awards across 16 categories for their work on 19 projects. See the full list of nominees here, and the Tisch nominees below.
Outstanding Play
English
Sanaz Toossi ’18 (MFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing)
Outstanding Musical
Harmony
Ken Davenport ’94 (BFA, Drama), Producer
The Hang
Kristin Marting ’98 (BFA, Drama), Producer and Artistic Director
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf
Oskar Eustis, faculty, (Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing), Arts Professor, Producer and Artistic Director
Company
Sean Patrick Flahaven '97 (MFA, Graduate Musical Theater Writing), Faculty, producer
Adam Zell '16 (BFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing), producer
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Skeleton Crew
Brandon J. Dirden, faculty (Graduate Acting), Associate Arts Professor
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Mr. Saturday Night
Billy Crystal ’70 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) ’16 DFA, Dean’s Council
Outstanding Lyrics
Suffs
Shaina Taub ’09 (BFA, Drama)
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Mr. Saturday Night
Billy Crystal ’70 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) ’16 DFA, Dean’s Council
Outstanding Scenic Design for a Play
Merry Wives
Beowulf Boritt ’96 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
English
Marsha Ginsberg ’90 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film), Faculty
Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical
Flying Over Sunset
Beowulf Boritt '96 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
Kimberly Akimbo
David Zinn '91 (BFA, Design for Stage & Film)
Outstanding Costume Design for a Play
The Alchemist
Tilly Grimes '10 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
On Sugarland
Qween Jean ‘16 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical
Funny Girl
Susan Hilferty, Chair, Design for Stage & Film
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play
English
Reza Behjat '17 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
Prayer for the French Republic
Amith Chandrashaker '12 (MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
Cullud Wattah
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, Faculty, (Drama)
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
Flying Over Sunset
Bradley King '05/’10 (BFA, Drama/MFA, Design for Stage & Film)
Outstanding Projection Design
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992
David Bengali '12 (MFA, Design for Stage and Film)
Unique Theatrical Experience
Seven Deadly Sins, Tectonic Theater Project & Madison Wells Live
Moisés Kaufman '17 (BFA, Drama), Director/ Playwright
Amy Marie Seidel '16 (BFA, Drama), Dramaturg
Additional Special Awards:
With the category-defying Oratorio for Living Things, Heather Christian '04 (BFA, Drama) aims to encompass all human existence in a single inventive and startlingly beautiful work. In times of pandemic, war, and social upheaval, Christian’s work (directed by Lee Sunday Evans and brought to life by a superb cast and creative team) is an awe-inspiring reminder that, even in the darkest times, there will always be artistic peaks to scale.
*We apologize for any omissions! Please send edits or additions to tsoa.alumni@nyu.edu