Drama Desk Award: Map

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The Drama Desk Award, presented since 1955, is the only award that recognizes excellence in show produced in all sectors of New York theatre, including Broadway

, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and legitimate not-for-profit theaters. It is widely considered one of the top American theater awards. The honor complements the Tony Awards, which focus solely on Broadway shows.

Background

Originally called the Vernon Rice Awards in honor of theater critic Vernon Rice of the New York Post, the name was changed in 1963. In its earliest years, a small number of prizes were awarded, but there now are as many categories as there are for the Tonys. In the first fifteen years of the award, Broadway shows were not eligible. In 1968, Broadway shows began to compete with other New York productions head-to-head in each category. Only winners were announced in the early years, but in 1975, the Drama Desk began to announce nominees in advance.

The Drama Desk is composed of theatre critics, reporters and editors, more than 140 of whom vote on the awards. The Drama Desk chairperson of the Nominating Committee is Barbara Siegel, and its president is William Wolf. The awards' executive producer is Robert R. Blume.

The Drama Desk Awards have proven to be the first step towards stardom for numerous theatrical luminaries, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, George C. Scott, Stacy Keach, Sada Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman. Off-Broadway productions such as Driving Miss Daisy, Other People's Money, Steel Magnolias, and The Boys in the Band were propelled to international recognition based on their wins.

The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is held annually at LaGuardia Concert Hall of the Fiorello H.