Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Awards are presented annually, by The Drama Desk Organisation and was first awarded in 1955, to recognize excellence in New York theatre productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway. Broadway productions were excluded until the 1968–69 award season. The awards are considered a significant American theatre distinction.

History

The Drama Desk organization was formed in 1949 by a group of New York theater critics, editors, reporters and publishers, in order to make the public aware of the vital issues concerning the theatrical industry. They debuted the presentations of the Vernon Rice Awards. The name honors the New York Post critic Vernon Rice, who had pioneered Off-Broadway coverage in the New York press. The name was changed for the 1963–1964 awards season to the Drama Desk Awards.

In 1974, the Drama Desk became incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. In 1975, the Drama announcement of winners included the nominees as well.

The Drama Desk has more than 140 members, including theatre critics, reporters and editors who vote on the awards.