Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The award was initially introduced in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, before being removed from the ceremony between 1960 and 1974. The award later returned in the 1975 ceremony, with its current title.

Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Play
Awarded forOutstanding Play
LocationUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
Currently held byThe Inheritance (2020)
WebsiteDramaDeskAwards.com

† - indicates the performance won the Tony Award
‡ - indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award

Winners and nominees

1950s
Year Play Writer
1955
Le Bal des Voleurs Jean Anouilh
The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare
Twelfth Night William Shakespeare
The Way of the World William Congreve
The White Devil John Webster
1956
The Iceman Cometh Eugene O'Neill
1957–59 N/A

1960s
Year Play Writer
1960–69 N/A

1970s
Year Play Writer
1970–74 N/A
1975
Equus † Peter Shaffer
Same Time, Next Year Bernard Slade ‡
Absurd Person Singular Alan Ayckbourn
All Over Town Murray Schisgal
Hosanna Michel Tremblay
In Praise of Love Terence Rattigan
Naomi Court Michael Sawyer
The National Health Peter Nichols
P.S. Your Cat Is Dead James Kirkwood, Jr.
The Ritz Terrence McNally
Seascape Edward Albee ‡
Sizwe Banzi Is Dead / The Island Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona ‡
1976
Streamers David Rabe ‡
Kennedy's Children Robert Patrick
Lamppost Reunion Louis Larusso ‡
Medal of Honor Rag Tom Cole
Vanities Jack Heifner
1977
A Texas Trilogy Preston Jones
Otherwise Engaged Simon Gray ‡
American Buffalo David Mamet
Comedians Trevor Griffiths
Gemini Albert Innaurato
G. R. Point David Berry
No Man's Land Harold Pinter
The Shadow Box Michael Cristofer †
The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie Albert Innaurato
1978
Da Hugh Leonard †
Fifth of July Lanford Wilson
The Gin Game Donald L. Coburn ‡
Landscape of the Body John Guare
The Merchant Arnold Wesker
The Water Engine David Mamet
1979
The Elephant Man Bernard Pomerance †
Nevis Mountain Dew Steve Carter
On Golden Pond Ernest Thompson
Talley's Folly Lanford Wilson
Wings Arthur Kopit ‡

1980s
Year Play Writer
1980
Children of a Lesser God Mark Medoff †
Home Samm-Art Williams ‡
The Irish Hebrew Lesson Wolf Mankowitz
Night and Day Tom Stoppard
Talley's Folly Lanford Wilson ‡
Teibele and Her Demon Isaac Bashevis Singer and Eve Friedman
1981
Amadeus Peter Shaffer †
Crimes of the Heart Beth Henley ‡
Fifth of July Lanford Wilson ‡
Mass Appeal Bill C. Davis
1982
"Master Harold"...and the Boys Athol Fugard ‡
A Soldier's Play Charles Fuller
The Dance and the Railroad David Henry Hwang
The Dining Room A. R. Gurney
Family Devotions David Henry Hwang
Grown Ups Jules Feiffer
1983
Torch Song Trilogy Harvey Fierstein †
Brighton Beach Memoirs Neil Simon
Edmond David Mamet
Extremities William Mastrosimone
Geniuses Jonathan Reynolds
True West Sam Shepard
1984
The Real Thing Tom Stoppard †
And a Nightingale Sang C.P. Taylor
A Private View Václav Havel
Glengarry Glen Ross David Mamet ‡
Isn't It Romantic Wendy Wasserstein
Noises Off Michael Frayn ‡
1985
As Is William M. Hoffman ‡
Biloxi Blues Neil Simon †
Digby Joseph Dougherty
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom August Wilson ‡
1986
A Lie of the Mind Sam Shepard
Aunt Dan and Lemon Wallace Shawn
Benefactors Michael Frayn ‡
Execution of Justice Emily Mann
Marriage of Bette and Boo Christopher Durang
Precious Sons George Furth
1987
Fences August Wilson †
Broadway Bound Neil Simon ‡
The Common Pursuit Simon Gray
Driving Miss Daisy Alfred Uhry
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Christopher Hampton ‡
North Shore Fish Israel Horovitz
Wild Honey Michael Frayn
1988
M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang †
Boys' Life Howard Korder
Joe Turner's Come and Gone August Wilson ‡
The Road to Mecca Athol Fugard
Speed-the-Plow David Mamet ‡
Woman in Mind Alan Ayckbourn
1989
The Heidi Chronicles Wendy Wasserstein †
The Cocktail Hour A. R. Gurney
The Film Society Jon Robin Baitz
Only Kidding! Jim Geoghan
Reckless Craig Lucas
Shirley Valentine Willy Russell ‡

1990s
Year Play Writer
1990
The Piano Lesson August Wilson ‡
The Lisbon Traviata Terrence McNally
Prelude to a Kiss Craig Lucas ‡
The Secret Rapture David Hare
Some Americans Abroad Richard Nelson
1991
Lost in Yonkers Neil Simon †
La Bête David Hirson
Six Degrees of Separation John Guare ‡
The Wash Philip Kan Gotanda
1992
Marvin's Room Scott McPherson
A Small Family Business Alan Ayckbourn
Dancing at Lughnasa Brian Friel
Lips Together, Teeth Apart Terrence McNally
Mad Forest Caryl Churchill
Sight Unseen Donald Margulies
1993
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Tony Kushner †
Jeffrey Paul Rudnick
Joined at the Head Catherine Butterfield
Oleanna David Mamet
The Sisters Rosensweig Wendy Wasserstein ‡
Three Hotels Jon Robin Baitz
1994
Angels in America: Perestroika Tony Kushner †
All in the Timing David Ives
The Kentucky Cycle Robert Schenkkan ‡
The Lights Howard Korder
Pterodactyls Nicky Silver
Three Tall Women Edward Albee
1995
Love! Valour! Compassion! Terrence McNally †
Arcadia Tom Stoppard ‡
The Cryptogram David Mamet
Missing Persons Craig Lucas
Raised in Captivity Nicky Silver
subUrbia Eric Bogosian
1996
Master Class Terrence McNally †
The Model Apartment Donald Margulies
Molly Sweeney Brian Friel
Seven Guitars August Wilson ‡
Sylvia A. R. Gurney
Valley Song Athol Fugard
1997
How I Learned to Drive Paula Vogel
Dealer's Choice Patrick Marber
The Last Night of Ballyhoo Alfred Uhry †
The Skriker Caryl Churchill
This is Our Youth Kenneth Lonergan
1998
The Beauty Queen of Leenane Martin McDonagh ‡
'Art' Yasmina Reza †
As Bees In Honey Drown Douglas Carter Beane
Collected Stories Donald Margulies
Side Man Warren Leight †
Three Days of Rain Richard Greenberg
1999
Wit Margaret Edson
Betty's Summer Vacation Christopher Durang
Closer Patrick Marber ‡
Not About Nightingales Tennessee Williams ‡
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan Arthur Miller ‡
Snakebit David Marshall Grant

2000s
Year Play Writer
2000
Copenhagen Michael Frayn †
Contact with the Enemy Frank D. Gilroy
Dinner with Friends Donald Margulies
Dirty Blonde Claudia Shear ‡
Jitney August Wilson
The Tale of the Allergist's Wife Charles Busch ‡
2001
Proof David Auburn †
Boy Gets Girl Rebecca Gilman
Comic Potential Alan Ayckbourn
The Invention of Love Tom Stoppard ‡
Lobby Hero Kenneth Lonergan
The Unexpected Man Yasmina Reza
2002
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Edward Albee †
Metamorphoses Mary Zimmerman ‡
Franny's Way Richard Nelson
The Shape of Things Neil LaBute
Thief River Lee Blessing
Topdog/Underdog Suzan-Lori Parks ‡
2003
Take Me Out Richard Greenberg †
Buicks Julian Sheppard
Our Lady of 121st Street Stephen Adly Guirgis
Peter and Vandy Jay DiPietro
Talking Heads Alan Bennett
Yellowman Dael Orlandersmith
2004
I Am My Own Wife Doug Wright †
The Beard of Avon Amy Freed
The Distance from Here Neil LaBute
Humble Boy Charlotte Jones
Moby-Dick Julian Rad
The Tricky Part Martin Moran
2005
Doubt John Patrick Shanley †
Democracy Michael Frayn ‡
Pentecost David Edgar
The Pillowman Martin McDonagh ‡
Sailor's Song John Patrick Shanley
Sin (A Cardinal Deposed) Michael Murphy
2006
The History Boys Alan Bennett †
Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams Terrence McNally
The Lieutenant of Inishmore Martin McDonagh ‡
No Foreigners Beyond This Point Warren Leight
The Pavilion Craig Wright
Stuff Happens David Hare
2007
The Coast of Utopia Tom Stoppard †
The Accomplices Bernard Weinraub
Blackbird David Harrower
Frost/Nixon Peter Morgan ‡
Radio Golf August Wilson ‡
Some Men Terrence McNally
2008
August: Osage County Tracy Letts †
Dividing the Estate Horton Foote ‡
From Up Here Liz Flahive
Horizon Rinde Eckert
Intimate Exchanges Alan Ayckbourn
Rock 'n' Roll Tom Stoppard ‡
2009
Ruined Lynn Nottage
Becky Shaw Gina Gionfriddo
Body Awareness Annie Baker
Fifty Words Michael Weller
Lady Craig Wright
reasons to be pretty Neil LaBute ‡

2010s
Year Play Writer
2010
Red John Logan †
Circle Mirror Transformation Annie Baker
Clybourne Park Bruce Norris †
Happy Now? Lucinda Coxon
My Wonderful Day Alan Ayckbourn
Next Fall Geoffrey Nauffts ‡
2011
War Horse Nick Stafford †
A Bright New Boise Samuel D. Hunter
A Small Fire Adam Bock
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo Rajiv Joseph
Good People David Lindsay-Abaire ‡
The Motherf**ker with the Hat Stephen Adly Guirgis ‡
Other Desert Cities Jon Robin Baitz ‡
2012
Tribes Nina Raine
The Big Meal Dan LeFranc
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark Lynn Nottage
Chinglish David Henry Hwang
Completeness Itamar Moses
The Lyons Nicky Silver
Unnatural Acts Members of Plastic Theatre
2013
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Christopher Durang †
The Assembled Parties Richard Greenberg ‡
Belleville Amy Herzog
Falling Deanna Jent
Finks Joe Gilford
The Flick Annie Baker
Sorry Richard Nelson
2014
All the Way Robert Schenkkan †
Core Values Steven Levenson
Domesticated Bruce Norris
The Explorers Club Nell Benjamin
The Night Alive Conor McPherson
Outside Mullingar John Patrick Shanley ‡
Regular Singing Richard Nelson
2015
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Simon Stephens †
You Got Older Clare Barron
Airline Highway Lisa D'Amour
The City of Conversation Anthony Giardina
Between Riverside and Crazy Stephen Adly Guirgis
My Manãna Comes Elizabeth Irwin
Let the Right One In Jack Thorne
2016 The Humans Stephen Karam †
The Christians Lucas Hnath
John Annie Baker
King Charles III Mike Bartlett ‡
The Royale Marco Ramírez
2017
Oslo J. T. Rogers †
If I Forget Steven Levenson
Indecent Paula Vogel ‡
A Life Adam Bock
Sweat Lynn Nottage ‡
2018
Admissions Joshua Harmon
Mary Jane Amy Herzog
Miles for Mary The Mad Ones
People, Places and Things Duncan Macmillan
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play Jocelyn Bioh
2019
The Ferryman Jez Butterworth †
Fairview Jackie Sibblies Drury
Lewiston/Clarkson Samuel D. Hunter
Usual Girls Ming Peiffer
What the Constitution Means to Me Heidi Schreck ‡

2020s
Year Play Writer
2020
The Inheritance Matthew Lopez
Cambodian Rock Band Lauren Yee
Greater Clements Samuel D. Hunter
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven Stephen Adly Guirgis
Heroes of the Fourth Turning Will Arbery

See also

References
  • "Drama Desk Award for Play". Internet Broadway Database. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
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