The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

theatre. The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986. They are produced by the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation, with additional support from the

Theatre Development Fund The Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is a not-for-profit performing arts service organization in New York City. Created in 1968 to help an ailing New York theatre industry, TDF supports audiences and artists through a variety of programs. Initially ...

. Other awards for off-Broadway theatre (although not necessarily exclusive to off-Broadway theatre) include the Drama League Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Drama Desk Awards and the Obie Awards, as well as the Henry Hewes Design Awards presented by the

American Theatre Wing The American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short) is a New York City–based non-profit organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre", according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief ...

Voting committee

The voting committee is composed of representatives from the Off-Broadway League,

Actors' Equity Association The Actors' Equity Association (AEA), commonly called Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American trade union, labor union representing those who work in Theatre, live theatrical performance. Performers appearing in live stage productions w ...

, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, as well as theatre journalists, academics, and other Off-Broadway professionals.Hetrick, Adam
"'Fun Home', 'Here Lies Love', 'Buyer & Cellar' Win Lortel Awards"
May 4, 2014

Ceremonies

The awards ceremony for the 2008–2009 season was held on May 3, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel (New York City); the nominations were announced on April 2. The nominations for the 2009–2010 season were announced on April 1, 2010, and the winners were announced at a ceremony on May 2, 2010, held at Terminal 5 in New York City. The nominations for the 2010–2011 season were announced on March 31, 2011, and the winners were announced on May 1, 2011, at the NYU Skirball Center, with hosts

Zach Braff Zachary Israel Braff (born April 6, 1975) is an American actor and filmmaker. He portrayed J.D. (Scrubs), John Michael "J.D." Dorian on the NBC/American Broadcasting Company, ABC television series ''Scrubs (TV series), Scrubs'' (2001–2010), for ...

and Samantha Bee. Special Awards were given to Lynne Meadow (Lifetime Achievement Award); Gary Glaser (Service to Off-Broadway Award); '' Gatz'' – Produced by The Public Theater (Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience). The nominees for the 2011–2012 season were announced on March 29, 2012; the award ceremony was held on May 6, 2012, at the Skirball Center with host

Mario Cantone Mario Cantone (born December 9, 1959) is an American comedian, writer, actor, singer, and television host. He is best known for his numerous stage shows. He played Anthony Marentino in '' Sex and the City'' and Terri in '' Men in Trees'' (2006– ...

. Special (non-competitive) awards were announced: Richard Frankel (Lifetime Achievement Award); Richard Foreman (Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee); Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) (Service to Off-Broadway Award); and Voca People – Produced by Doron Lida, Revital Kalfo, Leeorna Solomons and Eva Price (Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience). The awards for the 2012–2013 season were announced on May 5, 2013, with hosts

Aasif Mandvi Aasif Hakim Mandviwala, known professionally as Aasif Mandvi (, ), is an English–American actor, comedian and writer. He was a List of The Daily Show correspondents, correspondent on ''The Daily Show'' from 2006 to 2017. Mandvi's other televis ...

and Maura Tierney. Special Awards were presented to: Todd Haimes, Lifetime Achievement Award;

Neil LaBute Neil N. LaBute (born March 19, 1963) is an American playwright, film director, and screenwriter. He is best known for a play that he wrote and later adapted for film, ''In the Company of Men'' (1997), which won awards from the Sundance Film Fest ...

, Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee; Theatre Development Fund, Outstanding Body of Work Award; and ''Old Hats'' by Bill Irwin and David Shiner, Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience. The awards for the 2013–2014 season were announced on May 4, 2014, with hosts Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. Special Awards were presented to: producer Robyn Goodman, Lifetime Achievement Award and Richard Nelson, Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee. The award nominations for the 2014–15 season were announced on April 2, 2015. Special Awards were given to

Terrence McNally Terrence McNally (November 3, 1938 – March 24, 2020) was an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. Described as "the bard of American theater" and "one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced," M ...

(Lifetime Achievement Award), Jeanine Tesori (Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee) and general manager Nancy Nagel Gibb (Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award). The winners were announced on May 10, 2015, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Anna Chlumsky hosting. The 2015–2016 awards were announced on May 8, 2016, at the NYU Skirball Center. Special Awards were presented to: Oskar Eustis, Lifetime Achievement Award; The Wooster Group, Outstanding Body of Work Award. The 2016–2017 awards were announced on May 7, 2017. Special Awards were presented to: David Hyde Pierce, Lifetime Achievement Award; Elevator Repair Service, Outstanding Body of Work Award. The 2017–2018 awards were announced on May 6, 2018. Special Awards were presented to: Kathleen Chalfant, Lifetime Achievement Award; The York Theatre Company, Outstanding Body of Work Award. The 2018–2019 awards were announced on May 5, 2019. Special Awards were presented to: Edward Albee (posthumously), Lifetime Achievement Award; Page 73 Productions, Outstanding Body of Work Award. The 2019–2020 awards were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the widespread impact on the theater industry. The 2020–2021 awards were held virtually, recognizing the adaptation of theater to digital platforms during the pandemic. The 2021–2022 awards returned to an in-person format, recognizing a full season of live performances. The 2022–2023 awards were held on May 7, 2023, recognizing ongoing contributions to Off-Broadway theater as it continues to recover and innovate.

Award winners in key categories

Source:

Production Awards

Outstanding Play

* 1987: ''

The Common Pursuit ''The Common Pursuit'' is a Play (theatre), play by Simon Gray which follows the lives of six characters who first meet as undergraduates at University of Cambridge, Cambridge University when they are involved in setting up a literary magazine ca ...

'' * 1989: '' The Cocktail Hour'' * 1991: ''Aristocrats'' * 1992: '' Lips Together, Teeth Apart'' * 1993: '' The Destiny of Me'' * 1994: '' Three Tall Women'' * 1995: ''Camping with Henry & Tom'' * 1996: '' Molly Sweeney'' * 1997: '' How I Learned to Drive'' * 1998: '' Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde'' * 1999: '' Wit'' * 2000: '' Dinner With Friends'' * 2001: '' Proof'' * 2002: ''

Metamorphoses The ''Metamorphoses'' (, , ) is a Latin Narrative poetry, narrative poem from 8 Common Era, CE by the Ancient Rome, Roman poet Ovid. It is considered his ''Masterpiece, magnum opus''. The poem chronicles the history of the world from its Cre ...

'' * 2003: '' Take Me Out'' * 2004: '' Bug'' * 2005: ''

Doubt Doubt is a mental state in which the mind remains suspended between two or more contradictory propositions, and is certainty, uncertain about them. Doubt on an emotional level is indecision between belief and wikt:disbelief, disbelief. It may i ...

'' * 2006: '' The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' * 2007: '' Stuff Happens'' * 2008: ''Betrayed'' * 2009: '' Ruined'' * 2010: '' The Orphans' Home Cycle'' * 2011: '' The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity'' * 2012: '' Sons of the Prophet'' * 2013: '' The Whale'' * 2014: '' Bad Jews'' * 2015: '' Between Riverside and Crazy'' * 2016: '' Guards at the Taj'' * 2017: ''

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

'' * 2018: ''

Cost of Living The cost of living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living for an individual or a household. Changes in the cost of living over time can be measured in a cost-of-living index. Cost of living calculations are also used to compare t ...

'' and ''School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play'' * 2019: ''Pass Over'' * 2020: '' Heroes of the Fourth Turning'' * 2022: '' English'' * 2023: '' Wolf Play'' * 2024: '' The Comeuppance'' (produced by Signature Theatre, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins) *2025: ''Here There Are Blueberries'', written by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich (produced by New York Theatre Workshop and Tectonic Theater Project)

Outstanding Musical

* 1991: '' Falsettoland'' * 1992: '' And the World Goes Round…'' * 1993: '' Forbidden Broadway'' * 1994: '' Wings'' * 1995: ''Jelly Roll!'' * 1996: '' Floyd Collins'' * 1997: '' Violet'' * 2000: '' James Joyce’s The Dead'' * 2001: '' Bat Boy: The musical'' * 2002: '' Urinetown'' * 2003: '' Avenue Q'' * 2004: '' Caroline, or Change'' * 2005: ''

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn, with a book written by Rachel Sheinkin, created by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional ...

'' * 2006: '' The Seven'' * 2007: '' In the Heights'' and '' Spring Awakening'' * 2008: '' Adding Machine'' * 2009: '' Fela! A New Musical'' * 2010: '' The Scottsboro Boys'' * 2011: '' Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'' * 2012: '' Once'' * 2013: ''

Dogfight A dogfight, or dog fight, is an air combat manoeuvring, aerial battle between fighter aircraft that is conducted at close range. Modern terminology for air-to-air combat is air combat manoeuvring (ACM), which refers to tactical situations requir ...

'' * 2014: '' Fun Home'' * 2015: ''

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

'' * 2016: '' FUTURITY'' * 2017: '' The Band's Visit'' * 2018: '' KPOP'' * 2019: '' Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future'' * 2020: '' Octet'' * 2022: '' Kimberly Akimbo'' * 2023: '' Titanique'' * 2024: ''(pray)'' * 2025: '' Three Houses''

Outstanding Revival

* 1991: ''

Measure For Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...

'' * 1992: '' Boesman and Lena'' * 1993: '' Henry V'' * 1994: ''Owners, Traps'' * 1995: '' Merrily We Roll Along'' * 1996: '' Entertaining Mr. Sloan'' * 1997: '' June Moon'' * 1998: '' All My Sons'' * 1999: '' The Mystery of Irma Vep'' * 2000: '' The Torch-Bearers'' * 2001: '' Tiny Alice'' * 2002: ''

Cymbeline ''Cymbeline'' (), also known as ''The Tragedie of Cymbeline'' or ''Cymbeline, King of Britain'', is a play by William Shakespeare set in British Iron Age, Ancient Britain () and based on legends that formed part of the Matter of Britain concer ...

'' * 2003: ''

Fifth of July Fifth of July may refer to: Dates * July 5 * Independence Day (Venezuela) * Fifth of July (New York) Other uses * ''Fifth of July'' (play) by Lanford Wilson * '' The Fifth of July'', album by Watershed {{disambiguation, date ...

'' * 2005: ''Counsellor-At-Law'' * 2006: '' The Trip to Bountiful'' * 2007: '' Two Trains Running'' * 2008: '' Ohio State Murders'' * 2009: '' Our Town'' * 2010: '' The Glass Menagerie'' * 2011: '' Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes/Part 1: MillenniumApproaches, Part 2: Perestroika'' * 2012: ''

The Cherry Orchard ''The Cherry Orchard'' () is the last play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Written in 1903, it was first published by '' Znaniye'' (Book Two, 1904), and came out as a separate edition later that year in Saint Petersburg, via A.F. Marks Pu ...

'' * 2013: '' The Piano Lesson'' * 2014: '' Good Person of Szechwan'' * 2015: ''

Into the Woods ''Into the Woods'' is a 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. T ...

'' * 2016: '' The Robber Bridegroom'' * 2017: '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'' * 2018: '' Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train'' * 2019: '' Carmen Jones'' * 2020: '' for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf'' * 2022: '' Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992'' * 2023: '' A Raisin in the Sun'' * 2024: '' Translations'' * 2025: ''Our Class''

Honorary Awards

Outstanding Lifetime Achievement

* 1988: Paul Libin * 1991: Rosetta LeNoire * 1992: Ellen Stewart * 1993:

Wynn Handman Wynn Handman (May 19, 1922 – April 11, 2020) was the artistic director of The American Place Theatre, which he co-founded with Sidney Lanier and Michael Tolan in 1963. His role in the theatre was to seek out, encourage, train, and present ...

* 1995: Uta Hagen * 1996: Gene Feist * 1997:

Jane Alexander Jane Alexander (née Quigley; born October 28, 1939) is an American-Canadian actress and author. She is the recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and nominations for four Academy Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. From 1993 ...

* 1998: Arthur Miller * 1999:

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A List of Nobel laureates in Literature, Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramat ...

* 2000: Jason Robards * 2001: Kitty Carlisle Hart * 2002:

Edward Albee Edward Franklin Albee III ( ; March 12, 1928 – September 16, 2016) was an American playwright known for works such as ''The Zoo Story'' (1958), ''The Sandbox (play), The Sandbox'' (1959), ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (1962), ''A Delicat ...

* 2003:

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

* 2006: Wendy Wasserstein * 2007: Kevin Kline * 2010: Daryl Roth * 2011: Lynne Meadow * 2012: Richard Frankel * 2013: Todd Haimes * 2015:

* 2016: Robyn Goodman * 2017: William Ivey Long * 2018: Eve Ensler * 2020: Tim Sanford * 2022: Deirdre O’Connell * 2023: Stephen McKinley Henderson * 2024: Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Playwright Sidewalk Inductee(s)

* 1999: Tom Jones &

Harvey Schmidt Harvey Lester Schmidt (September 12, 1929 – February 28, 2018) was an American composer for musical theatre and illustrator. He was best known for composing the music for the longest running musical in history, ''The Fantasticks'', which ran off ...

* 2000: Charles Busch & Israel Horowitz * 2002: Romulus Linney * 2004:

Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Among his stage work, he is most known for ''Angels in America'', which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, as well as its subsequent acclaime ...

* 2005: Charles Ludlam * 2006: John Patrick Shanley * 2007:

Christopher Durang Christopher Ferdinand Durang (January 2, 1949 – April 2, 2024) was an American playwright known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy. His work was especially popular in the 1980s, though his career seemed to get a second wind in th ...

* 2012: Richard Foreman * 2013:

* 2014: Richard Nelson * 2015: Jeanine Tesori * 2016: Suzan-Lori Parks * 2017: Lynn Nottage * 2018: Michael Friedman * 2019: María Irene Fornés * 2020: Anna Deavere Smith * 2022: David Henry Hwang * 2023: Ntozake Shange * 2024: Dominique Morisseau

References

External links

*{{official website, http://www.lortelaward.com
List of winners and nominees
Culture of New York City Off-Broadway American theater awards Awards established in 1986 1986 establishments in New York City Awards for projection designers