Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical

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Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Awarded forOutstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk Award
First award2023
Currently held by
Websitedramadesk.org

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City.

From 1955 to 1974, acting awards were given only for lead performances, without making distinctions between roles in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses. From 1975 to 2022, acting awards were presented in eight categories: separate categories by gender; further divided by lead or featured performer; producing four acting awards each for plays and musicals.

In 2023, the Drama Desk organization announced that, starting with that year's awards, the eight acting categories had been retired and replaced with four gender neutral categories with twice the winners and nominees: separate categories by lead or featured performer; producing two acting categories each for plays and musicals.[1] The former awards for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and Outstanding Actress in a Musical were merged to create this Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical category.

Winners and nominees

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Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

2020s

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Year Actor Title Character Ref.
2023
Annaleigh Ashford Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs. Lovett [2][3]
J. Harrison Ghee Some Like It Hot Jerry/Daphne
Nicholas Barasch The Butcher Boy Francie Brady
Sara Bareilles Into the Woods The Baker's Wife
Andrew Burnap Camelot King Arthur
Micaela Diamond Parade Lucille Frank
Andrew Durand Shucked Beau
Callum Francis Kinky Boots Lola
Jonathan Groff Merrily We Roll Along Franklin Shepard
Somi Kakoma Dreaming Zenzile Miriam Makeba
Lindsay Mendez Merrily We Roll Along Mary Flynn
Anna Uzele New York, New York Francine Evans
2024 Brian d'Arcy James Days of Wine and Roses Joe Clay [4][5]
Maleah Joi Moon Hell's Kitchen Ali
Kelli O'Hara Days of Wine and Roses Kirsten Arnesen
Andrew Durand Dead Outlaw Elmer McCurdy
Santino Fontana I Can Get It for You Wholesale Harry Bogen
Brody Grant The Outsiders Ponyboy Curtis
Liam Pearce How to Dance in Ohio Drew
Gayle Rankin Cabaret Sally Bowles
Ben Levi Ross The Connector Ethan Dobson
Ricky Ubeda Illinoise Henry
2025
Audra McDonald Gypsy Rose [6][7]
Jasmine Amy Rogers Boop! The Musical Betty Boop
Tatianna Córdoba Real Women Have Curves Ana García
Darren Criss Maybe Happy Ending Oliver
Sutton Foster Once Upon a Mattress Princess Winnifred
Tom Francis Sunset Blvd. Joe Gillis
Jonathan Groff Just in Time Bobby Darin
Grey Henson Elf Buddy the Elf
Jeremy Jordan Floyd Collins Floyd Collins
Nicole Scherzinger Sunset Blvd. Norma Desmond
Helen J. Shen Maybe Happy Ending Claire
Jennifer Simard Death Becomes Her Helen Sharp

Statistics

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Multiple nominations

[edit]
2 nominations

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 26, 2023). "Drama Desk Awards Go Gender Neutral". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Logan Culwell-Block (May 31, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  4. ^ "2024 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  5. ^ Logan Culwell-Block (June 10, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  6. ^ "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  7. ^ Logan Culwell-Block (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
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