Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical

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Outer Critics Circle Award for
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Michael Arden, 2025 winner
Awarded forOutstanding Director of a Musical
LocationNew York City
Presented byOuter Critics Circle
Currently held byMichael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending (2025)
WebsiteOuterCritics.org

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Direction of a Musical, formerly the award for Director of a Musical, is an annual award given to the best director of a new musical on Broadway or Off-Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The award has been given out since the 1992–1993 season, when the Best Direction award split into musical and play categories.[1][2] In 2024, the award was renamed to Outstanding Direction of a Musical.[3][better source needed]

Michael Arden has won the most awards with three, for his productions of Spring Awakening, Parade and Maybe Happy Ending, followed by Susan Stroman, Bartlett Sher and Jessica Stone with two award each; Stroman won both awards consecutively in 2000 and 2001. Scott Ellis has the record for most nominations, with seven, followed closely by Susan Stroman and Kathleen Marshall with six and five nominations respectively.

Award winners

[edit]
Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

1980s

[edit]
Year Production Director Ref.
1980[a]
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine Tommy Tune [4]

1990s

[edit]
Year Production Director Ref.
1993
The Who's Tommy Des McAnuff [5][6]
1994
She Loves Me Scott Ellis [7]
1995
Show Boat Harold Prince [8][9]
1996
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Jerry Zaks [10]
1997
Chicago Walter Bobbie [11][12]
The Life Michael Blakemore
Jekyll and Hyde Robin Phillips
Steel Pier Scott Ellis
Titanic Richard Jones
1998
The Lion King Julie Taymor [13][14]
1776 Scott Ellis
Cabaret Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall
Ragtime Frank Galati
1999
Swan Lake Matthew Bourne [15][16]
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Michael Mayer
Fosse Richard Maltby Jr. and Ann Reinking
The Civil War Jerry Zaks

2000s

[edit]
Year Production Director Ref.
2000
Contact and The Music Man Susan Stroman [17][18]
The Wild Party Mark Dendy
Swing! Lynne Taylor-Corbett
Kiss Me, Kate Kathleen Marshall
2001
The Producers Susan Stroman [19][20]
The Rocky Horror Show Christopher Ashley
42nd Street Mark Bramble
The Full Monty Jack O'Brien
2002
Urinetown John Rando [21][22]
Thoroughly Modern Millie Michael Mayer
Oklahoma! Trevor Nunn
Into the Woods James Lapine
2003
Movin' Out Twyla Tharp [23][24]
Hairspray Jerry Mitchell
Flower Drum Song Robert Longbottom
Nine Jonathan Butterell
2004
Wonderful Town Kathleen Marshall [25][26]
The Boy from Oz Joey McKneely
Wicked Wayne Cilento
Never Gonna Dance Jerry Mitchell
Bombay Dreams Anthony van Laast and Farah Khan
2005
Spamalot Mike Nichols [27][28]
The Light in the Piazza Bartlett Sher
Sweet Charity Walter Bobbie
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Adrian Noble
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Jack O'Brien
2006
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street John Doyle [29][30]
The Pajama Game Kathleen Marshall
Jersey Boys Des McAnuff
Grey Gardens Michael Greif
2007
Spring Awakening Michael Mayer [31][32]
Mary Poppins Richard Eyre and Matthew Bourne
In the Heights Thomas Kail
Company John Doyle
2008
South Pacific Bartlett Sher [33][34]
Gypsy Arthur Laurents
Adding Machine David Cromer
Young Frankenstein Susan Stroman
2009
Billy Elliot: The Musical Stephen Daldry [35][36]
Hair Diane Paulus
Shrek the Musical Jason Moore
Happiness Susan Stroman
West Side Story Arthur Laurents

2010s

[edit]
Year Production Director Ref.
2010
La Cage aux Folles Terry Johnson [37][38]
Memphis Christopher Ashley
The Scottsboro Boys Susan Stroman
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Alex Timbers
2011
The Book of Mormon Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker [39][40]
Sister Act The Musical Jerry Zaks
Anything Goes Kathleen Marshall
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Rob Ashford
2012
Once John Tiffany [41][42]
Newsies Jeff Calhoun
Evita Michael Grandage
Nice Work If You Can Get It Kathleen Marshall
2013
Pippin Diane Paulus [43][44]
Chaplin: The Musical Warren Carlyle
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Scott Ellis
Kinky Boots Jerry Mitchell
Here Lies Love Alex Timbers
2014
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Darko Tresnjak [45][46]
After Midnight Warren Carlyle
Fun Home Sam Gold
Les Misérables Laurence Connor and James Powell
Rocky Alex Timbers
2015
An American in Paris Christopher Wheeldon [47][48]
Hamilton Thomas Kail
Something Rotten! Casey Nicholaw
It Shoulda Been You David Hyde Pierce
On the Twentieth Century Scott Ellis
2016
Spring Awakening Michael Arden [49][50]
[51][52]
Bright Star Walter Bobbie
She Loves Me Scott Ellis
American Psycho Rupert Goold
Dear Evan Hansen Michael Greif
2017
Come From Away Christopher Ashley [53][54]
David Cromer The Band’s Visit
Darko Tresnjak Anastasia
Matthew Warchus Groundhog Day
Jerry Zaks Hello, Dolly!
2018
SpongeBob SquarePants Tina Landau [55][56]
My Fair Lady Bartlett Sher
Desperate Measures Bill Castellino
Once on This Island Michael Arden
Mean Girls Casey Nicholaw
2019
Hadestown Rachel Chavkin [57][58]
Tootsie Scott Ellis
Oklahoma! Daniel Fish
Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish Joel Grey
The Hello Girls Cara Reichel

2020s

[edit]
Year Production Director Ref.
2020 (Hon.) A Strange Loop Stephen Brackett [59][60]
Jagged Little Pill Diane Paulus
Little Shop of Horrors Michael Mayer
Moulin Rouge! Alex Timbers
West Side Story Ivo van Hove
2021 No award given due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2022
Kimberly Akimbo Jessica Stone [61]
Paradise Square Moisés Kaufman
MJ Christopher Wheeldon
Harmony Warren Carlyle
Mrs. Doubtfire Jerry Zaks
2023
Parade Michael Arden [62][63]
Merrily We Roll Along Maria Friedman
Some Like It Hot Casey Nicholaw
Shucked Jack O'Brien
New York, New York Susan Stroman
2024
Water for Elephants Jessica Stone [3][64]
Suffs Leigh Silverman
The Connector Daisy Prince
Days of Wine and Roses Michael Greif
Dead Outlaw David Cromer
2025
Maybe Happy Ending Michael Arden [65][66][67]
Boop! The Musical Jerry Mitchell
Cats: The Jellicle Ball Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch
Operation Mincemeat Robert Hastie
Death Becomes Her Christopher Gattelli

Multiple wins

[edit]
3 wins
2 wins

Multiple nominations

[edit]
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ One-time award given before the split of director categories in 1993.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rich, Frank (April 27, 1993). "Outer Critics Circle Names Award Winners". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "1992–1993 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  4. ^ "1979–1980 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  5. ^ Rich, Frank (April 27, 1993). "Outer Critics Circle Names Award Winners". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  6. ^ "1992–1993 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "1993–1994 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "1994–1995 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "Outer Critics Float Show Boat". Variety. April 1995. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  10. ^ "1995–1996 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  11. ^ "1996–1997 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  12. ^ Lefkowitz, David (May 5, 1997). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  13. ^ "1997–1998 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Viagas & Lefkowitz (April 27, 1998). "Lion King Roars With Six Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "1998–1999 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. ^ "Nightingales, Wit, Iceman & Fosse Win Outer Critics Awards; Ceremony May 28". Playbill. April 26, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  17. ^ "1999–2000 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  18. ^ "Contact and Kiss Me, Kate Big Winners of 2000 Outer Critics Awards". Playbill. April 30, 2000. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  19. ^ "2000–2001 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  20. ^ Simonson & Lefkowitz (May 24, 2001). "2001 Outer Critics Circle Awards Held at Sardi's, May 24". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "2001–2002 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  22. ^ "The 2001–2002 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners". TheaterMania. April 29, 2002. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  23. ^ "2002–2003 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  24. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 5, 2003). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Hairspray Leads the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  25. ^ "2003–2004 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  26. ^ "Wicked, Wonderful Town, I Am My Own Wife Top 2004 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. May 2, 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  27. ^ "2004–2005 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  28. ^ "2005 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. May 9, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  29. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (May 14, 2006). "The Drowsy Chaperone and The History Boys Top Outer Critics Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  30. ^ "2005–2006 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  31. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 24, 2007). "Outer Critics Circle Awards Are Presented by Clark, Young and Mitchell May 24". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  32. ^ "2006–2007 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  33. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2008). "South Pacific Is Big Winner in Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  34. ^ "2007–2008 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  35. ^ "Outer Critics Circle 2008–09 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. May 11, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  36. ^ "2008–2009 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  37. ^ "MEMPHIS & LA CAGE Top Outer Critics Circle Winners". BroadwayWorld. May 17, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  38. ^ "2009–2010 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  39. ^ "The Book of Mormon, War Horse and Anything Goes Top 2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. May 16, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  40. ^ "2010–2011 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  41. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 14, 2012). "Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced; Once and One Man, Two Guvnors Are Top Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  42. ^ "2011–2012 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  43. ^ "Outer Critics Circle 2013 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. May 13, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  44. ^ "2012–2013 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  45. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2014). "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Gentleman's Guide Wins Four Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  46. ^ "2013–2014 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  47. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2015: Full List". Variety. April 27, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  48. ^ "2014–2015 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  49. ^ "2015–2016 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  50. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Honors 'She Loves Me' and 'Long Day's Journey Into Night'". The New York Times. May 9, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  51. ^ Viagas, Robert (May 9, 2016). "Bright Star and The Humans Win Top 2016 NY Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  52. ^ "2015–2016 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  53. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (May 8, 2017). "2017 Outer Critics Circle Awards: Come From Away & More Win Top Prizes". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  54. ^ "2016–2017 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  55. ^ McPhee, Ryan (May 7, 2018). "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, My Fair Lady Win Big at 2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  56. ^ "2017–2018 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  57. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (May 13, 2019). "Hadestown Leads Winners of 2019 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  58. ^ "2018–2019 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  59. ^ "2019–2020 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  60. ^ Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  61. ^ "2021–2022 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  62. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 16, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  63. ^ "2022–2023 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  64. ^ "2023–2024 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  65. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 12, 2025). "Maybe Happy Ending Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  66. ^ Evans, Greg (2025-04-25). "'Death Becomes Her' Broadway Musical Leads Outer Critics Circle Award Nominees – Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  67. ^ "2024–2025 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.