Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Patti LuPone, 2022 winner
Awarded for	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Location	New York City
Presented by	Outer Critics Circle
Status	Retired
Currently held by	Patti LuPone, Company (2022)
Website	OuterCriticsCircle.org

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical was an annual award given to the best featured actress in a musical on Broadway or Off-Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The award was established in 1997 as "Best Featured Actress in a Musical," before formally changing to "Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical" in 1999.^[1]

The award was retired in 2022 and replaced by Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical and Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical in gender-neutral performance categories.^[2]

Karen Ziemba holds the record for most wins, with three trophies from three nominations, followed closely by Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski with two wins each. Benanti holds the record for most nominations in the category, with four nominations.

Awards winners

Key

  and bold indicates the winner.

1990s

Year	Actor	Work	Role	Ref.
1997
	Lillias White	The Life	Performer	[3][4]
	Alix Korey	No Way to Treat a Lady	Flora / Mrs. Sullivan / Carmella / Alexandra / Sadie
	Marcia Lewis	Chicago	Matron "Mama" Morton
	Debra Monk	Steel Pier	Shelby Stevens
1998
	Tsidii Le Loka	The Lion King	Tateh	[5][6]
	Jan Maxwell	The Sound of Music	Baroness Elsa Schraeder
	Audra McDonald	Ragtime	Sarah
	Michele Pawk	Cabaret	Fräulein Kost
1999
	Kristin Chenoweth	You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown	Sally Brown	[7][8]
	Cheryl Freeman	The Civil War	Bessie Toler
	Elizabeth Parkinson	Fosse	Performer

2000s

Year	Actor	Work	Role	Ref.
2000
	Karen Ziemba	Contact	Performer	[9][10]
	Blair Brown	James Joyce’s The Dead	Gretta Conroy
	Ruth Williamson	The Music Man	Eulalie Shinn
	Deborah Yates	Contact	Performer
2001
	Cady Huffman	The Producers	Ulla Bloom	[11][12]
	Kathleen Freeman	The Full Monty	Jeanette Burmeister
	Kate Levering	42nd Street	Peggy Sawyer
	Mary Testa		Maggie Jones
2002
	Spencer Kayden	Urinetown	Little Sally	[13][14]
	Laura Benanti	Into the Woods	Cinderella
	Angela Christian	Thoroughly Modern Millie	Miss Dorothy Brown
	Andrea Martin	Oklahoma!	Aunt Eller
2003
	Jane Krakowski	Nine	Carla Albanese	[15][16]
	Laura Benanti	Nine	Claudia Nardi
	Mary Beth Peil		Guido's Mother
	Mary Stuart Masterson		Luisa Contini
	Kerry Butler	Hairspray	Penny Piggleton
2004
	Karen Ziemba	Never Gonna Dance	Mabel Pritt	[17][18]
	Ayesha Dharker	Bombay Dreams	Rani
	Randy Graff	Fiddler on the Roof	Golde
	Isabel Keating	The Boy from Oz	Judy Garland
	Carole Shelley	Wicked	Madame Morrible
2005
	Sara Ramirez	Spamalot	The Lady of the Lake	[19][20]
	Sarah Uriarte Berry	The Light in the Piazza	Franca Naccarelli
	Kelli O'Hara		Clara Johnson
	Joanna Gleason	Dirty Rotten Scoundrels	Muriel Eubanks
	Jan Maxwell	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang	Baroness Bomburst
2006
	Beth Leavel	The Drowsy Chaperone	The Chaperone	[21][22]
	Megan Lawrence	The Pajama Game	Gladys Hotchkiss
	Mary Louise Wilson	Grey Gardens	"Big" Edie Beale
	Elisabeth Withers-Mendes	The Color Purple	Shug Avery
2007
	Karen Ziemba	Curtains	Georgia Hendricks	[23][24]
	Charlotte d'Amboise	A Chorus Line	Cassie Ferguson
	Rebecca Luker	Mary Poppins	Winifred Banks
	Orfeh	Legally Blonde	Paulette
2008
	Laura Benanti	Gypsy	Louise	[25][26]
	Amy Warren	The Adding Machine	Daisy Devore
	Harriet Sansom Harris	Cry-Baby	Mrs. Vernon-Williams
	Sherie Rene Scott	The Little Mermaid	Ursula
2009
	Haydn Gwynne	Billy Elliot	Mrs. Wilkinson	[27][28]
	Carole Shelley	Billy Elliot	Grandma
	Karen Olivo	West Side Story	Anita
	Kathy Fitzgerald	9 to 5	Roz Keith
	Martha Plimpton	Pal Joey	Gladys Bumps

2010s

Year	Actor	Work	Role	Ref.
2010
	Katie Finneran	Promises, Promises	Marge MacDougall	[29][30]
	Angela Lansbury	A Little Night Music	Madame Armfeldt
	Carolee Carmello	The Addams Family	Alice Beineke
	Cass Morgan	Memphis	Mama/Gladys
	Terri White	Finian's Rainbow	Dottie
2011
	Laura Benanti	Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown	Candela	[31][32]
	Laura Osnes	Anything Goes	Hope Harcourt
	Marla Mindelle	Sister Act	Sister Mary Robert
	Nikki M. James	The Book of Mormon	Nabulungi
	Patti LuPone	Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown	Lucia
2012
	Judy Kaye	Nice Work If You Can Get It	Duchess Estonia Dulworth	[33][34]
	Da'Vine Joy Randolph	Ghost the Musical	Oda Mae Brown
	Jayne Houdyshell	Follies	Hattie Walker
	Melissa Van Der Schyff	Bonnie & Clyde	Blanche Barrow
	Rebecca Luker	Death Takes a Holiday	Duchess Stephanie Lamberti
2013
	Andrea Martin	Pippin	Berthe	[35][36]
	Annaleigh Ashford	Kinky Boots	Lauren
	Charlotte d'Amboise	Pippin	Fastrada
	Keala Settle	Hands on a Hardbody	Norma Valverde
	Victoria Clark	Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella	Marie/Fairy Godmother
2014
	Marin Mazzie	Bullets Over Broadway	Helen Sinclair	[37][38]
	Judy Kuhn	Fun Home	Helen Bechdel
	Anika Larsen	Beautiful: The Carole King Musical	Cynthia Weil
	Sydney Lucas	Fun Home	Small Alison
	Lisa O'Hare	A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder	Sibella Hallward
2015
	Ruthie Ann Miles	The King and I	Lady Thiang	[39][40]
	Heidi Blickenstaff	Something Rotten!	Bea Bottom
	Victoria Clark	Gigi	Inez Alvarez
	Megan Fairchild	On the Town	Ivy
	Mary Louise Wilson	On the Twentieth Century	Letitia Primrose
2016
	Jane Krakowski	She Loves Me	Ilona Ritter	[41][42][43]
	Danielle Brooks	The Color Purple	Sofia
	Andrea Burns	On Your Feet!	Gloria Fajardo
	Sophia Anne Caruso	Lazarus	Girl
	Heléne Yorke	American Psycho	Evelyn Williams
2017
	Jenn Colella	Come From Away	Beverley Bass and Others	[44][45]
	Kate Baldwin	Hello, Dolly!	Irene Molloy
	Stephanie J. Block	Falsettos	Trina
	Caroline O'Connor	Anastasia	Countess Lily
	Mary Beth Peil		Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna
2018
	Lindsay Mendez	Carousel	Carrie Pipperidge	[46][47]
	Kerry Butler	Mean Girls	Mrs. Heron/Mrs. Norbury
	Lauren Molina	Desperate Measures	Bella Rose
	Ashley Park	Mean Girls	Gretchen Wieners
	Emily Skinner	Prince of Broadway	Performer
2019
	Amber Gray	Hadestown	Persephone	[48][49]
	Leslie Kritzer	Beetlejuice	Delia Schlimmer
	Bonnie Milligan	Head Over Heels	Pamela
	Sarah Stiles	Tootsie	Sandy Lester
	Ali Stroker	Oklahoma!	Ado Annie

2020s

Year	Actor	Work	Role	Ref.
2020 (Hon.)	Eisa Davis	The Secret Life of Bees	June Boatwright	[50][51]
	Kathryn Gallagher	Jagged Little Pill	Bella Fox
	LaChanze	The Secret Life of Bees	August Boatwright
	Judy McLane	Romeo & Bernadette	Camille Penza
	Lauren Patten	Jagged Little Pill	Jo Taylor
	Saycon Sengbloh	The Secret Life of Bees	Rosaleen
2021	No award given due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2022
	Patti LuPone	Company	Joanne	[52]
	Shoshana Bean	Mr. Saturday Night	Susan Young
	Jenn Colella	Suffs	Carrie Chapman Catt
	Judy Kuhn	Assassins	Sara Jane Moore
	Bonnie Milligan	Kimberly Akimbo	Debra

Multiple wins

3 wins

• Karen Ziemba

2 wins

• Laura Benanti
• Jane Krakowski

Multiple nominations

4 nominations

• Laura Benanti

3 nominations

• Karen Ziemba

2 nominations

• Jan Maxwell
• Patti LuPone
• Rebecca Luker
• Andrea Martin
• Jane Krakowski
• Mary Beth Peil
• Kerry Butler
• Carole Shelley
• Mary Louise Wilson
• Charlotte d'Amboise
• Victoria Clark
• Bonnie Milligan
• Judy Kuhn
• Jenn Colella

See also

• Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
• Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

References

1. "Nightingales, Wit, Iceman & Fosse Win Outer Critics Awards; Ceremony May 28". Playbill. April 26, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
2. Andrew Gans (January 24, 2023). "Dates Set for 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Gender Removed From Acting Categories". Playbill.
3. "1996–1997 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
4. Lefkowitz, David (May 5, 1997). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
5. "1997–1998 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
6. Viagas & Lefkowitz (April 27, 1998). "Lion King Roars With Six Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
7. "1998–1999 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
8. "Nightingales, Wit, Iceman & Fosse Win Outer Critics Awards; Ceremony May 28". Playbill. April 26, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
9. "1999–2000 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
10. "Contact and Kiss Me, Kate Big Winners of 2000 Outer Critics Awards". Playbill. April 30, 2000. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
11. "2000–2001 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
12. Simonson & Lefkowitz (May 24, 2001). "2001 Outer Critics Circle Awards Held at Sardi's, May 24". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
13. "2001–2002 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
14. "The 2001–2002 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners". TheaterMania. April 29, 2002. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
15. "2002–2003 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
16. Gans, Andrew (May 5, 2003). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Hairspray Leads the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
17. "2003–2004 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
18. "Wicked, Wonderful Town, I Am My Own Wife Top 2004 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. May 2, 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
19. "2004–2005 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
20. "2005 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. May 9, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
21. "2005–2006 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
22. Hernandez, Ernio (May 14, 2006). "The Drowsy Chaperone and The History Boys Top Outer Critics Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
23. "2006–2007 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
24. Gans, Andrew (May 24, 2007). "Outer Critics Circle Awards Are Presented by Clark, Young and Mitchell May 24". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
25. "2007–2008 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
26. Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2008). "South Pacific Is Big Winner in Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
27. "2008–2009 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
28. "Outer Critics Circle 2008–09 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. May 11, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
29. "2009–2010 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
30. "MEMPHIS & LA CAGE Top Outer Critics Circle Winners". BroadwayWorld. May 17, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
31. "2010–2011 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
32. "The Book of Mormon, War Horse and Anything Goes Top 2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. May 16, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
33. "2011–2012 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
34. Gans, Andrew (May 14, 2012). "Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced; Once and One Man, Two Guvnors Are Top Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
35. "2012–2013 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
36. "Outer Critics Circle 2013 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. May 13, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
37. "2013–2014 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
38. Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2014). "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Gentleman's Guide Wins Four Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
39. "2014–2015 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
40. "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2015: Full List". Variety. April 27, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
41. "2015–2016 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
42. "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.
43. Viagas, Robert (May 9, 2016). "Bright Star and The Humans Win Top 2016 NY Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
44. "2016–2017 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
45. Lefkowitz, Andy (May 8, 2017). "2017 Outer Critics Circle Awards: Come From Away & More Win Top Prizes". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
46. "2017–2018 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
47. 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.
48. "2018–2019 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
49. Lefkowitz, Andy (May 13, 2019). "Hadestown Leads Winners of 2019 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
50. "2019–2020 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
51. Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
52. Culwell-Block, Logan (May 17, 2022). "The Lehman Trilogy Leads 2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Six Wins Best Musical; See the Complete List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.