The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway 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.
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.
Voting committee
The voting committee is composed of representatives from the Off-Broadway League, Actors' Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, as well as theatre journalists, academics, and other Off-Broadway professionals.
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 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. 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 and Maura Tierney. Special Awards were presented to: Todd Haimes, Lifetime Achievement Award; Neil LaBute, 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 (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.
Categories
At the beginning, the Lead Actor/Actress and Featured Actor/Actress awards encompassed both plays and musicals. Starting in 2014, the acting awards were split into separate play and musical categories.
Starting in the 2022 awards, the acting categories were made gender-neutral.
Current categories
Awards are given in the following categories:
- Outstanding Play
- Outstanding Musical
- Outstanding Revival
- Outstanding Solo Show
- Outstanding Alternative Theater Experience
- Outstanding Director
- Outstanding Choreographer
- Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play
- Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play
- Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical
- Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical
- Outstanding Ensemble
- Outstanding Scenic Design
- Outstanding Costume Design
- Outstanding Lighting Design
- Outstanding Sound Design
- Outstanding Projection Design (permanently added 2017)
Discontinued Categories
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Award winners in key categories
Source:
Production Awards
Outstanding Play
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Revival
Honorary Awards
Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Playwright Sidewalk Inductee(s)
See also
- Drama Desk Award
- Drama League Award
- Tony Awards
References
External links
- Official website
- List of winners and nominees
