Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations

Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Orchestrations
Awarded forOutstanding Orchestrations
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First award1983
Currently held byDavid M. Lutken, Morgan Morse, Lisa Helmi Johanson and Sherry Stregack Lutken, The Porch on Windy Hill (2026)
Websitedramadesk.org (defunct)

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in musical theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. This category was eliminated after the 2011 ceremony, only to be reinstated about a week later due to popular and overwhelming demand from much of the Broadway community.

Winners and nominees

Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

1980s

Year Orchestrator(s) Production Ref.
1983
Michael Gibson My One and Only [1]
Hans Spialek On Your Toes
1984
Michael Starobin Sunday in the Park with George [2]
Jonathan Tunick Baby
Jim Tyler La Cage aux Folles
1985
Steven Margoshes and Danny Troob Big River [3]
Bill Byers Grind
Michael Starobin Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down
La bohème
1986
Rupert Holmes The Mystery of Edwin Drood [4]
Ralph Burns Sweet Charity
James McElwaine Goblin Market
1987
John Cameron Les Misérables [5]
Wally Harper Barbara Cook: A Concert for the Theatre
Michael Starobin Rags
Chris Walker Me and My Girl
1988
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera [6][7]
Michael Gibson Anything Goes
Michael Starobin Birds of Paradise
Jonathan Tunick Into the Woods
1989 N/a

1990s

Year Orchestrator(s) Production Ref.
1990
Billy Byers City of Angels [8][9]
Rodolfo Alchourron and James Kowal Dangerous Games
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber Aspects of Love
Peter Matz Grand Hotel
1991
William David Brohn Miss Saigon [10][11]
The Secret Garden
Billy Byers The Will Rogers Follies
David Krane And the World Goes 'Round
Mboni Ngema Township Fever
1992
Luther Henderson Jelly's Last Jam [12]
John Carlini Song of Singapore
William David Brohn Crazy For You
1993
Jose Libertella and Luis Stazo Tango Pasion [13][14]
Steven Margoshes The Who's Tommy
Michael Starobin My Favorite Year
Chris Walker Putting It Together
1994
Jonathan Tunick Passion [15]
Douglas Besterman Damn Yankees
Peter Matz The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public
Danny Troob Beauty and the Beast
1995 N/a
1996
Steve Skinner Rent [16][17]
Bruce Coughlin Floyd Collins
1997
Jonathan Tunick Titanic [18][19]
[20]
Michael Gibson Steel Pier
Joseph Joubert and Buryl Red Violet
Don Sebesky and Harold Wheeler The Life
1998
William David Brohn Ragtime [21][22]
Lisandro Adrover Luis Bravo's Forever Tango
Bruce Coughlin The Sound of Music
Robert Elhai, David Metzger and Bruce Fowler The Lion King
Michael Gibson Cabaret
Stanley Silverman The Capeman
1999
Don Sebesky Parade [23][24]
[25]
Michael Starobin A New Brain
Jonathan Tunick Captains Courageous
Jeff Waxman Woody Guthrie's American Song

2000s

Year Orchestrator(s) Production Ref.
2000
Don Sebesky Kiss Me, Kate [26][27]
Doug Besterman The Music Man
Michael Gibson The Wild Party
Taliep Petersen Kat and the Kings
Jonathan Tunick Saturday Night
Harold Wheeler Swing!
2001
Doug Besterman The Producers [28][29]
Bruce Coughlin Urinetown
Michael Starobin The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Jonathan Tunick Follies
Harold Wheeler The Full Monty
2002
Doug Besterman and Ralph Burns Thoroughly Modern Millie [30][31]
Jason Robert Brown The Last Five Years
Jonathan Tunick Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
2003
Harold Wheeler Hairspray [32][33]
[34]
Luther Henderson Little Ham
Michel Legrand Amour
2004
William David Brohn Wicked [35][36]
[37]
Paul Bogaev Bombay Dreams
Michael Starobin Assassins
Harold Wheeler Never Gonna Dance
2005
Bruce Coughlin, Adam Guettel and Ted Sperling The Light in the Piazza [38][39]
Steven M. Alper The Immigrant
Larry Hochman Monty Python's Spamalot
Doug Katsaros and Lynne Shankel Altar Boyz
Kim Scharnberg Little Women
Harold Wheeler Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2006
Sarah Travis Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [40][41]
Larry Blank The Drowsy Chaperone
Bruce Coughlin Grey Gardens
See What I Wanna See
Daniel Feyer and Peter Mills The Pursuit of Persephone
Danny Troob and Dick Lieb The Pajama Game
2007
Mary-Mitchell Campbell Company [42][43]
[44]
Jonathan Tunick LoveMusik
William David Brohn Curtains
Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman In the Heights
Duncan Sheik Spring Awakening
Jonathan Tunick The Apple Tree
2008
Jason Carr Sunday in the Park with George rowspan=6|[45][46]
[47]
Doug Besterman Young Frankenstein
Michael Starobin The Glorious Ones
Stew and Heidi Rodewald Passing Strange
Jonathan Tunick A Catered Affair
Tim Weil 10 Million Miles
2009
Martin Koch Billy Elliot the Musical [48][49]
[50]
Larry Blank Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Bruce Coughlin, Stephen Oremus and Alex Lacamoire 9 to 5
Aaron Johnson and Antibalas Fela!
Edward B. Kessel A Tale of Two Cities
Danny Troob and John Clancy Shrek the Musical

2010s

Year Orchestrator(s) Production Ref.
2010
Daryl Waters and David Bryan Memphis [51]
Larry Hochman The Scottsboro Boys
Tom Kitt American Idiot
Everyday Rapture
John Oddo All About Me
2011
Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus The Book of Mormon [52][53]
[54]
Mary-Mitchell Campbell Hello Again
Bruce Coughlin The Burnt Part Boys
Simon Hale, Jim Abbott and David Yazbek Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Marc Shaiman and Larry Blank Catch Me If You Can
Lynne Shankel The Extraordinary Ordinary
2012
Martin Lowe Once [55][56]
[57]
Bill Elliott Nice Work If You Can Get It
Larry Hochman Death Takes a Holiday
John McDaniel Bonnie & Clyde
Michael Starobin Queen of the Mist
Danny Troob Newsies
2013
Danny Troob Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella [58][59]
Trey Anastasio and Don Hart Hands on a Hardbody
Larry Blank A Christmas Story: The Musical
Bruce Coughlin Giant
Larry Hochman Chaplin: The Musical
Steve Margoshes Soul Doctor
2014
Jason Robert Brown The Bridges of Madison County [60][61]
[62]
John Clancy Fun Home
Larry Hochman Big Fish
Steve Sidwell Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Michael Starobin If/Then
Jonathan Tunick A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
2015
Christopher Austin An American in Paris [63][64]
Mary-Mitchell Campbell Allegro
Larry Hochman Something Rotten!
Alex Lacamoire Hamilton
Rob Mathes The Last Ship
Don Sebesky, Larry Blank, Jason Robert Brown and Charlie Rosen Honeymoon in Vegas
2016
Larry Hochman She Loves Me [65][66]
August Eriksmoen Bright Star
Joseph Joubert and Catherine Jayes The Color Purple
Andrew Lloyd Webber School of Rock
Michael Starobin and Bruce Coughlin First Daughter Suite
2017
Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen Bandstand [67][68]
Doug Besterman Anastasia
Bruce Coughlin War Paint
Benjamin Cox Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
August Eriksmoen Come from Away
Jamshied Sharifi The Band's Visit
2018
Jonathan Tunick Carousel [69][70]
Tom Kitt SpongeBob SquarePants
Annmarie Milazzo and Michael Starobin Once on This Island
Charlie Rosen and Erin McKeown Miss You Like Hell
Jonathan Tunick Pacific Overtures
2019
Daniel Kluger Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! [71][72]
Larry Blank Fiddler on the Roof
Simon Hale Girl from the North Country
Charlie Rosen Be More Chill
Daryl Waters The Cher Show

2020s

Year Orchestrator(s) Production Ref.
2020
Tom Kitt Jagged Little Pill [73][74]
Alex Lacamoire The Wrong Man
Or Matias and Dave Malloy Octet
Danny Troob, John Clancy, and Larry Hochman Soft Power
Jonathan Tunick West Side Story
2021 No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City[75]
2022
Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg MJ [76][77]
[78]
Tom Curran Six
Greg Jarrett Assassins
Mark Hartman and Yasuhiko Fukuoka The Streets of New York
2023
Bryan Carter and Charlie Rosen Some Like It Hot [79][80]
Bruce Coughlin A Man of No Importance
Jason Howland Shucked
Kenny Seymour The Harder They Come
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis New York, New York
2024 Marco Paguia Buena Vista Social Club [81][82]
Timo Andres Illinoise
Will Butler and Justin Craig Stereophonic
Andy Evan Cohen The Greatest Hits Down Route 66
Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek Dead Outlaw
Michael Starobin, Shaina Taub (vocal arrangements), and Andrea Grody (vocal arrangements) Suffs
2025
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber Just in Time [83][84]
Will Aronson Maybe Happy Ending
Doug Besterman Boop! The Musical
Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Michael Starobin All the World's a Stage
2026
David M. Lutken, Morgan Morse, Lisa Helmi Johanson and Sherry Stregack Lutken The Porch on Windy Hill [85][86]
Daniel Kluger The Seat of Our Pants
Bryan Carter The Fear of 13
John McDaniel Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
The Bengsons and Or Matias My Joy is Heavy

Statistics

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1983 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  2. ↑ "1984 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  3. ↑ "1985 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  4. ↑ "1986 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ "1987 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  6. ↑ "1988 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Into the Woods Wins Award". The New York Times. May 25, 1988. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "1990 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Drama Desk Awards to Angels and Lesson". The New York Times. May 17, 1990. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  10. ↑ "1991 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  11. ↑ "'Will Rogers' and 'Yonkers' Win Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. 13 May 1991.
  12. ↑ "1992 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  13. ↑ "1993 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Drama Desk Honors Kiss and Angels". The New York Times. May 18, 1993. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  15. ↑ "1994 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ "1996 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ Robert Viagas (May 20, 1996). "Drama Desk Awards to Rent, Master Class". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  18. ↑ "1997 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Drama Desk Picks Performers, Presenters & Venue, May 18". Playbill. May 13, 1997. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Chicago Tops Drama Desks". Variety. May 1997. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  21. ↑ "1998 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Ragtime, Beauty Queen Win Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. May 17, 1998. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  23. ↑ "1999 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  24. ↑ "List of 1999 Drama Desk Winners". Playbill. May 9, 1999. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ "1999 Drama Desk Winners: Not About Nightingales Design Trio". Playbill. May 9, 1999. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2000 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  27. ↑ Kenneth Jones (May 14, 2000). "2000 Drama Desk Winners Are Real Thing, Kate, Copenhagen & Contact". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  28. ↑ "2001 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  29. ↑ Kenneth Jones, Robert Simonson (May 20, 2001). "2001 Drama Desk Winners Include Producers, Proof and Mnemonic". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  30. ↑ "2002 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  31. ↑ Robert Simonson (May 20, 2002). "Drama Desk Awards Announced; Goat, Metamorphoses Tie for Best Play, Millie Scores". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  32. ↑ "2003 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  33. ↑ Robert Simonson (May 1, 2003). "Hairspray Leads 2003 Drama Desk Award Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Hairspray Wins 10 Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. May 19, 2003. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  35. ↑ "2004 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Wicked Leads Drama Desk Nominations". The New York Times. April 29, 2004. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  37. ↑ Andrew Gans, Robert Simonson (May 16, 2004). "Wicked, Assassins, Henry IV, Wife Win Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  38. ↑ "2005 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  39. ↑ "2005 Drama Desk Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. May 23, 2005. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  40. ↑ "2006 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  41. ↑ Andrew Gans (May 22, 2006). "Drowsy Chaperone and History Boys Big Winners at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  42. ↑ "2007 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  43. ↑ New York Theatre Guide Staff (May 20, 2007). "Drama Desk Awards 2006–2007 Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  44. ↑ Andrew Gans (May 20, 2007). "52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards Presented May 20". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  45. ↑ "2008 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Arts: Drama Desk's Awards". The New York Times. May 19, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  47. ↑ New York Theatre Guide Staff (October 19, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2008 Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  48. ↑ "2009 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Drama Desk Awards Announced". The New York Times. May 17, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  50. ↑ Andrew Gans (May 18, 2009). "Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  51. ↑ "2010 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  52. ↑ "2011 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  53. ↑ Kenneth Jones (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  54. ↑ David Rooney (May 23, 2011). "Book of Mormon, Anything Goes Top Drama Desk Awards". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  55. ↑ "2012 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  56. ↑ "Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. June 4, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  57. ↑ New York Theatre Guide Staff (June 3, 2012). "The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  58. ↑ "2013 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  59. ↑ Michael Paulson (May 20, 2013). "Matilda Wins Big at Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  60. ↑ "2014 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  61. ↑ New York Theatre Guide Staff (June 1, 2014). "The 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  62. ↑ Jesse Green (June 1, 2014). "Drama Desk Embraces a Gentleman's Guide". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  63. ↑ "2015 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  64. ↑ Gordon Cox (May 31, 2015). "2015 Drama Desk Awards Winners (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Takes 7". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  65. ↑ "2016 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  66. ↑ Gordon Cox (June 5, 2016). "2016 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST): 'Shuffle Along,' 'The Humans'". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  67. ↑ "2017 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  68. ↑ Variety Staff (June 5, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Full List of Winners". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  69. ↑ "2018 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  70. ↑ Playbill Staff (June 3, 2018). "SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  71. ↑ "2019 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  72. ↑ Ruthie Fierberg (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  73. ↑ "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  74. ↑ Dan Meyer (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  75. ↑ Evans, Greg (2021-05-05). "Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  76. ↑ "2022 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  77. ↑ Chloe Rabinowitz (June 8, 2022). "COMPANY, SIX & More Win 2022 Drama Desk Awards – See the Full List!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  78. ↑ Gillian Russo (June 8, 2022). "2022 Drama Desk Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  79. ↑ "2023 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  80. ↑ 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.
  81. ↑ "2024 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  82. ↑ Logan Culwell-Block (June 10, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  83. ↑ "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  84. ↑ Logan Culwell-Block (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  85. ↑ "2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced: Full List". Broadway.com. April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  86. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2026). "Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
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