Lucille Lortel Award

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Lucille Lortel Awards
Awarded forExcellence in Off-Broadway theatre
CountryUnited States
Presented byThe League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers
First award1986 (1986)
Websitehttp://www.lortelaward.com

The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre.[1] The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986.[1][2] 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.[1]

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.[3]

Ceremonies

SeasonCeremony DateVenueNotesRef.
1990–1991April 1, 1991The Trophy Room at Gallagher'sHost: Lynne Meadow
Special Awards: Circle Repertory Theatre; Rosetta LeNoire		[4]
1991-1992May 11, 1992Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: Ernie Anastos, Special Awards: Terrence McNally; Blue Man Group; Ellen Stewart[5]
1992-1993May 17, 1993Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: Ernie Anastos, Special Awards: John Lee Beatty; John Willis[6]
1993-1994May 16, 1994Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: Bruce Weber, Special Awards: Theatre for a New Audience; A.R. Gurney; Irene Worth[7]
1994-1995April 24, 1995Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: Wendy Wasserstein, Special Awards: Horton Foote; Uta Hagen; Signature Theatre Company[8]
1995-1996May 6, 1996Lucille Lortel TheatreHosts: Walter Cronkite and Wendy Wasserstein, Special Awards: Athol Fugard; Gene Feist; Edith Oliver[9]
1996-1997May 5, 1997Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: Ernie Anastos, Special Awards: Gerard Alessandrini; Rob Fisher[10]
1997-1998May 4, 1998Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: Jane Alexander, Special Award: Arthur Miller[11]
1998-1999May 3, 1999Lucille Lortel TheatreHosts: Bea Arthur and Ossie Davis, Special Awards: Harold Pinter; Tom Jones; Harvey Schmidt; Jerry Orbach; Brooklyn Academy of Music; Classic Stage Company[12]
1999-2000May 1, 2000Lucille Lortel TheatreHosts: Joy Behar and Sam Harris, Special Awards: Eileen Heckart; Jason Robards; Charles Busch and Israel Horovitz[13]
2000-2001May 7, 2001Lucille Lortel TheatreHosts: Alan Cumming and Brooke Shields, Special Awards: Lanford Wilson; New York Theatre Workshop; Kitty Carlisle Hart[14][15]
2001-2002May 6, 2002Lucille Lortel TheatreHosts: Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon , Special Awards: Edward Albee; Ruby Dee; Elaine Stritch at Liberty; Second Stage Theatre[16][17]
2002-2003May 5, 2003Lucille Lortel TheatreHost: B.D. Wong, Special Awards: Marian Seldes; The Exonerated; Vineyard Theatre[18][19]
2003-2004May 3, 2004Minetta Lane TheatreHosts: Richard Thomas and Joanna Gleason, Special Awards: Kathleen Chalfant; The Public Theatre; Noche Flamenca[20]
2004-2005May 2, 2005Dodger's StagesHosts: Julie Halston and Bruce Vilanch, Special Awards: Frances Sternhagen; Irish Repertory Theatre[21]
2005-2006May 1, 2006New World StagesHosts: Judy Gold and Brían F. O'Byrne, Special Awards: Wendy Wasserstein; John Patrick Shanley; Betty Corwin; Atlantic Theater Company[22][23]
2006-2007May 7, 2007New World StagesHosts: Bebe Neuwirth and Bobby Cannavale, Special Awards: Christopher Durang; Actors' Fund of America[24]
2007-2008May 5, 2008Union Square TheaterHost: Julie White, Special Awards: Theodore Mann; Primary Stages; New York Theatre Workshop's Horizon[25]
2008–2009May 3, 2009Marriott Marquis HotelHost: Kristen Johnston, Special Awards: Ira Weitzman; The Lark Play Development Center[26]
2009–2010May 2, 2010Terminal 5Hosts: Bryan Batt and Bebe Neuwirth, Special Awards: Daryl Roth; Lincoln Center Theatre[27][28]
2010–2011May 1, 2011NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Zach Braff, Samantha Bee, Special Awards: Lynne Meadow; Gary Glaser; Gatz[29]
2011–2012May 6, 2012NYU Skirball CenterHost: Mario Cantone, Special Awards: Richard Frankel; Richard Foreman; FDNY; Voca People[30]
2012–2013May 5, 2013NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Aasif Mandvi, Maura Tierney, Special Awards: Todd Haimes; Neil LaBute; Theatre Development Fund; Old Hats[31]
2013–2014May 4, 2014NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Special Awards: Robyn Goodman; Richard Nelson[32]
2014–2015May 10, 2015NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Anna Chlumsky, Special Awards: Terrence McNally; Jeanine Tesori; Nancy Nagel Gibb[33]
2015–2016May 8, 2016NYU Skirball CenterHost: Zachary Levi, Special Awards: Oskar Eustis; The Wooster Group[34]
2016–2017May 7, 2017NYU Skirball CenterHost: Taran Killam, Special Awards: David Hyde Pierce; Elevator Repair Service[35]
2017–2018May 6, 2018NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Laura Benanti and Jeremy Shamos, Special Awards: Kathleen Chalfant; The York Theatre Company[36]
2018–2019May 5, 2019NYU Skirball CenterHost: Mike Birbiglia, Special Awards: Edward Albee (posthumous); Page 73 Productions[37]
2019–2020Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[38]
2020–2021May 2, 2021VirtualHeld virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic[39]
2021–2022May 1, 2022NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Jelani Alladin, Jared Grimes, Jeff Hiller, Krysta Rodriguez, Christopher Sieber and Jennifer Simard, Special Awards: Deirdre O'Connell; David Henry Hwang[40]
2022–2023May 7, 2023NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Kevin Cahoon, D'Arcy Carden, Crystal Lucas-Perry, Bonnie Milligan, Arian Moayed and Tamara Tunie, Special Awards: Stephen McKinley Henderson; Ntozake Shange[41]
2023-2024May 5, 2024NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Rosalind Chao, Jenn Colella, Michael Esper, Eden Espinosa, B.D. Wong and Nikki M. James, Special Awards: Ruben Santiago-Hudson; Dominique Morisseau; Ars Nova[42]
2024-2025May 4, 2025NYU Skirball CenterHosts: Ilana Glazer, Maya Hawke, Stephanie Nur, and Alaska Thunderfuck, Special Awards: Alice Childress; New Federal Theatre; Carol Fishman[43]
2025-2026May 3, 2026NYU Skirball CenterSpecial Awards: Mia Katigbak; William Finn[44]

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.[45]

Starting with the 2022 awards, the acting categories were made gender-neutral.[46]

Current categories

Awards are given in the following categories:

Special categories

Retired Categories

Award winners in key categories

Source:[48]

Production Awards

Outstanding Play

Outstanding Musical

Outstanding Revival

Honorary Awards

Outstanding Lifetime Achievement

Playwright Sidewalk Inductee(s)

Outstanding Body of Work

See also

References

  1. Nemy, Enid (1999-04-06). "Lucille Lortel, Patron Who Made Innovative Off Broadway a Star, Is Dead at 98". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  2. Greene, Alexis (2004-07-01). Lucille Lortel: the queen of Off Broadway. Limelight Editions. ISBN 0-87910-302-7.
  3. Hetrick, Adam. "'Fun Home', 'Here Lies Love', 'Buyer & Cellar' Win Lortel Awards" Archived 2014-05-08 at the Wayback Machine May 4, 2014
  4. "1991 Lucille Lortel Awards" (PDF). Lucille Lortel Awards. Off-Broadway League. 1991. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  5. "1992 Lucille Lortel Awards" (PDF). Lucille Lortel Awards. Off-Broadway League. 1992. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  6. "1993 Lucille Lortel Awards" (PDF). Lucille Lortel Awards. Off-Broadway League. 1993. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  7. "1994 Lucille Lortel Awards" (PDF). Lucille Lortel Awards. Off-Broadway League. 1994. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  8. "Lucille Lortel Awards Honor Off-Broadway Excellence". The Villager. April 19, 1995. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  9. Robert Viagas (April 9, 1996). "Molly, Floyd Win Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  10. Robert Viagas (April 9, 1997). "How I Learned and Violet Win Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  11. "Footlights". The New York Times. April 8, 1998. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  12. Kenneth Jones (April 6, 1999). "Wit Wins Four 1999 Lucille Lortel Awards; Community Mourns Lortel's Death". Playbill. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  13. "Theater: Starring Role in the Off-Broadway Awards". The New York Times. April 9, 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. "2001 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  15. David Lefkowitz (April 24, 2001). "2001 Lortel Awards Ceremony, Hosted by Cumming, to Take Place May 7". Playbill. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  16. "2002 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  17. TheaterMania Staff (April 22, 2002). "2002 Lucille Lortel Award Winners Announced". TheaterMania. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  18. "2003 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  19. Kenneth Jones (May 6, 2003). "2003 Lucille Lortel Awards Announced; Take Me Out, Avenue Q Big Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  20. "Caroline, or Change, I Am My Own Wife, Bug Among 2004 Lucille Lortel Winners". Playbill. 4 May 2004. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  21. "2005 Lucille Lortel Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. 2 May 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  22. "2006 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  23. Playbill Staff, Ken Jones (May 2, 2006). "Bountiful Tops 2006 Lucille Lortel Awards with Four Wins". Playbill. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  24. Gans, Andrew (7 May 2007). "Spring Awakening, In the Heights and Stuff Happens Win Lucille Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  25. "Lucille Lortel Winners Announced". Variety. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  26. "Ruined, Fela!, Our Town and Inishmaan Top Lucille Lortel Awards". Broadway.com. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  27. "2010 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  28. "25th Lucille Lortel Awards: Neuwirth & Batt to host". New York Theatre Guide. April 7, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  29. Jones, Kenneth (2 May 2011). "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Chad Deity, Angels, Christian Borle, Laurie Metcalf Are Lortel Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  30. Hetrick, Adam (6 May 2012). "Once, Sons of the Prophet, Sanaa Lathan, Sam Gold Among 2012 Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  31. Hetrick, Adam (5 May 2013). "Dogfight, The Whale and The Piano Lesson Are Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  32. Gans, Andrew (5 May 2014). "Fun Home, Here Lies Love, Buyer & Cellar Win Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  33. Moreau, Jordan (10 May 2015). "Lucille Lortel Awards 2015 (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Sweeps". Variety. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  34. Moreau, Jordan (1 May 2016). "Lucille Lortel Awards 2016 (FULL LIST): 'Guards at the Taj,' 'The Robber Bridegroom' Score Big". Variety. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  35. McPhee, Ryan (8 May 2017). "Ben Platt, Taran Killam, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and More at the 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  36. McPhee, Ryan (6 May 2018). "KPOP, Cost of Living, School Girls Among 2018 Lucille Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  37. Peikert, Mark (5 May 2019). "Carmen Jones Leads 2019 Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  38. Clement, Olivia (3 May 2020). "Octet and Heroes of the Fourth Turning Lead 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  39. Andrew Gans (May 2, 2021). "2021 Lucille Lortel Awards, Honoring Off-Broadway Excellence, Stream May 2". Playbill. Playbill, Inc. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  40. Culwell-Block, Logan (1 May 2022). "Kimberly Akimbo, Oratorio for Living Things Win 2022 Lucille Lortel Awards; See the Full Winners List". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  41. Logan Culwell-Block (May 7, 2023). "Wolf Play, Titaníque Lead 2023 Lucille Lortel Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  42. Culwell-Block, Logan (May 5, 2024). "Ars Nova and National Black Theatre's (Pray) Leads 2024 Lucille Lortel Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  43. Culwell-Block, Logan (4 May 2025). "Our Class Leads 2025 Lucille Lortel Award Wins; Read the Complete List Here". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  44. "MEXODUS and PRINCE F*GGOT Lead 2026 Lucille Lortel Nominations". BroadwayWorld. April 1, 2026. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  45. Hetrick, Adam (April 1, 2014). "Here Lies Love, Fun Home and Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 Lead Lortel Award Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  46. "Lucille Lortel Awards Will Switch to Gender-Neutral Categories for Performers". Playbill.
  47. Rickwald, Bethany (February 2, 2017). "Lynn Nottage and William Ivey Long Among 2017 Lucille Lortel Award Honorees". TheaterMania. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  48. "Recipients by Category". The Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  49. Evans, Greg (2024-05-06). "Tony-Nominated 'Stereophonic' Actor Eli Gelb And 'Hell's Kitchen' Actress Kecia Lewis Win Lucille Lortel Awards – Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-05-18.