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Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music

Annual musical theatre award

Annual musical theatre award

FieldValue
nameDrama Desk Award
for Outstanding Music
awarded_forOutstanding Music
presenterDrama Desk
locationNew York City
countryUnited States
year1968
holderWill Aronson and Hue Park for Maybe Happy Ending (2025)
website

for Outstanding Music The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in musical theatre (distinct from incidental music in plays) across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was originally entitled Best Composer, before being renamed to its current title in 1969. The award is often referred to as Outstanding Score of a Musical.

Winners and nominees

;Key

1960s

YearComposerProductionRef.19681969
Al Carmines*In Circles*
Galt MacDermot*Hair*
Al Carmines*Peace*
Burt Bacharach*Promises, Promises*

1970s

YearComposerProductionRef.1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
Stephen SondheimCompany
Kurt Weill*Mahagonny*
Stephen SondheimFollies
Galt MacDermotTwo Gentlemen of Verona
Stephen SondheimA Little Night Music
Al Carmines*The Faggot*
Charlie SmallsThe Wiz
Gene Curty, Nitra Scharfman & Chuck StrandThe Lieutenant
Jerry HermanMack and Mabel
Fred SilverIn Gay Company
Marvin HamlischA Chorus Line
Leonard Bernstein1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Bill Heyer & Hank BeebeTuscaloosa's Calling Me
Stephen SondheimPacific Overtures
Cy ColemanI Love My Wife
Charles StrouseAnnie
Elizabeth SwadosNightclub Cantata
Robert WaldmanThe Robber Bridegroom
Cy ColemanOn the Twentieth Century
Carol Hall*The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas*
Elizabeth SwadosRunaways
Stephen SondheimSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Nancy FordI'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road
Marvin Hamlisch & Neil SimonThey're Playing Our Song
Jerome KassBallroom
Michel LegrandThe Umbrellas of Cherbourg

1980s

YearComposerProductionRef.1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Andrew Lloyd WebberEvita
Cy ColemanBarnum
Elizabeth SwadosRunaways
colspan="3"
Maury YestonNine
Stephen SondheimMerrily We Roll Along
Jim WannPump Boys and Dinettes
Andrew Lloyd WebberCats
Larry GrossmanA Doll's Life
Gerald Jay MarkeeCharlotte Sweet
Des McAnuffDeath of Von Richthofen
Alan MenkenLittle Shop of Horrors
Jerry HermanLa Cage aux Folles
Galt MacDermotThe Human Comedy
David ShireBaby
Stephen SondheimSunday in the Park with George
Larry GrossmanGrind
Roger MillerBig River
Michael Rupert3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down
Rupert HolmesThe Mystery of Edwin Drood
Polly PenGoblin Market
Charles StrouseMayor
Andrew Lloyd WebberSong and Dance
Noel GayMe and My Girl
Claude-Michel SchönbergLes Misérables
Nick BicatThe Knife
Charles StrouseRags
Andrew Lloyd WebberStarlight Express
Andrew Lloyd WebberPhantom of the Opera
Benny Andersson & Björn UlvaeusChess
David EvansBirds of Paradise
Hugh Masekela & Mbongeni NgemaSarafina!
Stephen SondheimInto the Woods
colspan="3"

1990s

YearComposerProductionRef.1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Cy ColemanCity of Angels
Chet Forrest, Bob Wright & Maury YestonGrand Hotel
Ástor PiazzollaDangerous Games
David ShireCloser Than Ever
Andrew Lloyd WebberAspects of Love
Cy ColemanThe Will Rogers Follies
David BucknamThe Waves
William FinnFalsettoland
Lucy SimonThe Secret Garden
Stephen SondheimAssassins
Erik Frandsen, Michael Garin, Robert Hipkins & Paul Lockheart*Song of Singapore*
Marvin Hamlisch*The Goodbye Girl*
John KanderKiss of the Spider Woman
Jeffrey LundenWings
Stephen SondheimPassion
Michael John LaChiusaHello Again
Alan MenkenBeauty and the Beast
Polly PenChristina Alberta's Father
Tom WaitsThe Black Rider
colspan="2"
Jonathan LarsonRent
Adam GuettelFloyd Collins
Stephen HoffmanSplendora
Polly PenBed and Sofa
David ShireBig
Bob Telson & Michael John LaChiusaChronicle of a Death Foretold
Cy ColemanThe Life
John KanderSteel Pier
Jeanine TesoriViolet
Stephen FlahertyRagtime
Paul SimonThe Capeman
Stephen TraskHedwig and the Angry Inch
Frank WildhornThe Scarlet Pimpernel
Jason Robert BrownParade
Cy ColemanExactly Like You
William FinnA New Brain
Frank WildhornThe Civil War

2000s

YearComposerProductionRef.2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
Andrew Lippa*The Wild Party*
Shaun DaveyJames Joyce's The Dead
Stephen SondheimSaturday Night
David YazbekThe Full Monty
Kirsten ChildsThe Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Stephen FlahertySeussical
Mark HollmannUrinetown
Ed KlebanA Class Act
Laurence O'KeefeBat Boy: The Musical
Jason Robert Brown*The Last Five Years*
Marvin HamlischSweet Smell of Success
Jonathan LarsonTick, Tick... BOOM!
Jeanine TesoriThoroughly Modern Millie
Marc ShaimanHairspray
Tim AcitoZanna, Don't!
Stephen FlahertyA Man of No Importance
Michel LegrandAmour
Robert Lopez & Jeff MarxAvenue Q
Anderson Edwards, Keith Glover & Keb' Mo'Thunder Knocking on the Door
Jeanine TesoriCaroline, or Change
RaRa Avis & Andrew YeaterRamayana 2K3
Boy GeorgeTaboo
Eric RockwellThe Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
Stephen SchwartzWicked
Martin Silvestri & Joel HigginsJohnny Guitar
Adam GuettelThe Light in the Piazza
Gary Adler & Michael Patrick WalkerAltar Boyz
Terry DaviesPlay Without Words
William FinnThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Stephen FlahertyDessa Rose
David YazbekDirty Rotten Scoundrels
Lisa Lambert & Greg MorrisonThe Drowsy Chaperone
Stephen DolginoffThrill Me
Scott FrankelGrey Gardens
Michael John LaChiusaSee What I Wanna See
Peter MillsThe Pursuit of Persephone
Matthew SklarThe Wedding Singer
Duncan SheikSpring Awakening
John KanderCurtains
Paul Leschen & Gila SandTwist: Please, Sir, May I Have Some More?
Peter Rodgers MelnickAdrift in Macao
Lin-Manuel MirandaIn the Heights
Laurence O'Keefe & Nell BenjaminLegally Blonde
Heidi Rodewald & StewPassing Strange
John BucchinoA Catered Affair
Stephen FlahertyThe Glorious Ones
Tom KittNext to Normal
Mark MulcahyThe Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Joshua SchmidtAdding Machine
Elton JohnBilly Elliot the Musical
Neil BartramThe Story of My Life
Zina GoldrichDear Edwina
Dolly Parton9 to 5
Stephen SondheimRoad Show
Jeanine TesoriShrek the Musical

2010s

YearComposerProductionRef.2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
David BryanMemphis
Michael FriedmanBloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Joe IconisBloodsong of Love
John Kander & Fred EbbThe Scottsboro Boys
Andrew LippaThe Addams Family
Joseph ZellnikYank!
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt StoneThe Book of Mormon
Brad AlexanderSee Rock City & Other Destinations
Alan MenkenSister Act
Marc ShaimanCatch Me If You Can
Mike Stoller & Artie ButlerThe People in the Picture
David YazbekWomen on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Alan MenkenNewsies
Glen Hansard & Markéta IrglováOnce
Michael John LaChiusaQueen of the Mist
Alan MenkenLeap of Faith
Frank WildhornBonnie & Clyde
Maury YestonDeath Takes a Holiday
David Byrne & Fatboy Slim*Here Lies Love*
Trey Anastasio & Amanda GreenHands on a Hardbody
Michael John LaChiusaGiant
Dave MalloyNatasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Benj Pasek & Justin PaulA Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer & Steve RosenThe Other Josh Cohen
Jason Robert BrownThe Bridges of Madison County
Andrew LippaBig Fish
Steven LutvakA Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
Alan MenkenAladdin
Kevin Murphy & Laurence O'KeefeHeathers: The Musical
Jeanine TesoriFun Home
Lin-Manuel MirandaHamilton
Jason Robert BrownHoneymoon in Vegas
Michael FriedmanThe Fortress of Solitude
John KanderThe Visit
Dave MalloyGhost Quartet
StingThe Last Ship
Steve Martin & Edie BrickellBright Star
Sara BareillesWaitress
Michael John LaChiusaFirst Daughter Suite
Andrew Lloyd WebberSchool of Rock
The LobbyistsSeaWife
David YazbekThe Band's Visit
Stephen FlahertyAnastasia
Dave MalloyBeardo
Richard OberackerBandstand
Irene Sankoff & David HeinCome from Away
David Friedman*Desperate Measures*
The BengsonsThe Lucky Ones
Ben Caplan & Christian BarryOld Stock: A Refugee Love Story
Erin McKeownMiss You Like Hell
Helen Park & Max VernonKPOP
David YazbekTootsie
Andrew R. ButlerRags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
Joe IconisBe More Chill
Peter MillsThe Hello Girls
Mark SonnenblickMidnight at the Never Get
Shaina TaubTwelfth Night

2020s

YearComposerProductionRef.202020212022202320242025
Dave Malloy*Octet*
Ross GolanThe Wrong Man
Michael R. JacksonA Strange Loop
Joshua RosenblumEinstein's Dreams
Duncan SheikThe Secret Life of Bees
Jeanine TesoriSoft Power
No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City}}
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss*Six*
Jason HowlandParadise Square
Matt RayThe Hang
Carrie Rodriguez¡Americano!
Jeanine TesoriKimberly Akimbo
Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally*Shucked*
Michael R. JacksonWhite Girl in Danger
Tom Kitt and AnnMarie MilazzoAlmost Famous
Elyssa Samsel and Kate AndersonBetween the Lines
The KilbanesWeightless
Shaina Taub*Suffs*
Jason Robert BrownThe Connector
Justin HuertasLizard Boy: The Musical
Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin LevineThe Outsiders
David Yazbek and Erik Della PennaDead Outlaw
Will AronsonMaybe Happy Ending
David FosterBoop! The Musical
Joy Huerta and Benjamin VelezReal Women Have Curves
Zoe SarnakThe Lonely Few
The LazoursWe Live in Cairo

Multiple wins

; 5 wins

  • Cy Coleman
  • Stephen Sondheim

; 3 wins

  • Al Carmines
  • Jason Robert Brown
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • David Yazbek

; 2 wins

  • Marvin Hamlisch

Multiple nominations

; 12 nominations

  • Stephen Sondheim

; 7 nominations

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Jeanine Tesori

; 6 nominations

  • Cy Coleman
  • Stephen Flaherty
  • Michael John LaChiusa
  • Alan Menken
  • David Yazbek

; 5 nominations

  • Jason Robert Brown
  • John Kander

; 4 nominations

  • Dave Malloy

; 3 nominations

  • Marvin Hamlisch
  • Andrew Lippa
  • Laurence O'Keefe
  • Polly Pen
  • David Shire
  • Charles Strouse
  • Elizabeth Swados
  • Maury Yeston
  • Frank Wildhorn

; 2 nominations

  • Al Carmines
  • William Finn
  • Michael Friedman
  • Larry Grossman
  • Adam Guettel
  • Jerry Herman
  • Joe Iconis
  • Michael R. Jackson
  • Tom Kitt
  • Jonathan Larson
  • Michel Legrand
  • Robert Lopez
  • Galt MacDermot
  • Peter Mills
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Marc Shaiman
  • Duncan Sheik
  • Shaina Taub

References

References

  1. "1968 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  2. "1968 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  3. "1970 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  4. "1971 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  5. "1972 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  6. "1973 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  7. "1974 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  8. "1975 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  9. "1976 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  10. "1977 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  11. "1978 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  12. (June 2, 1979). "Sweeney and Elephant Man Win Top Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  13. "1979 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  14. "1980 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  15. "1982 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  16. "1983 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  17. "1984 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  18. "1985 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  19. "1986 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  20. "1987 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  21. "1988 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  22. (May 25, 1988). "Into the Woods Wins Award". The New York Times.
  23. "1990 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  24. (May 17, 1990). "Drama Desk Awards to Angels and Lesson". The New York Times.
  25. "1991 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  26. (13 May 1991). "'Will Rogers' and 'Yonkers' Win Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  27. "1992 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  28. "1993 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  29. (May 18, 1993). "Drama Desk Honors Kiss and Angels". The New York Times.
  30. "1994 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  31. "1996 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  32. Robert Viagas. (May 20, 1996). "Drama Desk Awards to Rent, Master Class".
  33. "1997 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  34. (May 13, 1997). "Drama Desk Picks Performers, Presenters & Venue, May 18".
  35. (May 1997). "Chicago Tops Drama Desks". Variety.
  36. "1998 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  37. (May 17, 1998). "Ragtime, Beauty Queen Win Drama Desk Awards".
  38. "1999 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  39. (May 9, 1999). "List of 1999 Drama Desk Winners".
  40. (May 9, 1999). "1999 Drama Desk Winners: Not About Nightingales Design Trio".
  41. "2000 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  42. Kenneth Jones. (May 14, 2000). "2000 Drama Desk Winners Are Real Thing, Kate, Copenhagen & Contact".
  43. "2001 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  44. Kenneth Jones, Robert Simonson. (May 20, 2001). "2001 Drama Desk Winners Include Producers, Proof and Mnemonic".
  45. "2002 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  46. Robert Simonson. (May 20, 2002). "Drama Desk Awards Announced; Goat, Metamorphoses Tie for Best Play, Millie Scores".
  47. "2003 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  48. Robert Simonson. (May 1, 2003). "Hairspray Leads 2003 Drama Desk Award Nominations".
  49. (May 19, 2003). "Hairspray Wins 10 Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  50. "2004 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  51. (April 29, 2004). "Wicked Leads Drama Desk Nominations". The New York Times.
  52. Andrew Gans, Robert Simonson. (May 16, 2004). "Wicked, Assassins, Henry IV, Wife Win Drama Desk Awards".
  53. "2005 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  54. (May 23, 2005). "2005 Drama Desk Award winners announced".
  55. "2006 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  56. Andrew Gans. (May 22, 2006). "Drowsy Chaperone and History Boys Big Winners at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards".
  57. "2007 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  58. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (May 20, 2007). "Drama Desk Awards 2006–2007 Winners Announced".
  59. Andrew Gans. (May 20, 2007). "52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards Presented May 20".
  60. "2008 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  61. (May 19, 2008). "Arts: Drama Desk’s Awards". The New York Times.
  62. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (October 19, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2008 Winners Announced".
  63. "2009 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  64. (May 17, 2009). "Drama Desk Awards Announced". The New York Times.
  65. Andrew Gans. (May 18, 2009). "Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards".
  66. "2010 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  67. "2011 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  68. Kenneth Jones. (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz".
  69. David Rooney. (May 23, 2011). "Book of Mormon, Anything Goes Top Drama Desk Awards". Variety.
  70. "2012 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  71. (June 4, 2012). "Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  72. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (June 3, 2012). "The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards".
  73. "2013 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  74. Michael Paulson. (May 20, 2013). "Matilda Wins Big at Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  75. "2014 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  76. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (June 1, 2014). "The 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards".
  77. Jesse Green. (June 1, 2014). "Drama Desk Embraces a Gentleman’s Guide". The New York Times.
  78. "2015 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  79. Gordon Cox. (May 31, 2015). "2015 Drama Desk Awards Winners (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Takes 7".
  80. "2016 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  81. Gordon Cox. (June 5, 2016). "2016 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST): 'Shuffle Along,' 'The Humans'".
  82. "2017 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  83. Variety Staff. (June 5, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Full List of Winners".
  84. "2018 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  85. Playbill Staff. (June 3, 2018). "SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards".
  86. "2019 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  87. Ruthie Fierberg. (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners".
  88. "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  89. Dan Meyer. (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards".
  90. Evans, Greg. (2021-05-05). "Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic"". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
  91. "2022 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  92. Chloe Rabinowitz. (June 8, 2022). "COMPANY, SIX & More Win 2022 Drama Desk Awards – See the Full List!".
  93. Gillian Russo. (June 8, 2022). "2022 Drama Desk Award winners announced".
  94. "2023 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  95. Logan Culwell-Block. (May 31, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners".
  96. "2024 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  97. Logan Culwell-Block. (June 10, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play".
  98. "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  99. Logan Culwell-Block. (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List".
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