‘Shuffle Along’ And ‘She Loves Me’ Win Big at 2016 Drama Desk Awards

Nora Dominick ’17/ Emertainment Monthly Co-Executive Stage Editor

Tonight Broadway stars and fans came together for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards. Hosted by Michael Urie and presented by TheaterMania, the annual award show serves as a precursor to the Tony Awards, but this year is a little different. With critically acclaimed musical, Hamilton ineligible for nominations (they were nominated during last year’s ceremony for their Off-Broadway run), the winners this year don’t necessarily help determine next weekend’s Tony Award winners.

Shuffle Along starring Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brandon Victor Dixon and more cleaned up at this year’s ceremony. The hit new musical took home awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Choreography for Savion Glover, Outstanding Costume Design for Ann Roth and the first ever award for Outstanding Wig and Hair for Mia M. Neal.

Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of She Loves Me also cleaned up big. The hit revival starring Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi won Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Jane Krakowski, Outstanding Orchestration for Larry Hochman and Outstanding  Set Design for a Musical for David Rockwell.

Danny Burstein took home the award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his work in Fiddler on the Roof while Cynthia Erivo snagged Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her career-defining turn in The Color Purple. American Psycho also walked away with its share of awards after ending its Broadway run earlier today.

On the play side of things, The Humans walked away with Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Play as well as Outstanding Lighting Design for Justin Townsend and Outstanding Sound Design for a Play for Fitz Patton.

Frank Langella took home the award for Outstanding Actor in a Play for his work in MTC’s The Father while Jessica Lange won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for Long Day’s Journey into Night.

Check out the full list of Drama Desk Award Winners below:

Outstanding Musical

Shuffle Along

Outstanding Play

The Humans

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

She Loves Me

Outstanding Revival of a Play

A View From the Bridge

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple

Outstanding Actor in a Play

Frank Langella, The Father

Outstanding Actress in a Play

Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Outstanding Director of a Play

Ivo van Hove, A View From the Bridge

Outstanding Director of a Musical (TIE)

John Doyle, The Color Purple

Bartlett Sher, Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Choreography

Savion Glover, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Book of a Musical

John Caird, Daddy Long Legs

Outstanding Music

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star

Outstanding Lyrics

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dear Evan Hansen

Outstanding Orchestrations

Larry Hochman, She Loves Me

Outstanding Music in a Play

Philip Glass, The Crucible

Outstanding Set Design for a Play

Christopher Oram, Hughie

Outstanding Set Design for a Musical

David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Outstanding Costume Design for a Play

Anita Yavich, The Legend of Georgia McBride

Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical

Ann Roth, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play

Justin Townsend, The Humans

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical

Justin Townsend, American Psycho

Outstanding Projection Design

Finn Ross, American Psycho

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play

Fitz Patton, The Humans

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical

Dan Moses Schreier, American Psycho

Outstanding Wig and Hair

Mia M. Neal, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Solo Performance

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fully Committed

Unique Theatrical Experience

That Physics Show