The New York Drama Critics' Circle has announced that Stereophonic and Dead Outlaw are this year's Best Play and Best Musical award recipients, respectively. The awards, including a $2,500 cash prize for Best Play, will be presented during a private ceremony May 21.
Joint special citations were also awarded to the revivals of Merrily We Roll Along and Purlie Victorious, and actors Maryann Plunkett (The Notebook, Deep Blue Sound) and Jay O. Sanders (Primary Trust, Purlie Victorious) for lifetime achievement. A third special citation was awarded to writer-composer Heather Christian (Terce: A Practical Breviary).
READ: Heather Christian Is Redefining the Musical
Stereophonic, written by David Adjmi and directed by Daniel Aukin, premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in late 2023. A Broadway transfer opened at the Golden Theatre April 19. The work became the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history when nominations were revealed April 30. Stereophonic picked up 13 nods, including for Best Play.
READ: How the Company Cast Recording Documentary Inspired Stereophonic
Dead Outlaw features music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, with a book by Itamar Moses. The musical made its Off-Broadway world premiere beginning March 10 at the Minetta Lane Theatre with David Cromer at the helm. The extended engagement ended April 14.
READ: Dead Outlaw Composer David Yazbek Uses a Dead Body for a Lesson in Living
The New York Drama Critics’ Circle comprises 21 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines, wire services and websites based in the New York metropolitan area. Adam Feldman, theater critic and editor for Time Out New York, has served as the organization's president since 2005. Joe Dziemianowicz serves as vice president, with Zachary Stewart as treasurer.
Members also include David Barbour, David Cote, Vinson Cunningham, Greg Evans, David Finkle, Elysa Gardner, Robert Hofler, Sara Holdren, Charles Isherwood, Chris Jones, Soraya Nadia McDonald, Jackson McHenry, Johnny Oleksinski, Frank Scheck, Helen Shaw, David Sheward, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and Matt Windman. Emeritus members include Melissa Rose Bernardo, Christopher Kelly, Brian Scott Lipton, David Rooney, Michael Sommers, Marilyn Stasio, Steven Suskin, and Linda Winer.
Visit DramaCritics.org.
Earlier today, in a sign that awards season is well underway, both Stereophonic and Dead Outlaw picked up a number of Outer Critics Circle Awards.
