In a virtual ceremony tonight, streaming via the interactive Hall of rewards platform, the 2021 Drama League Award – the oldest national theatrical distinction, inaugurated in 1922, then formalized in 1935 – continued its historic tradition of celebrating the theater’s exceptional achievements, with the recognition of its 87and annual award recipients.
In the final year of the COVID-19 shutdown of live in-person performances, the long-running awards have been modified to reflect the theater community’s response amid the pandemic, with five unique new categories honoring innovative achievement in Digital and Social Distancing Productions which premiered between March 12, 2020 and March 15, 2021. In addition to the competitive categories, the Drama League also presented its annual Special Honors and First Gratitude Award.
The 45-minute presentation began with opening remarks from executive directors Gabriel Stelian-Shanks and Bevin Ross. Among the stars appearing on the stream were Gloria, Emilio and Emily Estefan, as well as the previous evening announcement winners Iris Smith (the Gratitude Award), Liesl Tommy (The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing), Richard and Demi Weitz (Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre) and representatives from The Actors Fund (Unique Contribution to Theater Award).
And the winners are:
OUTSTANDING DIGITAL THEATRE, INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTION
The Great Work Begins: Scenes of Angels in Americawritten by Tony Kushner, directed by Ellie Heyman, presented by amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research);
THEATER, COLLECTION OR EXCEPTIONAL DIGITAL FESTIVAL
Theater in quarantinecreated by founder Joshua William Gelb (New York, NY) and Katie Rose McLaughlin (New York, NY);
EXCEPTIONAL INTERACTIVE OR REMOTE THEATER
7 Deadly Sinswritten by Hilary Bettis, Nilo Cruz, Moisés Kaufman, Rogelio Martinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Carmen Pelaez and Aurin Squire, designed and directed by Michel Hausmann, Miami New Drama (Miami Beach, FL);
BEST CINEMA AUDIO PRODUCTION
Chonburi International Hotel and Butterfly Clubwritten by Shakina Nayfack, directed by Laura Savia, Williamstown Theater Festival (Williamstown, MA) and Audible;
OUTSTANDING DIGITAL CONCERT PRODUCTION
Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90and Birthday partymusic and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, produced by Stephen Sondheim, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Bill Curran, Raúl Esparza, John Gore and Paul Wontorek, directed by Paul Wontorek, to benefit ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty), presented by broadway.com.
Congratulations to all the recipients, winners and nominees, and thank you all for keeping us connected to the theater throughout this very trying year.
