Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City.

Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
Awarded forOutstanding Featured Performance in a Play
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First awarded2023
Currently held by
Websitedramadesk.org (defunct)

From 1955 to 1974, acting awards were given only for lead performances, without making distinctions between roles in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses. From 1975 to 2022, acting awards were presented in eight categories: separate categories by gender; further divided by lead or featured performer; producing four acting awards each for plays and musicals.

In 2023, the Drama Desk organization announced that, starting with that year's awards, the eight acting categories had been retired and replaced with four gender neutral categories with twice the winners and nominees: separate categories by lead or featured performer; producing two acting categories each for plays and musicals.[1] The former awards for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play were merged to create this Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play category.

Nominees

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2020s

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Year Actor Title Character
2023
[2]
Miriam Silverman The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window Mavis Parodus Bryson
Brandon Uranowitz Leopoldstadt Ludwig Jakobovicz / Nathan Fischbein
Emily Bergl Good Night, Oscar June Levant
Danielle Brooks The Piano Lesson Berniece
Amelda Brown Love Barbara
Ray Fisher The Piano Lesson Lymon
K. Todd Freeman Downstate Dee
Francis Guinan Downstate Fred
Nick Holder Love Colin
Arian Moayed A Doll's House Torvald Helmer
Brian Quijada Wolf Play Ryan
Kara Young Cost of Living Jess
2024[3]
Celia Keenan-Bolger Mother Play Martha
Kara Young Purlie Victorious Lutiebell Gussie Mae Jenkins
Brittany Adebumola Jaja's African Hair Braiding Miriam
Marylouise Burke Infinite Life Eileen
Michael Esper Appropriate Franz Lafayette
Marin Ireland Uncle Vanya Sonya
Will Keen Patriots Vladimir Putin
Conrad Ricamora Oh, Mary! Abraham Lincoln
Sheila Tousey Manahatta Mother / Bobbie
Bubba Weiler Swing State Ryan

References

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  1. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 26, 2023). "Drama Desk Awards Go Gender Neutral". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Gordon, David (April 27, 2023). "Shucked, Some Like It Hot Lead 2023 Drama Desk Award Nominations". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards with 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play - Playbill.com". 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-06-13.