Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was one of eight new acting awards first presented in 1975, when Drama Desk retired an earlier award that had made no distinction between work in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses, nor between lead performers and featured performers.
After the 2022 ceremony, all eight acting categories introduced in 1975 were retired. The award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, along with Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, were replaced in 2023 with the gender neutral category of Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical. Winners and nominees Key
1970s Year Actress Musical Character 1975 Donna Theodore Shenandoah Ann Anderson Boni Enten The Rocky Horror Show Columbia Kelly Garrett The Night That Made America Famous Various Characters Mabel King The Wiz Evillene Bonnie Langford Gypsy Baby June Penelope Milford Shenandoah Jenny Anderson 1976 Vivian Reed Bubbling Brown Sugar Marsha / Young Irene Travis Hudson Very Good Eddie Madame Matroppo Mary Lou Rosato The Robber Bridegroom Salome 1977 Dorothy Loudon Annie Miss Hannigan Delores Ivory Davis Porgy and Bess Serena Ernestine Jackson Guys and Dolls Sarah Brown Barbara Lang The Robber Bridegroom Salome Rita Moreno She Loves Me Ilona Ritter 1978 Swoosie Kurtz A History of the American Film Bette Bobo Lewis Working Rose / Grace / Fran / Lucille Pamela Blair The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Amber Lenora Nemetz Working Babe / Terry / Delores 1979 Merle Louise Sweeney Todd Lucy Barker / The Beggar Woman Patricia Drylie Ballroom Angie Lynnie Godfrey Eubie! Various Characters Grace Keagy Carmelina Rosa Lisa Mordente Platinum Crystal Mason
1980s Year Actress Musical Character 1980 Debbie Allen West Side Story Anita Peggy Hewett A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine Mrs. Pavlenko Carolyn Mignini Tintypes Performer Janie Sell God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Sylvia Rosewater Crissy Wilzak The 1940's Radio Hour Ginger Brooks Mary Catherine Wright Tintypes Performer 1981 Marilyn Cooper Woman of the Year Jan Donovan Jennifer Holliday Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Performer Debbie Shapiro Perfectly Frank Performer 1982 Liliane Montevecchi Nine Liliane La Fleur Anita Morris Carla Albanese Laurie Beechman Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Narrator Shelly Burch Nine Claudia Lonette McKee The First Rachel 1983 Karla Burns Show Boat Queenie Rebecca Wright Merlin Philomena Michele-Denise Woods The Cradle Will Rock Ella Hammer 1984 Catherine Cox Baby Pam Sakarian Lila Kedrova Zorba Madame Hortense Laura Dean Doonesbury Boopsie Bonnie Koloc The Human Comedy Kate Marni Nixon Taking My Turn Edna 1985 Leilani Jones Grind Satin Sharon Murray Grind Romaine Marianne Tatum The Three Musketeers Milady de Winter Charlayne Woodard Hang on to the Good Times Performer 1986 Jana Schneider The Mystery of Edwin Drood Helena Landless / Janet Conover Desiree Colman Big Deal Phoebe Faye Grant Singin' in the Rain LinaKathryn McAteerMayorPerformer Bebe Neuwirth Sweet Charity Nickie 1987 Jane Summerhays Me and My Girl Jaqueline 'Jackie' Carstone Michele Bautier Stardust Performer Sandra Chinn Funny Feet Various Characters Judy Kuhn Rags Bella Cohen Les Misérables Cosette Marcia Lewis Rags Rachel Halpern 1988 Joanna Gleason Into the Woods The Baker's Wife Danielle Ferland Into the Woods Little Red Ridinghood Lyn Greene Flora the Red Menace Comrade Charlotte Judy Kaye The Phantom of the Opera Carlotta 1989
1990s Year Actress Musical Character 1990 Randy Graff City of Angels Oolie / Donna Danielle Du Clos Aspects of Love Jenny Dillingham Jane Krakowski Grand Hotel Freida Flamm / Flaemmchen Crista Moore Gypsy Louise 1991 Karen Ziemba And the World Goes 'Round Various Characters Alison Fraser The Secret Garden Martha Sowerby Rebecca Luker The Secret Garden Lily Regina Resnik A Little Night Music Madame Armfeldt 1992 Tonya Pinkins Jelly's Last Jam Anita Liz Larsen The Most Happy Fella Cleo Michele Pawk Crazy for You Irene Roth Barbara Walsh Falsettos Trina 1993 Andrea Martin My Favorite Year Alice Miller Julie Andrews Putting It Together Amy Tovah Feldshuh Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! Various Characters Karen Mason Carnival! Rosalie Rachel York Putting It Together The Younger Woman 1994 Audra McDonald Carousel Carrie Pipperidge Judy Blazer Hello Again The Nurse Sally Mayes She Loves Me Ilona Ritter Donna Murphy Hello Again The Whore Alene Robertson Annie Warbucks Commissioner Harriet Doyle 1995No award given. 1996 Rachel York Victor/Victoria Norma Cassidy Veanne Cox Company Amy Kathy Fitzgerald Swinging on a Star Various Characters Donna McKechnie State Fair Emily Arden Christine Pedi Forbidden Hollywood Various Characters 1997 Lillias White The Life Sonja Marcia Lewis Chicago Matron "Mama" Morton Andrea Martin Candide Old Lady Debra Monk Steel Pier Shelby Stevens Jennifer Simard I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Woman #1 Ruth Williamson The Green Heart Mrs. Tragger 1998 Tsidii Le Loka The Lion King Rafiki Betty Buckley Triumph of Love Hesione Lea DeLaria On the Town Hildy Esterhazy Anna Kendrick High Society Dinah Lord Ednita Nazario The Capeman Esmeralda Agrón Michele Pawk Cabaret Fraulein Kost 1999 Kristin Chenoweth You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Sally Brown Gretha Boston It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Various Characters Cheryl Freeman The Civil War Bessie Toler Penny Fuller A New Brain Mimi Schwinn Jane Lanier Fosse Various Characters Eloise Laws It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Various Characters
2000s Year Actress Musical Character 2000 Karen Ziemba Contact Wife Nancy Anderson Jolson and Co. Mae West Sally Ann Howes James Joyce's The Dead Aunt Julia Morkan Eartha Kitt The Wild Party Dolores Alix Korey The Wild Party Madelaine True Idina Menzel Kate 2001 Cady Huffman The Producers Ulla Swanson Polly Bergen Follies Carlotta Campion Kathleen Freeman The Full Monty Jeanette Burmeister Randy Graff A Class Act Sophie Spencer Kayden Urinetown Little Sally Janine LaManna Seussical Gertrude McFuzz 2002 Harriet Harris Thoroughly Modern Millie Mrs. Meers Liz Callaway The Spitfire Grill Shelby Judy Kaye Mamma Mia! Rosie Mulligan Andrea Martin Oklahoma! Aunt Eller Karen Mason Mamma Mia! Tanya Chesham-Leigh Kerry O'Malley Into the Woods The Baker's Wife 2003 Jane Krakowski Nine Carla Albanese Kerry Butler Hairspray Penny Pingleton Mary Stuart Masterson Nine Luisa Contini Sally Mayes Urban Cowboy Aunt Corene Chita Rivera Nine Lillane La Fleur Debra Walton Cookin' at the Cookery Young Alberta Hunter 2004 Isabel Keating The Boy from Oz Judy Garland Lovette George The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) Various Characters Alix Korey Listen to My Heart Various Characters Anika Noni Rose Caroline, or Change Emmie Thibodeaux Jennifer Simard The Thing About Men Woman Mary Testa First Lady Suite Lorena Hickock 2005 Jan Maxwell Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Baroness Bomburst Joanna Gleason Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Muriel Kecia Lewis Dessa Rose Dorcas Maureen McGovern Little Women Marmee Jennifer Simard Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit Various Characters Sarah Uriarte Berry The Light in the Piazza Franca Naccarelli 2006 Beth Leavel The Drowsy Chaperone Beatrice Stockwell Carolee Carmello Lestat Gabrielle Leslie Kritzer The Great American Trailer Park Musical Pickles Amy Spanger The Wedding Singer Holly Mary Testa See What I Wanna See Aunt Monica Mary Louise Wilson Grey Gardens Edith Bouvier Beale 2007 Debra Monk Curtains Carmen Bernstein Linda Balgord The Pirate Queen Queen Elizabeth I Celia Keenan-Bolger Les Misérables Éponine Orfeh Legally Blonde Paulette Barbara Walsh Company Joanne Karen Ziemba Curtains Georgia Hendricks 2008 Laura Benanti Gypsy Louise Leslie Kritzer A Catered Affair Jane Hurley Andrea Martin Young Frankenstein Frau Blucher Mary Testa Xanadu Melpomene / Medusa Amy Warren Adding Machine Daisy Devore Mare Winningham 10 Million Miles Various Characters 2009 Haydn Gwynne Billy Elliot the Musical Mrs. Wilkinson Farah Alvin The Marvelous Wonderettes Missy Christina Bianco Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab Various Characters Karen Olivo West Side Story Anita Nancy Opel The Toxic Avenger Mayor Martha Plimpton Pal Joey Gladys Bumps
2010s Year Actress Musical Character 2010 Katie Finneran Promises, Promises Marge MacDougall Carolee Carmello The Addams Family Alice Beineke Carrie Cimma Lizzie Borden Bridget Sullivan Angela Lansbury A Little Night Music Madame Armfeldt Kenita R. Miller Langston in Harlem Zora Neale Hurston Terri White Finian's Rainbow Dottie 2011 Laura Benanti Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Candela Kerry Butler Catch Me If You Can Brenda Strong Victoria Clark Sister Act Mother Superior Jill Eikenberry The Kid Judith Savage Nikki M. James The Book of Mormon Nabalungi Hatimbi Patti LuPone Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Lucia Laura Osnes Anything Goes Hope Harcourt 2012 Judy Kaye Nice Work If You Can Get It Estonia Dulworth Marin Mazzie Carrie Margaret White Jessie Mueller On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Melinda Wells Elaine Paige Follies Carlotta Campion Sarah Sokolovic The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World Betty Wiggin Melissa van der Schyff Bonnie & Clyde Blanche Barrow 2013 Andrea Martin Pippin Berthe Annaleigh Ashford Kinky Boots Lauren Melissa Errico Passion Clara Jessie Mueller The Mystery of Edwin Drood Helena Landless / Miss Janet Conover Christiane Noll Chaplin: The Musical Hannah Chaplin Keala Settle Hands on a Hardbody Norma Valverde Kate Wetherhead The Other Josh Cohen Various Characters 2014 Anika Larsen Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Cynthia Weil Lauren Worsham A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Phoebe D'Ysquith Stephanie J. Block Little Miss Sunshine Sheryl Hoover Adriane Lenox After Midnight Various Characters Sydney Lucas Fun Home Small Alison Bechdel Laura Osnes The Threepenny Opera Polly PeachumJennifer Simard Disaster! Sister Mary Downy 2015 Renée Elise Goldsberry Hamilton Angelica Schuyler Carolee Carmello Finding Neverland Emma Wightwick du Maurier Tyne Daly It Shoulda Been You Judy Steinberg Elizabeth A. Davis Allegro Jenny Brinker Luba Mason Pretty Filthy Georgina Congress Nancy Opel Honeymoon in Vegas Bea SingerElizabeth Stanley On the Town Claire De Loone 2016 Jane Krakowski She Loves Me Ilona Ritter Danielle Brooks The Color Purple Sofia Johnson Alison Fraser First Daughter Suite Betty Ford / Nancy Reagan Rachel Bay Jones Dear Evan Hansen Heidi Hansen Mary Testa First Daughter Suite Barbara Bush2017Jenn ColellaCome from AwayAnnette, Beverly Bass, and others Kate BaldwinHello, Dolly!Irene Molloy Stephanie J. BlockFalsettosTrina Mary Beth PeilAnastasiaDowager Empress Maria Feodorovna Nora SchellSpamiltonVarious Characters2018Lindsay MendezCarouselCarrie Pipperidge Kenita R. MillerOnce On This IslandMama EuralieAshley ParkMean GirlsGretchen Weiners Diana RiggMy Fair LadyMrs. Higgins Kate RockwellMean GirlsKaren Smith2019Ali StrokerRodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!Ado Annie Carnes Stephanie HsuBe More ChillChristine CanigulaLeslie KritzerBeetlejuiceDelia Deetz / Miss ArgentinaSoara-Joye RossCarmen JonesFrankieSarah StilesTootsieSandy Lester Mary TestaRodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!Aunt Eller
2020s Year Actress Musical Character 2020 Lauren Patten Jagged Little Pill Jo Yesenia Ayala West Side Story Anita Paula Leggett Chase The Unsinkable Molly Brown Ensemble LaChanze The Secret Life of Bees August Alyse Alan Louis Soft Power Zoe/Hillary 2021 colspan="3" 2022 Patti LuPone Company Joanne Judy Kuhn Assassins Sara Jane Moore Tamika Lawrence Black No More Buni Bonnie Milligan Kimberly Akimbo Debra Jennifer Simard Company Sarah
Multiple Wins 2 wins Laura Benanti Jane Krakowski Andrea Martin Karen Ziemba
Multiple Nominations 5 nominations Andrea Martin Mary Testa Jennifer Simard