The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical is 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 awards were established in 1955, with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director being presented each year to a director from any play or musical production. Starting in 1975, the singular director's award was replaced by separate play and musical categories.
Harold Prince holds the record for most wins in the category, with four, followed closely by Tommy Tune and Michael Mayer with three wins each. Prince is also tied with John Doyle for the most nominations in the category, both with eight.
Winners and nominees Key
1970s Year Director Production 1975 Arthur Laurents Gypsy |- | Geoffrey Holder | The Wiz |- | Sue Lawless | In Gay Company |- | William Martin | The Lieutenant |- | Joel Zwick | Dance with Me |- ! rowspan="6" align="center"| 1976 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Michael Bennett| A Chorus Line |- | Jerry Adler | My Fair Lady |- | Richard Foreman | The Threepenny Opera |- | Gerald Freedman | The Robber Bridegroom |- | Harold Prince | Pacific Overtures |- ! rowspan="6" align="center"| 1977 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Martin Charnin| Annie |- | Gerald Freedman | The Robber Bridegroom |- | Jack O'Brien | Porgy and Bess |- | Gene Saks | I Love My Wife |- | Tommy Tune | The Club |- ! rowspan="4" align="center"| 1978 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Stephen Schwartz Working Elizabeth Swados Runaways 1979 Harold Prince Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Michael Bennett Ballroom
1980s Year Director Production 1980 Harold Prince Evita |- | Walton Jones | 1940's Radio Hour |- | Joe Layton | Barnum |- | Gary Pearle | Tintypes |- ! rowspan="3" align="center"| 1981 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Wilford Leach| The Pirates of Penzance |- | Arthur Faria | Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music |- ! rowspan="4" align="center"| 1982 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Tommy Tune| Nine |- | Michael Bennett | Dreamgirls |- | Tony Tanner | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |- ! rowspan="3" align="center"| 1983 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | George Abbott| On Your Toes Howard Ashman Little Shop of Horrors 1984 James Lapine Sunday in the Park with George A.J. Antoon The Rink Jacques Levy Doonesbury 1985 colspan="2" 1986 Wilford Leach The Mystery of Edwin Drood Andre Ernotte Goblin Market Bob Fosse Big Deal Sweet Charity Paul Lazarus Personals 1987 Mike Ockrent Me and My Girl Barry Harman Olympus on My Mind 1988 Harold Prince The Phantom of the Opera James Lapine Into the Woods Harold Prince Cabaret Jerry Zaks Anything Goes 1989 colspan="2"
1990s Year Director Production 1990 Tommy Tune Grand Hotel |- | Michael Blakemore | City of Angels |- | James Hammerstein | The Sound of Music |- ! rowspan="6" align="center"| 1991 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | rowspan="2"| Scott Ellis| And the World Goes 'Round A Little Night Music Lisa Peterson The Waves Susan H. Schulman The Secret Garden Jerry Zaks Assassins 1992 Jerry Zaks Guys and Dolls Gerald Gutierrez The Most Happy Fella Mike Ockrent Crazy for You George C. Wolfe Jelly's Last Jam 1993 Des McAnuff The Who's Tommy Michael Leeds Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh Michael Maggio Wings Joel Paley Ruthless! 1994 Nicholas Hytner Carousel Graciela Daniele Hello Again Scott Ellis She Loves Me Andre Gilbert Ernotte Christina Alberta's Father James Lapine Passion 1995 Harold Prince Show Boat Christopher Ashley Das Barbecü Michael Mayer America Dreaming Trevor Nunn Sunset Boulevard 1996 Christopher Renshaw The King and I Graciela Daniele Chronicle of a Death Foretold Andre Gilbert Ernotte Bed and Sofa Michael Greif Rent Tina Landau Floyd Collins George C. Wolfe Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk 1997 Walter Bobbie Chicago Michael Blakemore The Life Scott Ellis Steel Pier Susan H. Schulman Violet Mark Waldrop Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly 1998 Julie Taymor The Lion King Scott Ellis 1776 Frank Galati Ragtime Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall Cabaret 1999 Matthew Bourne Swan Lake Graciela Daniele A New Brain Richard Maltby, Jr. and Ann Reinking Fosse Michael Mayer You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Harold Prince Parade
2000s Year Director Production 2000 Michael Blakemore Kiss Me, Kate |- |Gabriel Barre | The Wild Party |- | rowspan="2"| Susan Stroman | Contact |- | The Music Man |- ! rowspan="7" align="center"| 2001 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Susan Stroman| The Producers |- | Christopher Ashley | The Rocky Horror Show |- | Wilfredo Medina | The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin |- | Jack O'Brien | The Full Monty |- | John Rando | Urinetown |- | Scott Schwartz | Bat Boy: The Musical |- ! rowspan="7" align="center"| 2002 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Michael Mayer| Thoroughly Modern Millie |- | Nicholas Hytner | Sweet Smell of Success |- | James Lapine | Into the Woods |- | Trevor Nunn | Oklahoma! |- | Scott Schwartz | Tick, Tick... Boom! |- | George C. Wolfe | Elaine Stritch: At Liberty |- ! rowspan="7" align="center"| 2003 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Jack O'Brien| Hairspray |- | James Lapine | Amour |- | David Leveaux | Nine |- | Baz Luhrmann | La bohème |- | Joe Mantello | A Man of No Importance |- | Twyla Tharp | Movin' Out |- ! rowspan="7" align="center"| 2004 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Joe Mantello| Wicked Jeff Calhoun Big River Pamela Hunt The Musical of Musicals: The Musical Joe Mantello Assassins Kathleen Marshall Wonderful Town George C. Wolfe Caroline, or Change 2005 James Lapine The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Matthew Bourne Play Without Words Jack Cummings III The Audience Mark Dornford-May The Mysteries Mike Nichols Spamalot Bartlett Sher The Light in the Piazza 2006 John Doyle Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Michael Greif Grey Gardens Daniel Finzi Pasca Rain Des McAnuff Jersey Boys Casey Nicholaw The Drowsy Chaperone Kathleen Marshall The Pajama Game 2007 Michael Mayer Spring Awakening John Doyle Company Thomas Kail In the Heights Jerry Mitchell Legally Blonde Harold Prince LoveMusik Alex Timbers Gutenberg! The Musical! 2008 Bartlett Sher South Pacific Christopher Ashley Xanadu Sam Buntrock Sunday in the Park with George David Cromer Adding Machine John Doyle A Catered Affair Bob McGrath The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island 2009 Stephen Daldry Billy Elliot the Musical Walter Bobbie Irving Berlin's White Christmas Joe Mantello 9 to 5 Jason Moore Shrek the Musical Diane Paulus Hair Stuart Ross Enter Laughing the Musical
2010s Year Director Production 2010 Michael Mayer American Idiot Warren Carlyle Finian's Rainbow Marcia Milgrom Dodge Ragtime Igor Goldin Yank! Terry Johnson La Cage aux Folles Susan Stroman The Scottsboro Boys 2011 Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker The Book of Mormon |- | Rob Ashford | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying |- | Joe Calarco | In Transit |- | rowspan="2"| Jack Cummings III | Hello Again |- | See Rock City & Other Destinations |- | Kathleen Marshall | Anything Goes |- ! rowspan="7"| 2012 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | John Tiffany| Once |- | Christopher Ashley | Leap of Faith |- | Jack Cummings III | Queen of the Mist |- | Doug Hughes | Death Takes a Holiday |- | Kathleen Marshall | Nice Work If You Can Get It |- | Eric Schaeffer | Follies |- ! rowspan="8"| 2013 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Diane Paulus| Pippin |- | Andy Blankenbuehler | Bring It On: The Musical |- |Rachel Chavkin | Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 |- | John Doyle | Passion |- | Emma Rice | The Wild Bride |- | Alex Timbers | Here Lies Love |- | Matthew Warchus | Matilda the Musical |- ! rowspan="7"| 2014 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Darko Tresnjak| A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder |- |Sam Gold | Fun Home |- | Michael Mayer | Hedwig and the Angry Inch |- | Bartlett Sher | The Bridges of Madison County |- | Susan Stroman | Bullets Over Broadway The Musical |- | Alex Timbers | Rocky the Musical |- ! rowspan="7"| 2015 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Thomas Kail| Hamilton |- | Carolyn Cantor | Fly By Night |- | Bill Condon | Side Show |- | John Doyle | The Visit |- | Casey Nicholaw | Something Rotten! |- | Christopher Wheeldon | An American in Paris |- ! rowspan="6"| 2016 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | John Doyle| The Color Purple |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Bartlett Sher| Fiddler on the Roof Michael Arden Spring Awakening Rupert Goold American Psycho Bryna Wasserman and Motl DidnerThe Golden Bride2017Rachel ChavkinNatasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 David CromerThe Band's Visit Christopher AshleyCome from Away Bill BuckhurstSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetJerry ZaksHello, Dolly! 2018Tina LandauSpongeBob SquarePants Christian BarryOld Stock: A Refugee Love StoryTeddy BergmanKPOPJack O'BrienCarouselBartlett SherMy Fair Lady 2019Rachel ChavkinHadestown Noah BrodyMerrily We Roll AlongScott EllisTootsie Daniel FishRodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Joel GreyFiddler on the Roof
2020s Year Director Production 2020 Stephen Brackett A Strange Loop Thomas Kail The Wrong Man Kathleen Marshall The Unsinkable Molly Brown Leigh Silverman Soft Power Annie Tippe Octet 2021 colspan="2" 2022 Marianne Elliott Company John Doyle Assassins Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage Six Bartlett Sher Intimate Apparel Jessica Stone Kimberly Akimbo 2023 Thomas Kail Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Jeff Calhoun Between the Lines John Doyle A Man of No Importance Maria Friedman Merrily We Roll Along Jack O'Brien Shucked2024 Jessica Stone Water for Elephants David Cromer Dead Outlaw Rebecca FrecknallCabaret at the Kit Kat Club Daisy Prince The Connector Danya Taymor The Outsiders 2025 Michael Arden Maybe Happy Ending Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch Cats: "The Jellicle Ball" Jamie Lloyd Sunset Blvd. Jerry Mitchell Boop! The Musical Alex Timbers Just in Time George C. Wolfe Gypsy2026Lear deBessonetRagtimeGordon GreenbergThe Baker's WifeDanny MeffordThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeDavid MendizábalMexodusJosh RhodesBeau the MusicalLeigh SilvermanThe Seat of Our Pants
Multiple wins
4 wins Harold Prince
3 wins Tommy Tune Michael Mayer
2 wins Rachel Chavkin John Doyle Thomas Kail James Lapine Wilford Leach Bartlett Sher
Multiple nominations
8 nominations Harold Prince John Doyle
6 nominations Michael Mayer James Lapine Scott Ellis Bartlett Sher
5 nominations Jack O'Brien George C. Wolfe Kathleen Marshall Christopher Ashley Susan Stroman
4 nominations Tommy Tune Jerry Zaks Joe Mantello Jack Cummings III Thomas Kail Alex Timbers
3 nominations Michael Bennett Andre Ernotte Graciela Daniele Michael Blakemore Casey Nicholaw David Cromer Rachel Chavkin
2 nominations Gerald Freedman Scott Schwartz Walter Bobbie Trevor Nunn Wilford Leach Bob Fosse Mike Ockrent Des McAnuff Nicholas Hytner Susan H. Schulman Tina Landau Michael Greif Matthew Bourne Jeff Calhoun Jerry Mitchell Diane Paulus Michael Arden Jessica Stone
See also Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
References