The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography 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.
Kathleen Marshall, Susan Stroman and Tommy Tune have won the most awards in the category, with four wins each, followed closely by Michael Bennett and Bob Fosse, with three wins each. Susan Stroman also holds the record for most nominations in the category, with twelve, followed by Warren Carlyle with eight.
Winners and nominees Key
1960s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 1969 Grover Dale Billy
1970s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 1970 Ron Field Applause | |- ! rowspan="3"| 1971 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Michael Bennett| Follies |rowspan=2| |- |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Donald Saddler| No, No, Nanette |- ! rowspan="3"| 1972 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Patricia Birch| Grease |rowspan=2| |- |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Jean Erdman| Two Gentlemen of Verona |- ! rowspan="2"| 1973 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Bob Fosse| Pippin | |- ! rowspan="2" align="center"| 1974 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Patricia Birch| Candide 1975 George Faison The Wiz Dennis Denehy The Lieutenant Roger Morgan Saturday, Sun, Moon Donald Saddler Good News Margo Sappington Where's Charley? 1976 Michael Bennett A Chorus Line Patricia Birch Pacific Overtures Donald Saddler The Robber Bridegroom Billy Wilson Bubbling Brown Sugar 1977 Peter Gennaro Annie Patricia Birch Music Is Dan Siretta Going Up 1978 Bob Fosse Dancin' Arthur Faria Ain't Misbehavin' Geoffrey Holder Timbuktu! Tommy Tune The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 1979 Bob Avian and Michael Bennett Ballroom Larry Fuller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Henry LeTang and Billy Wilson Eubie! Dan Siretta Tip-Toes
1980s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 1980 Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine Larry Fuller Evita Mary Kyte Tintypes Joe Layton Barnum 1981 Gower Champion 42nd Street Graciela Daniele The Pirates of Penzance 1982 colspan="3" 1983 Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh My One and Only Peter Martins and Donald Saddler On Your Toes 1984, 1985 colspan=32" 1986 Bob Fosse Big Deal Gene Kelly and Twyla Tharp Singin' in the Rain Peter Martins Song and Dance 1987 colspan="3" 1988 Michael Smuin Anything Goes Grover Dale Mail Gillian Lynne The Phantom of the Opera 1989 colspan="3"
1990s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 1990 Tommy Tune Grand Hotel | |- ! rowspan="5"| 1991 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Tommy Tune| The Will Rogers Follies |rowspan=4| |- | Michael Lichtefeld | The Secret Garden |- | Dan Siretta | Oh, Kay! |- | Susan Stroman | And the World Goes 'Round |- ! rowspan="4"| 1992 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Susan Stroman| Crazy for You |rowspan=3| |- | Hope Clarke, Gregory Hines and Ted L. Levy | Jelly's Last Jam |- | Christopher Chadman | Guys and Dolls |- ! rowspan="5"| 1993 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Wayne Cilento| The Who's Tommy Michael Leeds Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! Niarupama Nityanandan, Catherine Schaub and Simon Abkarian Les Atrides Luis Stazo Tango Pasion 1994 Jane Elliott and Kenneth MacMillan Carousel Jeff Calhoun Grease Graciela Daniele Hello Again Rob Marshall She Loves Me Matt West Beauty and the Beast 1995 colspan="3" 1996 Savion Glover Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Graciela Daniele Chronicle of a Death Foretold Ghettoriginal Productions Jam on the Groove Kathleen Marshall Swinging on a Star Susan Stroman Big: the musical 1997 Ann Reinking Chicago Dein Perry Tap Dogs Susan Stroman Steel Pier 1998 Garth Fagan The Lion King Graciela Daniele Ragtime The Forever Tango Dancers Luis Bravo's Forever Tango Rob Marshall Cabaret 1999 Matthew Bourne Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake Patricia Birch Parade Rob Marshall Little Me
2000s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 2000 Susan Stroman Contact Jody Abrahams and Loukmaan Adams Kat and the Kings Mark Dendy The Wild Party Kathleen Marshall Kiss Me, Kate Susan Stroman The Music Man Lynne Taylor-Corbett Swing! 2001 Susan Stroman The Producers John Carrafa Urinetown Jerry Mitchell The Full Monty The Rocky Horror Show Randy Skinner 42nd Street 2002 Susan Stroman Oklahoma! Rob Ashford Thoroughly Modern Millie Christopher Wheeldon Sweet Smell of Success 2003 Twyla Tharp Movin' Out Jerry Mitchell Hairspray Ken Roberson Harlem Song Tommy Tune Tommy Tune: White Tie and Tails 2004 Kathleen Marshall Wonderful Town Stephen Hues Ramayana 2K3 Jerry Mitchell Never Gonna Dance Anthony Van Laast and Farah Khan Bombay Dreams 2005 Jerry Mitchell La Cage aux Folles Matthew Bourne Play Without Words Christopher Gattelli Altar Boyz Barry McNabb Sailor's Song Jerry Mitchell Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Casey Nicholaw Monty Python's Spamalot 2006 Kathleen Marshall The Pajama Game Rob Ashford The Wedding Singer Angela Chang Golden Dragon Acrobats Graciela Daniele Bernarda Alba Casey Nicholaw The Drowsy Chaperone Sergio Trujillo Jersey Boys 2007 Andy Blankenbuehler In the Heights Patricia Birch LoveMusik Matthew Bourne Edward Scissorhands Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear Mary Poppins Bill T. Jones Spring Awakening Jerry Mitchell Legally Blonde 2008 Rob Ashford Cry-Baby Karole Armitage Passing Strange Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider Traces Dan Knechtges Xanadu Peter Pucci Queens Boulevard: The Musical Susan Stroman Young Frankenstein 2009 Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical Karole Armitage Hair Andy Blankenbuehler 9 to 5 Bill T. Jones Fela! Randy Skinner Irving Berlin's White Christmas Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Shonn Wiley My Vaudeville Man!
2010s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 2010 Twyla Tharp Come Fly Away |rowspan=6| |- | Warren Carlyle | Finian's Rainbow |- | Marcia Milgrom Dodge | Ragtime |- | Lynne Page | La Cage aux Folles |- | Susan Stroman | The Scottsboro Boys |- | Sergio Trujillo | Memphis |- ! rowspan="7"| 2011 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Kathleen Marshall| Anything Goes |align=center rowspan=6| |- | Rob Ashford | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying |- | Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett | Beautiful Burnout |- | Steven Hoggett | Peter and the Starcatchers |- | Casey Nicholaw | The Book of Mormon |- | Siudy | Between Worlds |- ! rowspan="7"| 2012 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Christopher Gattelli| Newsies |align=center rowspan=6| |- | Rob Ashford | Evita |- | Warren Carlyle | Follies |- | Breandan de Gallal | Noctu |- | Kathleen Marshall | Nice Work If You Can Get It |- | Sergio Trujillo | Leap of Faith |- ! rowspan="7"| 2013 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Chet Walker and Gypsy Snider| Pippin |rowspan=6| |- | Andy Blankenbuehler | Bring It On: The Musical |- | Warren Carlyle | A Christmas Story: The Musical |- | Peter Darling | Matilda the Musical |- | Josh Rhodes | Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella |- | Sergio Trujillo | Hands on a Hardbody |- ! rowspan="7"| 2014 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Warren Carlyle| After Midnight |align=center rowspan=6| |- | Steven Hoggett and Kelly Devine | Rocky the Musical |- | Danny Mefford | Love's Labour's Lost |- | Casey Nicholaw | Aladdin |- | Susan Stroman | Bullets Over Broadway |- | Sonya Tayeh | Kung Fu |- ! rowspan="7"| 2015 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Christopher Wheeldon| An American in Paris |rowspan=6| |- | Joshua Bergasse | On the Town |- | Warren Carlyle | On the Twentieth Century |- | Steven Hoggett | The Last Ship |- | Austin McCormick | Rococo Rouge |- | Casey Nicholaw | Something Rotten! |- ! rowspan="6"| 2016 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Savion Glover| Shuffle Along |rowspan=5| |- | Joshua Bergasse | Cagney |- | Spencer Liff | Spring Awakening |- | Lynne Page | American Psycho |- | Randy Skinner | Dames at Sea |- ! rowspan="6" |2017 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" |Andy Blankenbuehler|Bandstand |rowspan=5| |- |Warren Carlyle |Hello, Dolly! |- |Aletta Collins |The Hairy Ape |- |Kelly Devine |Come from Away |- |Denis Jones |Holiday Inn |- ! rowspan="6" |2018 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" |Justin Peck|CarouselCamille A. BrownOnce on This IslandChristopher GattelliSpongeBob SquarePants Casey NicholawMean Girls Nejla Y. YatkinThe Boy Who Danced on Air2019Warren CarlyleKiss Me, Kate Camille A. BrownChoir Boy Denis JonesTootsie Lorin LatarroTwelfth NightRick and Jeff KupermanAlice by HeartDavid NeumannHadestown
2020s Year Choreographer Production Ref. 2020 Sonya Tayeh Moulin Rouge! Camille A. Brown for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker West Side Story Keone Madrid and Mari Madrid Beyond Babel Kathleen Marshall The Unsinkable Molly Brown Travis Wall The Wrong Man 2021 colspan="3" 2022 Bill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman and Jason Oremus, Gelan Lambert and Chloe Davis Paradise Square Ayodele Casel (tap choreography) Funny Girl Carrie-Anne Ingrouille Six Liam Steel Company Christopher Wheeldon, Michael Balderrama (associate), Rich + Tone Talauega (Michael Jackson movement) MJ2023Casey NicholawSome Like It HotAndy BlankenbuehlerOnly GoldTislarm Bouiethe bandaged placeEdgar GodineauxThe Harder They ComeSusan StromanNew York, New YorkJenifer WeberKPOP2024Justin PeckIllinoise Camille A. Brown Hell's Kitchen Graciela Daniele and Alex Sanchez The Gardens of Anuncia Jeff Kuperman and Rick Kuperman The Outsiders Lorin Latarro The Heart of Rock and Roll Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll Water for Elephants 2025 Jerry Mitchell Boop! The Musical Camille A. Brown Gypsy Warren Carlyle Pirates! The Penzance Musical Jacob Karr Ain't Done Bad Arturo Lyons and Omari WilesCats: The Jellicle Ball Sergio TrujilloReal Women Have Curves2026(tie)Christopher GattelliSchmigadoon!Omari Wiles and Arturo LyonsCats: The Jellicle BallEdgar Godineaux and Jared GrimesLights Out: Nat “King” ColeNatalie Malotke, Jonathan Platero and Oksana PlateroBlood/LoveToran X. MooreTry/Step/TripLauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree GrantThe Lost Boys
Statistics Multiple wins
4 wins Kathleen Marshall Susan Stroman Tommy Tune
3 wins Michael Bennett Bob Fosse
2 wins Patricia Birch Andy Blankenbuehler Warren Carlyle Savion Glover Justin Peck Twyla Tharp Thommie Walsh Jerry Mitchell
Multiple nominations 12 nominations Susan Stroman
8 nominations Warren Carlyle
7 nominations Kathleen Marshall Jerry Mitchell Casey Nicholaw
6 nominations Tommy Tune Patricia Birch Graciela Daniele
5 nominations Andy Blankenbuehler Rob Ashford Sergio Trujillo Camille A. Brown
4 nominations Steven Hoggett Donald Saddler Matthew Bourne Christopher Gattelli
3 nominations Michael Bennett Bob Fosse Twyla Tharp Rob Marshall Christopher Wheeldon Randy Skinner Dan Siretta
2 nominations Savion Glover Justin Peck Thommie Walsh Peter Darling Lorin Latarro Kelly Devine Sonya Tayeh Karole Armitage Grover Dale Peter Martins Lynne Taylor-Corbett
See also Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer Tony Award for Best Choreography Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreographer
References