The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play 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 award was established in 1975, with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design being presented each year to any play or musical production. For 2009, the singular award was replaced by separate play and musical categories, but then merged again from 2010 to 2015; the separate play and musical categories have again co-existed since 2016.
Both Christopher Akerlind and Amith Chandrashaker hold the record for most wins in the category, with two each. For nominations, Isabella Byrd has received the most, with four, followed closely by Chandrashaker and Jiyoun Chang with three nominations each.
Winners and nominees Key
2000s Year Designer Production Ref. 2009 David Hersey Equus Marcus Doshi Hamlet Ben Kato Washing Machine R. Lee Kennedy Bury the Dead Paul Pyant The Winter's Tale Hugh Vanstone Mary Stuart
2010s Year Designer Production Ref.2010-2015N/A 2016 Justin Townsend The Humans |rowspan=5| |- | Neil Austin | Hughie |- | Mark Barton | John |- | Bradley King | Empanada Loca |- | Tyler Micoleau | Antlia Pneumatica |- ! rowspan="7" |2017 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" |Christopher Akerlind|Indecent |rowspan=6| |- |James Farncombe |The Tempest |- |Rick Fisher |The Judas Kiss |- |Mimi Jordan Sherin |The Hairy Ape |- |Stephen Strawbridge |"Master Harold"...and the Boys |- |Justin Townsend |The Little Foxes |- ! rowspan="6" |2018 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" |Neil Austin|Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |rowspan=5| |- |Natasha Chivers |1984 |- |Alan C. Edwards |Kill Move Paradise |- |Paul Gallo |Three Tall Women |- |Paul Russell |Farinelli and the King |- ! rowspan="7" |2019 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" |Amith Chandrashaker|Boesman and LenaAmith ChandrashakerFairviewJiyoun ChangSlave PlayJon ClarkThe JungleSimon ClevelandSpacemanYi ZhaoThe House That Will Not Stand
2020s Year Designer Production Ref. 2020 Heather Gilbert The Sound Inside Isabella Byrd Heroes of the Fourth Turning Oona Curley Dr. Ride's American Beach House Mimi Jordan Sherin Judgment Day Yi Zhao Greater Clements 2021 colspan="2" 2022 Christopher Akerlind Clyde's Amith Chandrashaker Prayer for the French Republic Reza Behjat English Isabella Byrd Sanctuary CityJeanette Oi-Suk YewCullud Wattah2023Natasha Chivers & Willie WilliamsPrima FacieIsabella ByrdEpiphanyJiyoun ChangThe Far CountryAllen Lee HughesOhio State MurdersCha SeeOn That Day in AmsterdamJaphy WeidemanAugust Wilson's The Piano Lesson2024Jane CoxAppropriateStacey DerosierUncle VanyaJiyoun ChangThe Far CountryNatasha KatzGrey HouseLizzie PowellMacbeth (an undoing)Eric SouthernSwing State2025Jon ClarkStranger Things: The First Shadow Isabella ByrdGlass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp.Natasha KatzJohn Proctor Is the VillainTyler MicoleauThe AntiquitiesPaul WhitakerSUMO2026Jack KnowlesDeath of a SalesmanIsabella ByrdPrince FaggotJeff CroiterThe Adding MachineStacy DerosierWell, I'll Let You GoKate McGeewithout mirrorsStudio LunaMarcel on the Train
Multiple wins 2 wins Christopher Akerlind Amith Chandrashaker
Multiple nominations 5 nominations Isabella Byrd
3 nominations Amith Chandrashaker Jiyoun Chang
2 nominations Justin Townsend Neil Austin Tyler Micoleau Christopher Akerlind Mimi Jordan Sherin Natasha Chivers Natasha Katz
See also Laurence Olivier Award for Best Lighting Design Tony Award for Best Lighting Design Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lighting Design Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lighting Design
References
External links