Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 06/05/2024
(NEW YORK, NY) -- Presenters have been announced for the 2024 Drama Desk Awards, taking place on Monday, June 10 beginning at 6:15pm at NYU Skirball Center (556 LaGuardia Place). The Drama Desk Awards are Executive Produced by Staci Levine and Jessica R. Jenen.
Presenters include: Laura Benanti (My Fair Lady); Matthew Broderick (The Producers), Montego Glover (Into the Woods), Lena Hall (Hedwig And the Angry Inch), Brian d’Arcy James (Days of Wine and Roses), Nikki M. James (Suffs), James Lapine (Sunday In The Park With George), Debra Messing (“Will and Grace”), Ruthie Ann Miles (Sweeney Todd), Andrew Rannells (Gutenberg! The Musical), Brooke Shields (The Addams Family; Chicago), Miriam Silverman (The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window), and more.
There will also be a special musical tribute by Kelli O’Hara to honor Lincoln Center’s André Bishop, who is receiving the inaugural William Wolf Award, which recognizes achievement, high standards, and innovation, including generosity and “giving back” to the entertainment community.
As previously announced, Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit will host the 2024 Drama Desk Awards. The Tony Award winning actors recently starred together in Sweeney Todd on Broadway. Sutton will soon appear as Princess Winnifred on Broadway in Once Upon a Mattress, reprising her performance from City Center Encores! and Aaron will be making his Café Carlyle debut in June.
Also at this year’s Awards, Nathan Lane will receive the Harold S. Prince Award for Lifetime Achievement.
David Barbour and Charles Wright are the Drama Desk co-presidents.
The Drama Desk Awards are the only major New York City theater awards for which productions on Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off Broadway compete against each other in the same categories.
As was the case last year, all performance categories are gender-free. The updated gender-free categories are: Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, and Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical.
What sets the Drama Desk Awards apart is that they are voted on and bestowed by theater critics, journalists, editors, and publishers covering theater. The Drama Desk Awards honor all aspects of New York’s professional theater.
For those interested in purchasing VIP Orchestra and Parterre seating (which both include the Post-Event After-Party) please CLICK HERE to request tickets.
A very limited number of balcony tickets for the 2024 Drama Desk Awards are also available to the general public. Priced from $99 to $249, balcony tickets can be purchased HERE.
The Drama Desk was founded in 1949 to explore key issues in the theater and to bring together critics and writers in an organization to support the ongoing development of theater in New York. The organization began presenting its awards in 1955, and it is the only critics’ organization to honor achievement in the theater with competition among Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway productions in the same categories.
All Drama Desk officers and nominating committee members perform their various services for the organization on a voluntary basis. The organization takes pride in announcing that the awards are then voted on “by impartial media people only,” without any vested interests in the results. Today, 100 New York theater critics, reporters, writers, and arts editors vote on the awards.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Carteret's Independence Day Festival to feature country star Walker Hayes
(CARTERET, NJ) -- One of New Jersey's most popular Independence Day Festivals will take place in Carteret's Civic Center Park (100 Cooke Avenue) from 6:00pm to midnight on Friday, July 3, 2026 in celebration of America's 250th birthday.
Bergen County presents 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular
(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- County Executive Jim Tedesco, the County Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen 250 Initiative are excited to announce that Bergen County's 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular will return July 4, 2026 at Overpeck County Park. All are invited to attend this patriotic afternoon of family fun which will include live music, children's activities, over 20 food trucks, a beer and wine garden, carnival attractions, and stunning fireworks to conclude the evening over Overpeck Creek.
Washington Crossing Historic Park Launches Community-Wide Call to Support Expanded Independence Day Celebration in America's 250th Anniversary Year
(WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA) -- Washington Crossing Historic Park (WCHP) in Pennsylvania plans to host an expanded Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 4:00pm to 9:30pm featuring immersive living history experiences, family-friendly activities, live music, and the return of fireworks over the Delaware River. Designed as a community-wide celebration of America250, the event is intended to create a meaningful space for residents and visitors to commemorate this historic milestone year. Please note: Admission is required; registration is recommended only for the 4:00pm ‐ 8:00pm Living History Program. The evening concert and fireworks are free and open to the public; no registration is required to attend those portions of the event.
Bergen County's Star-Spangled Spectacular Schedule and Parking Logistics
(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- County Executive Jim Tedesco, the Bergen County Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen 250 Initiative have released parking, transportation, and event information for Bergen County's 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular, taking place Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Overpeck County Park.
Trenton to Celebrate Nation's 250th Birthday with "Heritage Week" Events
(TRENTON, NJ) -- New Jersey's capital city is preparing a monumental celebration to mark America's 250th Birthday, and everyone is invited. "Heritage Week", running from July 3-8, 2026, will feature a multi-cultural parade beginning 11:30am on July 4th with over 50 marching units, including 4 marching bands and 10 floats, as well as circus performers, antique cars and representations of the many cultures and ethnic groups which make up the Trenton community.
Variety Pack Volume 3: The Weirdest, Wildest, Most Unclassifiable Comedy Yet
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- As Philadelphia enters peak summer swamp season, Variety Pack once again offers audiences a cool, chaotic refuge from the heat with five days of genre-breaking live comedy, free popcorn, and yes, free air conditioning.
SOPAC presents Stewart Copeland: Have I Said Too Much? on July 16th
(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stewart Copeland brings his first American spoken-word tour (Have I Said Too Much?) to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:30pm. Copeland is the founding drummer of The Police and one of rock's most inventive forces.
Hallmark Stars Take the Stage at The Carteret PAC on July 22nd during First-Time Multi-City Tour Experience Hallmark Stars Live
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Hallmark and Gershwin Entertainment are proud to announce Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, a new live tour kicking off at URSB Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 7:30pm where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling.
Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, is a new live tour kicking off this summer where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling. The tour comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 7:00pm.
FEATURED EVENTS
