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Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music

Annual musical theatre award

Annual musical theatre award

FieldValue
nameDrama Desk Award
for Outstanding Music
awarded_forOutstanding Music
presenterDrama Desk
locationNew York City
countryUnited States
year1968
holderWill Aronson and Hue Park for *Maybe Happy Ending* (2025)
website

for Outstanding Music The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in musical theatre (distinct from incidental music in plays) across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was originally entitled Best Composer, before being renamed to its current title in 1969. The award is often referred to as Outstanding Score of a Musical.

Winners and nominees

;Key

1960s

YearComposerProductionRef.19681969
**Al Carmines*****In Circles***
**Galt MacDermot*****Hair***
**Al Carmines*****Peace***
**Burt Bacharach*****Promises, Promises***

1970s

YearComposerProductionRef.1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
**Stephen Sondheim*****Company* **
**Kurt Weill*****Mahagonny***
**Stephen Sondheim*****Follies* **
**Galt MacDermot*****Two Gentlemen of Verona* **
**Stephen Sondheim*****A Little Night Music* **
**Al Carmines*****The Faggot***
**Charlie Smalls*****The Wiz* **
Gene Curty, Nitra Scharfman & Chuck Strand*The Lieutenant*
Jerry Herman*Mack and Mabel*
Fred Silver*In Gay Company*
**Marvin Hamlisch*****A Chorus Line* **
Leonard Bernstein*[1600 Pennsylvania Avenue](1600-pennsylvania-avenue-musical)*
Bill Heyer & Hank Beebe*Tuscaloosa's Calling Me*
Stephen Sondheim*Pacific Overtures*
**Cy Coleman*****I Love My Wife* **
Charles Strouse*Annie*
Elizabeth Swados*Nightclub Cantata*
Robert Waldman*The Robber Bridegroom*
**Cy Coleman*****On the Twentieth Century* **
**Carol Hall*****The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas***
Elizabeth Swados*Runaways*
**Stephen Sondheim*****Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* **
Nancy Ford*I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road*
Marvin Hamlisch & Neil Simon*They're Playing Our Song*
Jerome Kass*Ballroom*
Michel Legrand*The Umbrellas of Cherbourg*

1980s

YearComposerProductionRef.1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
**Andrew Lloyd Webber*****Evita* **
Cy Coleman*Barnum*
Elizabeth Swados*Runaways*
colspan="3"
**Maury Yeston*****Nine* **
Stephen Sondheim*Merrily We Roll Along*
Jim Wann*Pump Boys and Dinettes*
**Andrew Lloyd Webber*****Cats* **
Larry Grossman*A Doll's Life*
Gerald Jay Markee*Charlotte Sweet*
Des McAnuff*Death of Von Richthofen*
Alan Menken*Little Shop of Horrors*
**Jerry Herman*****La Cage aux Folles* **
Galt MacDermot*The Human Comedy*
David Shire*Baby*
Stephen Sondheim*Sunday in the Park with George*
**Larry Grossman*****Grind* **
Roger Miller*Big River*
Michael Rupert*3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down*
**Rupert Holmes*****The Mystery of Edwin Drood* **
Polly Pen*Goblin Market*
Charles Strouse*Mayor*
Andrew Lloyd Webber*Song and Dance*
**Noel Gay*****Me and My Girl* **
**Claude-Michel Schönberg*****Les Misérables* **
Nick Bicat*The Knife*
Charles Strouse*Rags*
Andrew Lloyd Webber*Starlight Express*
**Andrew Lloyd Webber*****Phantom of the Opera* **
Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus*Chess*
David Evans*Birds of Paradise*
Hugh Masekela & Mbongeni Ngema*Sarafina!*
Stephen Sondheim*Into the Woods*
colspan="3"

1990s

YearComposerProductionRef.1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
**Cy Coleman*****City of Angels* **
Chet Forrest, Bob Wright & Maury Yeston*Grand Hotel*
Ástor Piazzolla*Dangerous Games*
David Shire*Closer Than Ever*
Andrew Lloyd Webber*Aspects of Love*
**Cy Coleman*****The Will Rogers Follies* **
David Bucknam*The Waves*
William Finn*Falsettoland*
Lucy Simon*The Secret Garden*
Stephen Sondheim*Assassins*
**Erik Frandsen, Michael Garin, Robert Hipkins & Paul Lockheart*****Song of Singapore***
**Marvin Hamlisch*****The Goodbye Girl***
John Kander*Kiss of the Spider Woman*
Jeffrey Lunden*Wings*
**Stephen Sondheim*****Passion* **
Michael John LaChiusa*Hello Again*
Alan Menken*Beauty and the Beast*
Polly Pen*Christina Alberta's Father*
Tom Waits*The Black Rider*
colspan="2"
**Jonathan Larson*****Rent* **
Adam Guettel*Floyd Collins*
Stephen Hoffman*Splendora*
Polly Pen*Bed and Sofa*
David Shire*Big*
Bob Telson & Michael John LaChiusa*Chronicle of a Death Foretold*
**Cy Coleman*****The Life* **
John Kander*Steel Pier*
Jeanine Tesori*Violet*
**Stephen Flaherty*****Ragtime* **
Paul Simon*The Capeman*
Stephen Trask*Hedwig and the Angry Inch*
Frank Wildhorn*The Scarlet Pimpernel*
**Jason Robert Brown*****Parade* **
Cy Coleman*Exactly Like You*
William Finn*A New Brain*
Frank Wildhorn*The Civil War*

2000s

YearComposerProductionRef.2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
**Andrew Lippa*****The Wild Party***
Shaun Davey*James Joyce's The Dead*
Stephen Sondheim*Saturday Night*
**David Yazbek*****The Full Monty* **
Kirsten Childs*The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin*
Stephen Flaherty*Seussical*
Mark Hollmann*Urinetown*
Ed Kleban*A Class Act*
Laurence O'Keefe*Bat Boy: The Musical*
**Jason Robert Brown*****The Last Five Years***
Marvin Hamlisch*Sweet Smell of Success*
Jonathan Larson*Tick, Tick... BOOM!*
Jeanine Tesori*Thoroughly Modern Millie*
**Marc Shaiman*****Hairspray* **
Tim Acito*Zanna, Don't!*
Stephen Flaherty*A Man of No Importance*
Michel Legrand*Amour*
Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx*Avenue Q*
Anderson Edwards, Keith Glover & Keb' Mo'*Thunder Knocking on the Door*
**Jeanine Tesori*****Caroline, or Change* **
RaRa Avis & Andrew Yeater*Ramayana 2K3*
Boy George*Taboo*
Eric Rockwell*The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)*
Stephen Schwartz*Wicked*
Martin Silvestri & Joel Higgins*Johnny Guitar*
**Adam Guettel*****The Light in the Piazza* **
Gary Adler & Michael Patrick Walker*Altar Boyz*
Terry Davies*Play Without Words*
William Finn*The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*
Stephen Flaherty*Dessa Rose*
David Yazbek*Dirty Rotten Scoundrels*
**Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison*****The Drowsy Chaperone* **
Stephen Dolginoff*Thrill Me*
Scott Frankel*Grey Gardens*
Michael John LaChiusa*See What I Wanna See*
Peter Mills*The Pursuit of Persephone*
Matthew Sklar*The Wedding Singer*
**Duncan Sheik*****Spring Awakening* **
John Kander*Curtains*
Paul Leschen & Gila Sand*Twist: Please, Sir, May I Have Some More?*
Peter Rodgers Melnick*Adrift in Macao*
Lin-Manuel Miranda*In the Heights*
Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin*Legally Blonde*
**Heidi Rodewald & Stew*****Passing Strange* **
John Bucchino*A Catered Affair*
Stephen Flaherty*The Glorious Ones*
Tom Kitt*Next to Normal*
Mark Mulcahy*The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island*
Joshua Schmidt*Adding Machine*
**Elton John*****Billy Elliot the Musical* **
Neil Bartram*The Story of My Life*
Zina Goldrich*Dear Edwina*
Dolly Parton*[9 to 5](9-to-5-musical)*
Stephen Sondheim*Road Show*
Jeanine Tesori*Shrek the Musical*

2010s

YearComposerProductionRef.2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
**David Bryan*****Memphis* **
Michael Friedman*Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson*
Joe Iconis*Bloodsong of Love*
John Kander & Fred Ebb*The Scottsboro Boys*
Andrew Lippa*The Addams Family*
Joseph Zellnik*Yank!*
**Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone*****The Book of Mormon* **
Brad Alexander*See Rock City & Other Destinations*
Alan Menken*Sister Act*
Marc Shaiman*Catch Me If You Can*
Mike Stoller & Artie Butler*The People in the Picture*
David Yazbek*Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown*
**Alan Menken*****Newsies* **
Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová*Once*
Michael John LaChiusa*Queen of the Mist*
Alan Menken*Leap of Faith*
Frank Wildhorn*Bonnie & Clyde*
Maury Yeston*Death Takes a Holiday*
**David Byrne & Fatboy Slim*****Here Lies Love***
Trey Anastasio & Amanda Green*Hands on a Hardbody*
Michael John LaChiusa*Giant*
Dave Malloy*Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812*
Benj Pasek & Justin Paul*A Christmas Story: The Musical*
David Rossmer & Steve Rosen*The Other Josh Cohen*
**Jason Robert Brown*****The Bridges of Madison County* **
Andrew Lippa*Big Fish*
Steven Lutvak*A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder*
Alan Menken*Aladdin*
Kevin Murphy & Laurence O'Keefe*Heathers: The Musical*
Jeanine Tesori*Fun Home*
**Lin-Manuel Miranda*****Hamilton* **
Jason Robert Brown*Honeymoon in Vegas*
Michael Friedman*The Fortress of Solitude*
John Kander*The Visit*
Dave Malloy*Ghost Quartet*
Sting*The Last Ship*
**Steve Martin & Edie Brickell*****Bright Star* **
Sara Bareilles*Waitress*
Michael John LaChiusa*First Daughter Suite*
Andrew Lloyd Webber*School of Rock*
The Lobbyists*SeaWife*
**David Yazbek*****The Band's Visit* **
Stephen Flaherty*Anastasia*
Dave Malloy*Beardo*
Richard Oberacker*Bandstand*
Irene Sankoff & David Hein*Come from Away*
**David Friedman*****Desperate Measures***
The Bengsons*The Lucky Ones*
Ben Caplan & Christian Barry*Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story*
Erin McKeown*Miss You Like Hell*
Helen Park & Max Vernon*KPOP*
**David Yazbek*****Tootsie* **
Andrew R. Butler*Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future*
Joe Iconis*Be More Chill*
Peter Mills*The Hello Girls*
Mark Sonnenblick*Midnight at the Never Get*
Shaina Taub*Twelfth Night*

2020s

YearComposerProductionRef.202020212022202320242025
**Dave Malloy*****Octet***
Ross Golan*The Wrong Man*
Michael R. Jackson*A Strange Loop*
Joshua Rosenblum*Einstein's Dreams*
Duncan Sheik*The Secret Life of Bees*
Jeanine Tesori*Soft Power*
*No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City*}}
**Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss*****Six***
Jason Howland*Paradise Square*
Matt Ray*The Hang*
Carrie Rodriguez*¡Americano!*
Jeanine Tesori*Kimberly Akimbo*
**Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally*****Shucked***
Michael R. Jackson*White Girl in Danger*
Tom Kitt and AnnMarie Milazzo*Almost Famous*
Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson*Between the Lines*
The Kilbanes*Weightless*
**Shaina Taub*****Suffs***
Jason Robert Brown*The Connector*
Justin Huertas*Lizard Boy: The Musical*
Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine*The Outsiders*
David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna*Dead Outlaw*
**Will Aronson***Maybe Happy Ending*
David Foster*Boop! The Musical*
Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez*Real Women Have Curves*
Zoe Sarnak*The Lonely Few*
The Lazours*We Live in Cairo*

Multiple wins

; 5 wins

  • Cy Coleman
  • Stephen Sondheim

; 3 wins

  • Al Carmines
  • Jason Robert Brown
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • David Yazbek

; 2 wins

  • Marvin Hamlisch

Multiple nominations

; 12 nominations

  • Stephen Sondheim

; 7 nominations

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Jeanine Tesori

; 6 nominations

  • Cy Coleman
  • Stephen Flaherty
  • Michael John LaChiusa
  • Alan Menken
  • David Yazbek

; 5 nominations

  • Jason Robert Brown
  • John Kander

; 4 nominations

  • Dave Malloy

; 3 nominations

  • Marvin Hamlisch
  • Andrew Lippa
  • Laurence O'Keefe
  • Polly Pen
  • David Shire
  • Charles Strouse
  • Elizabeth Swados
  • Maury Yeston
  • Frank Wildhorn

; 2 nominations

  • Al Carmines
  • William Finn
  • Michael Friedman
  • Larry Grossman
  • Adam Guettel
  • Jerry Herman
  • Joe Iconis
  • Michael R. Jackson
  • Tom Kitt
  • Jonathan Larson
  • Michel Legrand
  • Robert Lopez
  • Galt MacDermot
  • Peter Mills
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Marc Shaiman
  • Duncan Sheik
  • Shaina Taub

References

References

  1. "1968 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  2. "1968 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  3. "1970 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  4. "1971 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  5. "1972 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  6. "1973 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  7. "1974 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  8. "1975 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  9. "1976 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  10. "1977 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  11. "1978 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  12. (June 2, 1979). "Sweeney and Elephant Man Win Top Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  13. "1979 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  14. "1980 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  15. "1982 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  16. "1983 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  17. "1984 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  18. "1985 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  19. "1986 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  20. "1987 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  21. "1988 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  22. (May 25, 1988). "Into the Woods Wins Award". The New York Times.
  23. "1990 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  24. (May 17, 1990). "Drama Desk Awards to Angels and Lesson". The New York Times.
  25. "1991 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  26. (13 May 1991). "'Will Rogers' and 'Yonkers' Win Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  27. "1992 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  28. "1993 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  29. (May 18, 1993). "Drama Desk Honors Kiss and Angels". The New York Times.
  30. "1994 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  31. "1996 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  32. Robert Viagas. (May 20, 1996). "Drama Desk Awards to Rent, Master Class".
  33. "1997 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  34. (May 13, 1997). "Drama Desk Picks Performers, Presenters & Venue, May 18".
  35. (May 1997). "Chicago Tops Drama Desks". Variety.
  36. "1998 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  37. (May 17, 1998). "Ragtime, Beauty Queen Win Drama Desk Awards".
  38. "1999 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  39. (May 9, 1999). "List of 1999 Drama Desk Winners".
  40. (May 9, 1999). "1999 Drama Desk Winners: Not About Nightingales Design Trio".
  41. "2000 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  42. Kenneth Jones. (May 14, 2000). "2000 Drama Desk Winners Are Real Thing, Kate, Copenhagen & Contact".
  43. "2001 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  44. Kenneth Jones, Robert Simonson. (May 20, 2001). "2001 Drama Desk Winners Include Producers, Proof and Mnemonic".
  45. "2002 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  46. Robert Simonson. (May 20, 2002). "Drama Desk Awards Announced; Goat, Metamorphoses Tie for Best Play, Millie Scores".
  47. "2003 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  48. Robert Simonson. (May 1, 2003). "Hairspray Leads 2003 Drama Desk Award Nominations".
  49. (May 19, 2003). "Hairspray Wins 10 Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  50. "2004 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  51. (April 29, 2004). "Wicked Leads Drama Desk Nominations". The New York Times.
  52. Andrew Gans, Robert Simonson. (May 16, 2004). "Wicked, Assassins, Henry IV, Wife Win Drama Desk Awards".
  53. "2005 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  54. (May 23, 2005). "2005 Drama Desk Award winners announced".
  55. "2006 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  56. Andrew Gans. (May 22, 2006). "Drowsy Chaperone and History Boys Big Winners at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards".
  57. "2007 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  58. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (May 20, 2007). "Drama Desk Awards 2006–2007 Winners Announced".
  59. Andrew Gans. (May 20, 2007). "52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards Presented May 20".
  60. "2008 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  61. (May 19, 2008). "Arts: Drama Desk’s Awards". The New York Times.
  62. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (October 19, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2008 Winners Announced".
  63. "2009 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  64. (May 17, 2009). "Drama Desk Awards Announced". The New York Times.
  65. Andrew Gans. (May 18, 2009). "Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards".
  66. "2010 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  67. "2011 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  68. Kenneth Jones. (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz".
  69. David Rooney. (May 23, 2011). "Book of Mormon, Anything Goes Top Drama Desk Awards". Variety.
  70. "2012 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  71. (June 4, 2012). "Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  72. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (June 3, 2012). "The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards".
  73. "2013 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  74. Michael Paulson. (May 20, 2013). "Matilda Wins Big at Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times.
  75. "2014 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  76. New York Theatre Guide Staff. (June 1, 2014). "The 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards".
  77. Jesse Green. (June 1, 2014). "Drama Desk Embraces a Gentleman’s Guide". The New York Times.
  78. "2015 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  79. Gordon Cox. (May 31, 2015). "2015 Drama Desk Awards Winners (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Takes 7".
  80. "2016 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  81. Gordon Cox. (June 5, 2016). "2016 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST): 'Shuffle Along,' 'The Humans'".
  82. "2017 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  83. Variety Staff. (June 5, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Full List of Winners".
  84. "2018 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  85. Playbill Staff. (June 3, 2018). "SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards".
  86. "2019 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  87. Ruthie Fierberg. (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners".
  88. "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  89. Dan Meyer. (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards".
  90. Evans, Greg. (2021-05-05). "Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic"". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
  91. "2022 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  92. Chloe Rabinowitz. (June 8, 2022). "COMPANY, SIX & More Win 2022 Drama Desk Awards – See the Full List!".
  93. Gillian Russo. (June 8, 2022). "2022 Drama Desk Award winners announced".
  94. "2023 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  95. Logan Culwell-Block. (May 31, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners".
  96. "2024 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  97. Logan Culwell-Block. (June 10, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play".
  98. "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients".
  99. Logan Culwell-Block. (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List".
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