The Drama League Awards, the oldest theatrical honors in North America, will celebrate its 87th year by recognizing the extraordinary excellence in digital and socially-distanced theatrical work created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in New York City and historically honoring Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, this year’s ceremony has been redesigned to amplify the resiliency, experimentation, and innovation of the theatrical community across the country, in a year unlike any other in our history.
Foregoing historic categories to better reflect the digital and socially-distant work made during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Awards Nominees were selected by the 400+ alumni of The Drama League’s programs for directors and theater artists. These alumni include Tony and Emmy Award winners, artistic directors at more than 60 theater companies across the United States, and noted industry professionals.
Voting by Drama League Members begins on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, and winners will be announced via the pre-recorded and virtual Awards event on Friday, May 21, 2021.
American Dreams was first premiered at the Cleveland Public Theatre and was scheduled to tour in 2020. When the pandemic hit, the show's creative team, with the JKW Foundation's support, retooled the show as a fully online interactive show. As the pandemic took hold, more and more theatres joined the online tour, filling up the entire fall and stretching coast to coast, making it one of the biggest theatrical events of 2020.
The American Dreams tour was conceived by Leila Buck, Amanda Cooper, Jens Rasmussen, and Tamilla Woodard and lead produced by Working Theater in NYC. Partner theatres included: ASU Gammage, Texas Performing Arts, Round House Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, TheaterWorks, and Marin Theatre Company.
The American Dreams tour was conceived by Leila Buck, Amanda Cooper, Jens Rasmussen, and Tamilla Woodard and lead produced by Working Theater in NYC. Partner theatres included: ASU Gammage, Texas Performing Arts, Round House Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, TheaterWorks, and Marin Theatre Company.
