The Piano Lesson has been nominated for several awards, including Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Director - Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Lloyd Richards, Outstanding New Play at the Drama Desk Awards for August Wilson, Best Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Debut Performance at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Rocky Carroll, Best Director at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Lloyd Richards, Performance at the Theatre World Awards for Rocky Carroll and Tommy Hollis, and The Pulitzer Prize for Drama for August Wilson.