On May 18th 2008 the winners of this years Drama Desk Awards were announced. The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards were held in the LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. The awards show was webcast for the sixth year in a row by TheaterMania.com. It was also broadcast live on satellite radio's XM 28. This years winners received a new trophy designed especially for Drama Desk by Robert Du Grenier Associates. The after party was held at John's Pizzeria of Times Square (260 W 44th Street). For a complete list of the winners please click 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 organization to honor achievement in the theater with competition between Broadway, off Broadway and off-off Broadway productions in the same categories.
Photos By Linda Lenzi

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Book of a Musical: Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu)

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Choreography: Rob Ashford (Cry Baby The Musical)

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Music: Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange)

Heidi Rodewald

Elysabeth Kleinhans (Drama Desk Special Award to 59E59 Theaters whose imaginative curatorial vision has created a stimulating environment to nurture a diverse range of artists)

Elizabeth Ashley and Elysabeth Kleinhans

Elizabeth Ashley and Elysabeth Kleinhans

Leslie Marcus and Tim Sam (2008 Drama Desk Special Award to Playwrights Horizons for ongoing support to generations of theater artists and undiminished commitment to producing new work)

Edward Albee (2008 Drama Desk Special Award to celebrate his provocative plays, including this seasons Peter and Jerry, enrich the American theater) and Bill Pullman

Robert R. Blume, Edward Albee and Bill Pullman

Robert R. Blume, Bill Pullman and Ross Blume

James Earl Jones (2008 Drama Desk Special Awards for a commanding force on the stage for nearly half a century)

Ellis Nassour and James Earl Jones

Leigh Ann Larkin and Laura Benanti

Leigh Ann Larkin and Laura Benanti

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Sound Design: Scott Lehrer (South Pacific)

Scott Lehrer

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Set Design of a Play: Scott Pask (Les Liaison Dangereuses)

Scott Pask

Bruce Dimpflmaier and Les Schecter

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Set Design of a Musical: Michael Yeargan (South Pacific)

Scott Lehrer and Michael Yeargan

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Projection and Video Design: Timothy Bird and The Knifedge Creative Network

Timothy Bird

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Director of a Play: Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County)

Anna D. Shapiro

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Director of a Musical: Bartlett Sher (South Pacific)

Barlett Sherr

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Unique Theatrical Experience: The 39 Steps, Jennifer Ferrin, Charles Edwards, Cliff Saunders and Arnie Burton

The 39 Steps Producers

Producers Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Revue: Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening; John Freedson and Gerard Alessandrini

2008 Drama Desk Special Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance: The Dining Room

2008 Drama Desk Special Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performances: The Homecoming

Raul Esparza

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Boyd Gaines (Gypsy)

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Laura Benanti (Gypsy)

Robert R. Blume and Laura Benanti

Kris Anderson (Dixies Tupperwear Party)

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance (Boeing-Boeing)

Mark Rylance

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Linda Lavin (The New Century)

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Actress in a Play: Deanna Dunagan (August: Osage County)

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Actor in a Musical: Paolo Szot (South Pacific)

Paolo Szot

Paolo Szot and Ellis Nassour

2008 Drama Desk Award Winner for Outstanding Actress in a Musical: Patti LuPone (Gypsy)

Laura Benanti, Patti LuPone and Boyd Gaines

Laura Benanti, Patti LuPone and Boyd Gaines

Matt Johnston and Patti LuPone

Richie Ridge, Cheyenne Jackson and Preston Ridge

Richie Ridge, Mark J. Sullivan and Preston Ridge

Valerie Smaldone and Bruce Dimpflmaier

Leslie Kritzer and Heather Weiss

William Wolf and Elaine Wolf

Robert Cashill, Gerard Raymond, Barbara Siegel and Richie Ridge

Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel

Robert Creighton and Henry Hodges

Whitney Manalio and Robert Creighton

Roy Miller and Robert Creighton

Lynn Cohen and Mary Testa

Heidi Blickenstaff and Edward Watts

Richie Ridge, Mary Testa and Preston Ridge

Jeff Bowen and Michael Berresse

Priscilla Lopez and Michael Berresse

Randie Levine-Miller and Ted Miller

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