2018 Drama League Nominations & Awards

[BroadwayConcierge]

Figured I'd get this thread up since three of the 2018 honorees have been announced:

- Idina Menzel (Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award)

- Casey Nicholaw (The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing)

- National Endowment for the Arts (Unique Contribution to the Theater Award)

Nominations Announcement: Wednesday, April 18 at 11 a.m.

Ceremony: Friday, May 18

Any thoughts on who this year's Distinguished Performance will go to?

[henrikegerman]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Any thoughts on who this year's Distinguished Performance will go to?"

has Glenda Jackson already won?

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

henrikegerman said: "has Glenda Jackson already won?"

It doesn't look like she has!

While I was thinking of Katrina Lenk, Glenda Jackson sounds like a much better guess.

[JBroadway]

The distinguished performance award is a fascinating animal.

At this point, I would wager that Andrew Garfield and Glenda Jackson are the frontrunners (Nathan Lane is ineligible, having won before). 

Personally though, I think Denise Gough should take it for People, Places, and Things. If not, then I'd give it Billie Piper for Yerma (which I saw in London). But I feel like people rarely win for Off-Broadway productions. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Thrilled Idina is being honored. Her commitment to new work over the past twenty years is more than worthy enough.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Also, isn't Idina Menzel a bit of an odd choice for the Distinguished Achievement award this year? Love her to pieces, but what has she done lately?

[henrikegerman]

While my first thought was Jackson and I believe she will be a major contender, it occurs to me that Denzel Washington has also never won.  Perhaps they might both be honored.

[IdinaBellFoster]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Also, isn't Idina Menzel a bit of an odd choice for the Distinguished Achievement award this year? Love her to pieces, but whathas she done lately?"

I believe it's due to her commitment to new work. In the last twenty years she's appeared in almost entirely new works - RENT, WICKED, THE WILD PARTY, SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, IF/THEN. 

I mean they gave it to Bette last year when she hadn't appeared on a Broadway stage in a truly "musical theater" context in years. 

[JBroadway]

Oh! I forgot about Denzel! Yeah I’m sure he’ll be a major contender too.

[TFMH18]

Will Katrina Lenk be eligible even though she was eligible for the same role Off-Broadway last year?

[little_sally]

TFMH18 said: "Will Katrina Lenk be eligible even though she was eligible for the same role Off-Broadway last year?"

The Drama League Awards don't really follow those rules. Hamilton was nominated the year it was off-Broadway and then won for its Broadway production.

 

[JBroadway]

As much as I love Lenk, I really don't see her winning this. She'll be nominated, I hope, but with her comparatively small and un-flashy role, I can't imagine her toppling the likes Glenda, Denzel, or Garfield. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

little_sally said: "TFMH18 said: "Will Katrina Lenk be eligible even though she was eligible for the same role Off-Broadway last year?"

The Drama League Awards don't really follow those rules. Hamilton was nominated the year it was off-Broadway and then won for its Broadway production."

Lin and Daveed Diggs also got consecutive Distinguished Performance nominations in 2015 and 2016. So Lenk could definitely get a nomination (and I believe she will).

[henrikegerman]

First I thought Jackson, then I thought maybe Denzel.

But now it's fairly clear to me that this is Billie Piper's to lose.

[JBroadway]

henrikegerman said: "First I thought Jackson, then I thought maybe Denzel.

But now it's fairly clear to me that this is Billie Piper's to lose."

 

I agree she deserves it, but I have sinking suspicion they’ll vote for the Broadway productions over a short off-Broadway run.

It just occurred to me: don’t they usually lump together nominations for actors who have performed more than once in the same season? That would mean Denise Gough could be nominated for both PPT and AiA as one nomination, which might earn her more favor, given that both performances were simply extraordinary.

in any case, how exciting it is to have so many serious contenders for this one-of-a-kind award. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Nominations tomorrow morning!

[AC126748]

I'm guessing some of this year's major contenders will include:

Glenda Jackson, THREE TALL WOMEN

Laurie Metcalf, THREE TALL WOMEN

Denise Gough, PEOPLE PLACES AND THINGS

Billie Piper, YERMA

Katrina Lenk, THE BAND’S VISIT

Paul Sparks, EDWARD ALBEE’S AT HOME AT THE ZOO

Denzel Washington, THE ICEMAN COMETH

Lauren Ambrose, MY FAIR LADY

Andrew Garfield, ANGELS IN AMERICA

Billy Crudup, HARRY CLARKE

David Greenspan, STRANGE INTERLUDE

Carrie Coon, MARY JANE

 

[JBroadway]

AC126748 said: "I'm guessing some ofthis year's major contenders will include:

Glenda Jackson, THREE TALL WOMEN

Laurie Metcalf, THREE TALL WOMEN

Denise Gough, PEOPLE PLACES AND THINGS

Billie Piper, YERMA

Katrina Lenk, THE BAND’S VISIT

Paul Sparks, EDWARD ALBEE’S AT HOME AT THE ZOO

Denzel Washington, THE ICEMAN COMETH

Lauren Ambrose, MY FAIR LADY

Andrew Garfield, ANGELS IN AMERICA

Billy Crudup, HARRY CLARKE

David Greenspan, STRANGE INTERLUDE

Carrie Coon, MARY JANE

"

Do you mean in terms of winning? Or just in terms of getting nominated? I can see most of those people you named getting nominated (especially when you consider how many nmominations there usually are). But I think the only serious contenders for the actual award are Jackson, Washington, Garfield, Gough, and Piper. The rest of them - as great as they are - don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of actually winning IMO. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

A few minutes away!

[CindersGolightly]

A pleasant surprise to see Annaleigh Ashford nominated for Distinguished Performance!

[CoffeeBreak]

Where are the MOST OBVIOUS nominations for Denise Gough?!
PEOPLE PLACES AND THINGS & ANGELS IN AMERICA.     

[Dancingthrulife2]

Remember Drama League Awards are basically popularity contests; anyone who pays for a membership can vote.

[ND_2000]

Surprised not to see Ethan Slater make the list.

[BroadwayBeebe]

ND_2000 said: "Surprised not to see Ethan Slater make the list."

The fact that Slater did not make the list and the performances from Frozen did truly baffles me. 

[nrocke731]

ND_2000 said: "Surprised not to see Ethan Slater make the list."

No Ethan Slater recognition is shocking to me. I wonder how this will bode toward his Tony campaigns.