The Drama Desk Award, created in 1955, is an award recognizing shows produced off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, and for legitimate not-for-profit theaters, in addition to Broadway productions. Previously there had been only the Tony Awards, which focused solely on Broadway shows, ignoring the hundreds of other productions mounted in New York City each year.
Originally, the awards were known as the Vernon Rice Awards in honor of the theater critic from the New York Post. The name was changed in 1963. In its earliest years, a minimal number of prizes were awarded, but there now are as many categories as there are for the Tonys.
The Drama Desk Awards have proven to be the first step towards stardom for numerous theatrical luminaries, including Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, George C. Scott, Stacy Keach, Sada Thompson, Jose Quintero, and Dustin Hoffman. Off-Broadway productions such as Driving Miss Daisy, Steel Magnolias, and The Boys in the Band were propelled to international recognition based on their wins.
There have been many Tony Award winners that have not been nominated for Drama Desk awards.
The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is held annually at LaGuardia Concert Hall of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Lincoln Center.
