Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin in Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine

Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry

Joan Allen and Peter Friedman in The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein

Jefferson Mays in I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright

The company of Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris

Louisa Krause and Aaron Clifton Moten in The Flick by Annie Baker (2014 Pulitzer Prize Winner)

The Company of A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson (2020 Pulitzer Prize Winner)

Who We Are

History and Awards

Over our 50-year history, Playwrights has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including seven Pulitzer Prizes, 13 Tony Awards, and 47 Obie Awards.

Awards

SORT BY TYPE

2019-2020

2020 Lucille Lortel Award for Lifetime Achievement to Tim Sanford
2020 Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement to Tim Sanford

Heroes of the fourth turning BY will arbery

2020 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play
Obie Award to Will Arbery for Playwriting
Obie Award Special Citation to the creative team and cast
Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play
Lucille Lortel Award to Michele Pawk for Outstanding Featured Actress
Lucille Lortel Award to Isabella Byrd for Outstanding Lighting Design
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Director
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Sound Design

2018-2019

A STRANGE LOOP BY MICHAEL R. JACKSON

2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical
Obie Award to Michael R. Jackson for Playwriting
Obie Award Special Citation to the creative team and cast
Obie Award to Arnulfo Maldonado for Sustained Excellence (Scenic Design)
Obie Award to Jen Schriever for Sustained Excellence (Lighting Design)
Lucille Lortel Award to Larry Owens for Outstanding Lead Actor
Lucille Lortel Award to John-Andrew Morrison for Outstanding Featured Actor
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Musical
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Director
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Choreographer
2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Costume Design

The Pain of My Belligerence BY halley feiffer

2020 Lucille Lortel Finalist for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

2017-2018

Dance Nation BY Clare barron

Susan Smith Blackburn Award
2019 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Obie Award special citation to Clare Barron and Lee Sunday Evans

2015–2016

MARJORIE PRIME BY JORDAN HARRISON

2015 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama

THE CHRISTIANS BY LUCAS HNATH

Obie Award to Lucas Hnath for Playwriting
Obie Award to Emily Donahoe for Performance
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

FAMILIAR BY DANAI GURIRA

Obie Award to Tamara Tunie for Performance

2014–2015

BOOTYCANDY BY ROBERT O'HARA

Obie Award Special Citation to the creative team and cast
2015 Lammy Award for LGBT Drama

IOWA BY TODD ALMOND & JENNY SCHWARTZ

Obie Award to April Matthis for Sustained Excellence of Performance

2013–2014

THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE BY MADELEINE GEORGE

Outer Critic's Circle John Gassner Playwrighting Award for New American Play
Obie Award to John Ellison Conlee for Performance

MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY BY ANNE WASHBURN

Obie Award to Justin Townsend for Sustained Excellence (Lighting)

2012–2013

THE CALL BY TANYA BARFIELD

Obie Award to Eisa Davis for Sustained Excellence of Performance

THE FLICK BY ANNIE BAKER

2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Obie Award to Annie Baker for Playwriting
Obie Award to Matthew Maher for Sustained Excellence of Performance
Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
Henry Hewes Design Award to Jane Cox (Lighting Design)
Harold & Mimi Steinberg "Mimi" Award

THE WHALE BY SAMUEL D. HUNTER

Obie Award to Shuler Hensley for Performance
Lucille Lortel Award to Samuel D. Hunter for Oustanding Play
Lucille Lortel Award to Shuler Hensley for Oustanding Lead Actor
Lucille Lortel Award to Jessica Pabst for Oustanding Costume Design
Drama Desk Special Award to Samuel D. Hunter: "His empathic and indelible The Whale affirms his arrival as a distinguished dramatist who depicts the human condition."

DETROIT BY LISA D'AMOUR

Obie Award, Best New American Play

2011–2012

THE BIG MEAL BY DAN LEFRANC

Lucille Lortel Award to Sam Gold for Outstanding Direction of a Play

MILK LIKE SUGAR BY KIRSTEN GREENIDGE

Lucille Lortel Award to Tonya Pinkins for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role
Obie Award to Cherise Boothe for Performance
Obie Award to Kirsten Greenidge for Playwriting

2010–2011

Playwrights Horizons is awarded the National Theatre Conference’s Outstanding Theatre Award.

GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE BY DAVID GREENSPAN

Obie Award to Leigh Silverman for Direction

2009–2010

CLYBOURNE PARKBY BRUCE NORRIS

2012 Tony Award for Best Play
2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
2011 Olivier Award for Best Play (London)
Evening Standard Award, Best Play (London)
Obie Award to Pam MacKinnon for Directing

CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION BY ANNIE BAKER

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance
New York Drama Critics Circle Emerging Artist Special Citation to Annie Baker
Obie Award to Annie Baker for Best New American Play
Obie Award to Sam Gold for Directing
Obie Award to the ensemble for Performance

2008–2009

Playwrights Horizons receives a Drama Desk Citation honoring its "ongoing support to generations of theater artists and undiminished commitment to producing new work."

2007–2008

THE DRUNKEN CITY BY ADAM BOCK

Theater World Award to Cassie Beck

100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW BY KATE FODOR

Clarence Derwent Award to Zoe Kazan

2006–2007

CRAZY MARY BY A.R. GURNEY

Clarence Derwent Award to Michael Esper

FRANK'S HOME BY RICHARD NELSON

Obie Award to Harris Yulin for Performance

2005–2006

PEN BY DAVID MARSHALL GRANT

Obie Award to Reed Birney for Sustained Excellence of Performance

GREY GARDENS BY DOUG WRIGHT, SCOTT FRANKEL AND MICHAEL KORIE

Tony® Award to Christine Ebersole for Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Musical
Tony® Award to Mary Louise Wilson for Best Performance By a Featured Actress in a Musical
Tony® Award to William Ivey Long for Best Costume Design of a Musical
Drama League Distinguished Performance Award to Christine Ebersole
New York Drama Critics Circle Special Citation to Christine Ebersole
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical to Christine Ebersole
Obie Award to Christine Ebersole for Performance
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical to Christine Ebersole

2004–2005

RODNEY'S WIFE BY RICHARD NELSON

Lucille Lortel Award to David Weiner for Outstanding Lighting Design

SPATTER PATTERN, OR HOW I GOT AWAY WITH IT BY NEAL BELL

Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Mystery Play
Obie Award to Deirdre O'Connell for Sustained Excellence of Performance

2003–2004

FABULATION, OR, THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE BY LYNN NOTTAGE

Obie Award for Playwriting

SMALL TRAGEDY BY CRAIG LUCAS

Included in Burns Mantle's The Best Plays Theater Yearbook 2003–2004
Obie Award to Craig Lucas for Best American Play
Obie Award to the acting company for Performance

2002–2003

I AM MY OWN WIFE BY DOUG WRIGHT

Tony® Award to Doug Wright for Best Play
Tony® Award to Jefferson Mays for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play
Drama Desk Award to Jefferson Mays for Outstanding Solo Performance
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Play
Outer Critics Circle Award to Jefferson Mays for Outstanding Solo Performance
Obie Award to Jefferson Mays for Performance
Obie Award to Moises Kaufman for Direction
Obie Award to Derek McLane for Design
Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show
Lucille Lortel Award to Derek McLane for Outstanding Scenic Design
Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play
Theater World Award to Jefferson Mays

SHE STOOPS TO COMEDY BY DAVID GREENSPAN

Obie Award to David Greenspan, Special Citation

MY LIFE WITH ALBERTINE BY RICHARD NELSON AND RICKY IAN GORDON

AT&T: OnStage Award
Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Musical Theater Award

2001–2002

FRANNY'S WAY BY RICHARD NELSON

Lucille Lortel Award to Kathleen Widdoes for Outstanding Featured Actress
Lucille Lortel Award to Scott Lehrer for Outstanding Sound Design

2000–2001

BREATH, BOOM BY KIA CORTHRON

Obie Award to Yvette Ganier for Performance

LOBBY HERO BY KENNETH LONERGAN

AT&T: OnStage Award

1999–2000

THE BUBBLY BLACK GIRL SHEDS HER CHAMELEON SKIN BY KIRSTEN CHILDS

AUDELCO Award to Kirsten Childs for Outstanding Musical Creator
AUDELCO Award to Fred Carl for Outstanding Musical Director
Obie Award to Kirsten Childs (Special Citation for Music & Lyrics)
Obie Award to David Gallo for Sustained Achievement in Set Design

JAMES JOYCE'S THE DEAD, BY RICHARD NELSON AND SHAUN DAVEY

Tony® Award to Richard Nelson for Best Book of a Musical
Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical
New York Drama Critics Award for Best Musical
Outer Critics Circle Award to Stephen Spinella for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Drama Desk Award to Stephen Spinella for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Artios Award to James Calleri, C.S.A. for Musical Theater Casting

1998–1999

Playwrights Horizons receives a New York State Governor's Arts Award, in recognition of the organization's continuing commitment to the arts and their importance in our society.

GOODNIGHT CHILDREN EVERYWHERE, BY RICHARD NELSON

1999 Olivier Award for Best Play (London)

BETTY'S SUMMER VACATION, BY CHRISTOPHER DURANG

Obie Award to Christopher Durang for Playwriting
Obie Award to Nicholas Martin for Directing
Obie Award to Kristine Nielsen for Performance
Obie Award to Thomas Lynch for Sustained Excellence in Set Design

1997–1998

FROM ABOVE, BY TOM DONAGHY

Obie Award to Mary Testa for Performance

MUD, RIVER, STONE BY LYNN NOTTAGE

Obie Award to Brian Murray for Sustained Excellence of Performance

LILLIAN, WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY DAVID CALE

1998/1999 Obie Award Special Citation for David Cale

1996–1997

VIOLET, BY JEANINE TESORI AND BRIAN CRAWLEY

NY Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical
Obie Award Special Citation to Jeanine Tesori for Music
Obie Award to Derek McLane for Sustained Excellence of Set Design
Obie Award to Catherine Zuber for Sustained Excellence of Costume Design
Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical
Encore Magazine "Taking Off" Award
AT&T: OnStage Award

FLOYD COLLINS, BY TINA LANDAU AND ADAM GUETTEL

Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical
Obie Award to Bruce Coughlin (Orchestrator) and Adam Guettel (Composer) for Music
Drama Desk Award to Dan Moses Schreier for Sound Design

1995–1996

THE MONOGAMIST, BY CHRISTOPHER KYLE

Lucille Lortel Award to Scott Elliot for Outstanding Director
Theater World Award to Timothy Olyphant

1994–1995

A CHEEVER EVENING, BY A. R. GURNEY

Obie Award to Don Scardino for Directing
Obie Award to Mary Beth Peil for Performance
Obie Award to Jennifer Von Mayrhauser for Sustained Excellence in Costume Design

1993-94

MOE'S LUCKY SEVEN BY MARLANE MEYER

Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

1991–1992

FALSETTOS, THE COMBINATION OF "MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS" AND "FALSETTOLAND" BY WILLIAM FINN AND JAMES LAPINE

Tony® Award for Best Musical Score
Tony® Award for Best Book of a Musical

THE END OF THE DAY, BY JON ROBIN BAITZ

Obie Award to Roger Rees for Performance

MARVIN'S ROOM, BY SCOTT MCPHERSON

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play
Drama Desk Award to Laura Esterman for Best Actress in a Play
Obie Award to Laura Esterman for Performance
Outer Critics Circle: John Gassner Playwriting Award to Scott McPherson
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play
Outer Critics Circle Award to Laura Esterman for Outstanding Actress in a Play
Theater World Award to Mark Rosenthal

1990–1991

THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE, BY JON ROBIN BAITZ

Drama Desk Award to Ron Rifkin for Best Actor in a Play
Obie Award to Ron Rifkin for Performance

FALSETTOLAND, BY WILLIAN FINN AND JAMES LAPINE

Drama Desk Award to William Finn for Best Music
Drama Desk Award to William Finn for Best Lyrics
Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical

1989–1990

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, BY LYNN AHRENS AND STEPHEN FLAHERTY

1995 Olivier Award for Best Musical (London)
The AT&T: OnStage Award
Theater World Award to LaChanze

WHEN SHE DANCED, BY MARTIN SHERMAN

Obie Award to Marcia Jean Kurtz for Performance

1988–1989

THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, BY WENDY WASSERSTEIN

1989 Tony Award for Best Play
1989 Tony Award for Boyd Gaines for Best Featured Actor
1989 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
NY Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Production of a Play
Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

GUS AND AL, BY ALBERT INNAURATO

Obie Award to Mark Blum for Performance

1986–1987

DRIVING MISS DAISY, BY ALFRED UHRY

1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Obie Award to Dana Ivey for Performance
Obie Award to Morgan Freeman for Performance
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play
Outer Critics Circle Award to Ron Lagomarsino for Direction
Outer Critics Circle Award to Dana Ivey for Outstanding Performance by an Actress
1989 Academy Award for Best Picture

1985–1986

ANTEROOM, BY HARRY KONDOLEON

Obie Award to Elizabeth Wilson for Performance

THE PERFECT PARTY, BY A.R. GURNEY

Outer Critics Circle Award to John Tillinger for Directing (along with Loot and Corpse!)

1984–1985

ROMANCE LANGUAGE BY PETER PARNELL

Obie Award to Loren Sherman for Set Design (not show-specific)

1983–1984

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, BY JAMES LAPINE AND STEPHEN SONDHEIM

1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
NY Drama Critics Circle Award to Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine for Best Musical
Tony® Award to Tony Straiges for Set Design
Tony® Award to Richard Nelson for Lighting Design
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
Drama Desk Award to James Lapine for Outstanding Director of a Musical
Drama Desk Award to James Lapine for Outstanding Book of a Musical
Drama Desk Award to Michael Starobin for Orchestration
Drama Desk Award to Tony Straiges for Set Design
Drama Desk Award to Stephen Sondheim for Lyrics
Drama Desk Award to Richard Nelson for Lighting Design
Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical
Outer Critics Circle Award to Tony Straiges for Set Design