Who Won at the Drama Desk Awards? Check Out What the Winners Had To Say

‍Maybe Happy Ending led the pack with six wins at the Drama Desk Awards Sunday night, which were held at NYU Skirball and hosted by Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess. In addition to Outstanding Musical, the robot love story took home awards for Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Michael Arden); Music, Lyrics, and Book (Will Aronson and Hue Park); and Scenic Design of a Musical (Dane Laffrey and George Reeve). 

Jasmine Amy Rodgers and Audra McDonald won Outstanding Performance in a Musical for BOOP! and Gypsy, respectively. 

“It just feels really, really special,” Amy Rodgers told Theatrely after her win. “I just feel continually affirmed in the fact that I'm doing the right thing for myself, and that I'm in the right place, the right time. I am a big believer in ‘right place, right time, what’s meant for you will find you.’ And this just, it just feels so spectacular.” 

Outstanding Play went to Purpose by Branden Jacob-Jenkins, beating out the hit Oh, Mary! and John Proctor is the Villain. Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play went to Laura Donnelly for The Hills of California and Sarah Snook for The Picture of Dorian Gray.

To Snook, one of the “wonderful” aspects of doing The Picture of Dorian Gray is meeting young people — especially young women — at the stage door who are coming to the story for the first time. Whether they didn’t understand the text in high school or had never read Oscar Wilde, “it’s so cool to have people connect with such great storytelling.”

“It shows the expanse and thread of human experience really is a true line and a through line,” Snook said. 

Plus, she’s happy to hear how many people are getting bit by the Broadway bug after watching her performance.  

“And so many people say to me, just anecdotally, ‘this is my first Broadway show. I can't wait to see more. I came to the theatre because I saw you on Succession and I can't wait to see more shows,’” Snook said. “That's great. That's awesome. More people coming to the theater is always a good thing.” 

For Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Amalia Yoo of John Proctor is the Villain and Kara Young of Purpose were recognized. 

There was a three-way tie for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical. Brooks Ashmanskas of Smash, Jak Malone of Operation Mincemeat, and Michael Urie of Once Upon a Mattress were all honored with the prize. 

“I’ve never won an award in my life, certainly not my adult life,” Ashmanskas said. “It’s nice to hear people say, like ‘good job.’ And to share it with them is truly an honor.” 

Check out our full list of winners here.