Lucille Lortel Awards

The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986. They are produced by the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation, with additional support from the Theatre Development Fund.

Other awards for off-Broadway theatre (although not necessarily exclusive to off-Broadway theatre) include the Drama League Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Drama Desk Awards and the Obie Awards, as well as the Henry Hewes Design Awards presented by the American Theatre Wing.

The voting committee is composed of representatives from the Off-Broadway League, Actors' Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, as well as theatre journalists, academics, and other Off-Broadway professionals.

The awards ceremony for the 2008–2009 season was held on May 3, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel (New York City); the nominations were announced on April 2.

The nominations for the 2009–2010 season were announced on April 1, 2010, and the winners were announced at a ceremony on May 2, 2010, held at Terminal 5 in New York City.

The nominations for the 2010–2011 season were announced on March 31, 2011, and the winners were announced on May 1, 2011, at the NYU Skirball Center, with hosts Zach Braff and Samantha Bee. Special Awards were given to Lynne Meadow (Lifetime Achievement Award); Gary Glaser (Service to Off-Broadway Award); Gatz – Produced by The Public Theater (Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience).

The nominees for the 2011–2012 season were announced on March 29, 2012; the award ceremony was held on May 6, 2012, at the Skirball Center with host Mario Cantone. Special (non-competitive) awards were announced: Richard Frankel (Lifetime Achievement Award); Richard Foreman (Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee); Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) (Service to Off-Broadway Award); and Voca People – Produced by Doron Lida, Revital Kalfo, Leeorna Solomons and Eva Price (Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience).

The awards for the 2012–2013 season were announced on May 5, 2013, with hosts Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. Special Awards were presented to: Todd Haimes, Lifetime Achievement Award; Neil LaBute, Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee; Theatre Development Fund, Outstanding Body of Work Award; and Old Hats by Bill Irwin and David Shiner, Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience.

The awards for the 2013–2014 season were announced on May 4, 2014, with hosts Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. Special Awards were presented to: producer Robyn Goodman, Lifetime Achievement Award and Richard Nelson, Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee.

The award nominations for the 2014–15 season were announced on April 2, 2015. Special Awards were given to Terrence McNally (Lifetime Achievement Award), Jeanine Tesori (Playwrights' Sidewalk Inductee) and general manager Nancy Nagel Gibb (Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award). The winners were announced on May 10, 2015, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Anna Chlumsky hosting.

Award categories

Awards are given in the following categories:

• Outstanding Play
• Outstanding Musical
• Outstanding Solo Show
• Outstanding Revival
• Outstanding Director
• Outstanding Choreographer
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
• Outstanding Scenic Design
• Outstanding Costume Design
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Sound Design
• Outstanding Projection Design (permanently added 2017)

Award winners in key categories

Outstanding Play

• 2023: Wolf Play
• 2022: English
• 2020: Heroes of the Fourth Turning
• 2019: Pass Over
• 2018: Cost of Living and School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
• 2017: Oslo
• 2016: Guards at the Taj
• 2015: Between Riverside and Crazy
• 2014: Bad Jews
• 2013: The Whale
• 2012: Sons of the Prophet
• 2011: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
• 2010: The Orphans' Home Cycle
• 2009: Ruined
• 2008: Betrayed
• 2007: Stuff Happens
• 2006: The Lieutenant of Inishmore
• 2005: Doubt
• 2004: Bug
• 2003: Take Me Out
• 2002: Metamorphoses
• 2001: Proof
• 2000: Dinner With Friends
• 1999: Wit
• 1998: Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde
• 1997: How I Learned to Drive
• 1996: Molly Sweeney
• 1995: Camping with Henry & Tom
• 1994: Three Tall Women
• 1993: The Destiny of Me
• 1992: Lips Together, Teeth Apart
• 1991: Aristocrats
• 1989: The Cocktail Hour
• 1987: The Common Pursuit

Outstanding Musical

• 2023: Titanique
• 2022: Kimberly Akimbo
• 2020: Octet
• 2019: Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
• 2018: KPOP
• 2017: The Band's Visit
• 2016: FUTURITY
• 2015: Hamilton
• 2014: Fun Home
• 2013: Dogfight
• 2012: Once
• 2011: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
• 2010: The Scottsboro Boys
• 2009: Fela! A New Musical
• 2008: Adding Machine
• 2007: In the Heights and Spring Awakening
• 2006: The Seven
• 2005: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
• 2004: Caroline, or Change
• 2003: Avenue Q
• 2002: Urinetown
• 2001: Bat Boy: The musical
• 2000: James Joyce’s The Dead
• 1997: Violet
• 1996: Floyd Collins
• 1995: Jelly Roll!
• 1994: Wings
• 1993: Forbidden Broadway
• 1992: And the World Goes Round…
• 1991: Falsettoland

Lifetime Achievement Awards (non-competitive)

• 2023: Stephen McKinley Henderson

2010s

Until the 2014 awards, the Lead Actor/Actress and Featured Actor/Actress awards encompassed both plays and musicals. The categories were split beginning in 2014.

• Drama Desk Award
• Drama League Award
• Tony Awards