'Billy Elliot' Wins top honors at Drama Desk Awards

'Billy Elliot' Wins top honors at Drama Desk Awards

Stephen Daldry directed "Billy Elliot", the joyous story of a coal miner's son who becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family, was the big winner at the Drama Desk Awards. It picked up 10 prizes including best musical. The movie was nominated for Oscar in three categories in 2001.

The movie "Ruined" was named outstanding play on Sunday at the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards. The drama by Lynn Nottage set against the backdrop of an African civil war already has won the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as the best play award from the New York Drama Critics' Circle.

The awards were presented on May 17 in the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. Tony winner Harvey Fierstein hosted the ceremony. Drama Desk Award is an award which recognizes shows produced on Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and for legitimate not-for-profit theaters.

"The Norman Conquests" won the Outstanding Revival of a Play Award, while "Hair" won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.

British actress Janet McTeer won the award of Outstanding Actress in a Play for her role in "Mary Stuart".


The complete list of winners of 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards :

1)  Outstanding Play:

     Lynn Nottage, Ruined

2)  Outstanding Musical:
 
     Billy Elliot

3)  Outstanding Revival of a Play:

     The Norman Conquests

4)  Outstanding Revival of a Musical:

     Hair

5)  Outstanding Actor in a Play:

      Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King

6)  Outstanding Actress in a Play:

      Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart

7)   Outstanding Actor in a Musical:

      Brian d'Arcy James, Shrek The Musical

8)   Outstanding Actress in a Musical:

       Allison Janney, 9 to 5

9)   Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play:

       Pablo Schreiber, reasons to be pretty (Off-Broadway)

10) Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play:

       Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit

11) Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical:

       Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot The Musical

12) Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical:

       Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot The Musical

13) Outstanding Director of a Play:

       Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests

14) Outstanding Director of a Musical:

       Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot The Musical

15) Outstanding Choreography:

       Peter Darling, Billy Elliot The Musical

16) Outstanding Music:

       Elton John, Billy Elliot The Musical

17) Outstanding Lyrics:

       Stephen Sondheim, Road Show

18) Outstanding Book of a Musical:

       Lee Hall, Billy Elliot The Musical

19) Outstanding Orchestrations:

       Martin Koch, Billy Elliot The Musical

20) Outstanding Music in a Play:

       Dominic Kanza, Ruined

21) Outstanding Set Design of a Play:

       David Korins, Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them

22) Outstanding Set Design of a Musical:

       Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical

23) Outstanding Costume Design:

       Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical

24) Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play:

       David Hersey, Equus

25) Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical:

       Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot The Musical

26) Outstanding Sound Design:

       Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot The Musical

27) Outstanding Solo Performance:

       Lorenzo Pisoni, Humor Abuse

28) Unique Theatrical Experience:

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