The 2024 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations Announced

Andrew R. Butler, Sarah Pidgeon, Chris Stack, and Juliana Canfield in Playwrights Horizons’s Stereophonic. Photo by Chelice Parry.

39TH ANNUAL LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS: NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Wet Brain, produced by Playwrights Horizons and MCC Theater, has the most nominations with 8; followed by PlaywrightsStereophonic and Atlantic Theater’s Buena Vista Social Club with 7 – the latter being the most nominated musical.

New York, NY (Thursday, April 4, 2024) –

Nominations for the 39th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were announced today by Amber Iman and George Abud, two of the stars of the new Broadway musical, Lempicka. The 2024 Awards will be presented at the annual ceremony which will take place on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at NYU Skirball beginning at 7:00pm. The event will once again be open to the public, with tickets available for purchase beginning April 11 at tickets.nyu.edu or at the NYU Skirball box office Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 6pm. As always, the Lortel Awards are a benefit for the Entertainment Community Fund, and fans are encouraged to make donations at LortelAwards.org. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League and Lucille Lortel Theatre, with additional support provided by TDF.

Alicia Keys earned a Lortel Award nomination for her semi-autobiographical new musical, Hell’s Kitchen, which recently transferred to Broadway. David Adjmi’s Stereophonic – nominated for 7 Lortel Awards – is also currently in performances on Broadway. All in all, for the 2023 – 2024 Off-Broadway season, 39 of the 75 eligible productions earned at least one Lortel Award nomination.

As previously announced, special honorees this year include Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Playwrights’ Sidewalk inductee Dominique Morisseau, and Ars Nova, who will be honored for their Outstanding Body of Work.

2024 LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Julio Monge in Wet Brain. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Outstanding Play

The Comeuppance

Produced by Signature Theatre

Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Plays For The Plague Year

Produced by The Public Theater

Written by Suzan-Lori Parks

Primary Trust

Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company

Written by Eboni Booth

Stereophonic

Produced by Playwrights Horizons

Written by David Adjmi

Wet Brain

Produced by Playwrights Horizons and MCC Theater

Written by John J. Caswell, Jr.

Jared Machado, Kenya Browne, and Olly Sholotan in ATC’s Buena Vista Social Club. Photo by Ahron R. Foster.
Outstanding Musical

(pray)

Produced by Ars Nova and National Black Theatre

Created by nicHi douglas, with music by S T A R R Busby and JJJJJerome Ellis

Buena Vista Social Club

Produced by Atlantic Theater Company

Book by Marco Ramirez, Music by Buena Vista Social Club

Dead Outlaw

Produced by Audible Theater

Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek & Erik Della Penna, Book by Itamar Moses, Conceived by David Yazbek

Hell’s Kitchen

Produced by The Public Theater

Music and Lyrics by Alicia Keys, Book by Kristoffer Diaz

Teeth

Produced by Playwrights Horizons

Book and Music by Anna K. Jacobs, Book and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson

Julia Lester (up on the table) and the cast of CSC’s production of I CAN GET IT FOR YOUWHOLESALE. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Outstanding Revival

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

Produced by Play Hooky Productions, Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jayne Baron Sherman, Stella La Rue, Roth-Manella Productions, Sony Music Masterworks, Jillian Robbins, David Binder, Folk Productions, Antonio Marion, Daniel Schwartz, Wessex Grove, Stephanie Choate, Hillary Wyatt

Written by John Patrick Shanley

I Can Get It for You Wholesale

Produced by Classic Stage Company

Book by Jerome Weidman (based on his novel), Music and Lyrics by Harold Rome, Book revisions by John Weidman

Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Produced by Irish Repertory Theatre Company

Written by Brian Friel

Sunset Baby

Produced by Signature Theatre Company

Written by Dominique Morisseau

Translations

Produced by Irish Repertory Theatre

Written by Brian Friel

Patrick Page in All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented The Villain. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Outstanding Solo Show

All The Devils Are Here – How Shakespeare Invented the Villain

Produced by Mara Isaacs, Thomas M. Neff, Willette and Manny Klausner, 42nd.Club, Daryl Roth

Written and Performed by Patrick Page

I Love You So Much I Could Die

Produced by New York Theatre Workshop

Written and Performed by Mona Pirnot

Make Me Gorgeous!

Produced by triangle productions!

Written by Donnie, Additional Material by Wade McCollum

Performed by Wade McCollum

Sorry For Your Loss

Produced by Audible

Written and Performed by Michael Cruz Kayne

Triple Threat

Produced by Brendan Gaul, Brett Henenberg, James T. Lane, and T32 Theatrical

Written and Performed by James T. Lane      

Trent Saunders, Andrew Durand, and Eddie Cooper in Audible Theater’s World Premiere of Dead Outlaw at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Photo by Matthew Murphy (2024).
Outstanding Director

Daniel Aukin – Stereophonic

David Cromer – Dead Outlaw

nicHi douglas – (pray)

Eric Ting – The Comeuppance

Dustin Wills – Wet Brain

Outstanding Choreographer

Camille A. Brown – Hell’s Kitchen

Graciela Daniele and Alex Sanchez – The Gardens of Anuncia

Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck – Buena Vista Social Club

nicHi douglas – (pray)

Raja Feather Kelly – Teeth

Gabby Beans and Hagan Oliveras in RTC’s Jonah. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play

Christopher Abbott – Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

Gabby Beans – Jonah

William Jackson Harper – Primary Trust

Nicole Ari Parker – The Refuge Plays

Josh Radnor – The Ally

A.J. Shively – Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Paco Tolson – The Knight of the Burning Pestle

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play

Arnie Burton – Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors

Eli Gelb – Stereophonic

Carmen M. Herlihy – The Apiary

Florencia Lozano – Wet Brain

Julio Monge – Wet Brain

Bubba Weiler – Swing State

Frank Wood – Toros

Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Jordan Boatman, James Daly, Ellen Harvey, and Arnie Burton in DRACULA, A COMEDY OF TERRORS. photo by Matthew Murphy.
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical

Natalie Venetia Belcon – Buena Vista Social Club

Jeb Brown – Dead Outlaw

Andrew Durand – Dead Outlaw

Santino Fontana – I Can Get It for You Wholesale

Priscilla Lopez – The Gardens of Anuncia

Alyse Alan Louis – Teeth

Maleah Joi Moon – Hell’s Kitchen

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical

Shoshana Bean – Hell’s Kitchen

Rodrick Covington – Rock & Roll Man

Kecia Lewis – Hell’s Kitchen

Jessica Molaskey – The Connector

Steven Pasquale – Teeth

Mel Semé – Buena Vista Social Club

Thom Sesma – Dead Outlaw

Steven Pasquale (Center) and the cast in Playwrights Horizons’ Teeth. Photo by Chelcie Parry.
Outstanding Ensemble

(pray)

Ariel Kayla Blackwood, S T A R R Busby, Ashely De La Rosa, Tina Fabrique, Satori Folkes-Stone, Amara Granderson, Taylor Symone Jackson, Ziiomi Louise Law, Aigner Mizzelle, Gayle Turner, Darnell White, D. Woods

The Comeuppance

Brittany Bradford, Caleb Eberhardt, Susannah Flood, Bobby Moreno, Shannon Tyo

Flex

Brittany Bellizeare, Christiana Clark, Eboni Edwards, Renita Lewis, Erica Matthews, Ciara Monique, Tamera Tomakili

Outstanding Scenic Design

Jason Ardizzone-West – shadow/land

Arnulfo Maldonado – Buena Vista Social Club

Arnulfo Maldonado – Dead Outlaw

Kate Noll – Wet Brain

David Zinn – Stereophonic

Patrice Johnson Chevannes in NYTW’s The Half-God of Rainfall. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Outstanding Costume Design

Dede Ayite – Buena Vista Social Club

Enver Chakartash – Stereophonic

Linda Cho – The Half-God of Rainfall

DeShon Elem – (pray)

Lux Haac – Manahatta

Outstanding Lighting Design

Amith Chandrashaker – The Comeuppance

Jiyoun Chang – Stereophonic

Jen Schriever – Spain

Cha See – Wet Brain

John Torres – Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

Marin Ireland and Andrew Burnap in 2ST’s SPAIN. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Outstanding Sound Design

Tei Blow & John Gasper – Wet Brain

Jonathan Deans – Buena Vista Social Club

Palmer Hefferan – The Comeuppance

Ryan Rumery – Stereophonic

Mikaal Sulaiman – (pray)

Outstanding Projection Design

59 Productions – Corruption

Nick Hussong – Wet Brain

Jared Mezzocchi – Poor Yella Rednecks

Jared Mezzocchi – Russian Troll Farm

Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew – The Connector

D. Woods (center) appears in (pray), directed by nicHi douglas, for Ars Nova at Greenwich House Theater. Photo by Ben Arons.

HONORARY AWARDS

Lifetime Achievement Award

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee

Dominique Morisseau

Outstanding Body of Work

Ars Nova

Mary Beth Fisher and Bubba Weiler in Rebecca Gilman’s Swing State. Photos by Liz Lauren. Taken at the Goodman Theater (2022)

NOMINATIONS BY SHOW

Wet Brain8

Buena Vista Social Club7

Stereophonic7

(pray)6

Dead Outlaw6

Hell’s Kitchen5

The Comeuppance5

Teeth4

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea3

I Can Get It for You Wholesale2

Philadelphia, Here I Come!2

Primary Trust2

The Connector2

The Gardens of Anuncia2

All The Devils Are Here – How Shakespeare Invented the Villain1

Corruption1

Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors1

Flex1

I Love You So Much I Could Die1

Jonah1

Wade McCollum in the triangle productions! of Make Me Gorgeous!. Photo by Maria Baranova.

Make Me Gorgeous!1

Manahatta1

Plays For The Plague Year1

Poor Yella Rednecks1

Rock & Roll Man1

Russian Troll Farm1

shadow/land1

Sorry For Your Loss1

Spain1

Sunset Baby1

Swing State1

The Ally1

The Apiary1

The Half-God of Rainfall1

The Knight of the Burning Pestle1

The Refuge Plays1

Toros1

Translations 1

Triple Threat1

Juan Castano in 2ST’s TOROS. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The Off-Broadway League’s Lortel Awards Producing & Administration Committee (Jeremy Adams, Alana Canty-Samuel, Tisa Chang, Carol Fishman, George Forbes, Kenneth Naanep, Ralph Peña, Catherine Russell, Michael Sag, Jonathan Whitton, Casey York, and Jeffrey Shubart, Chair) and the Lucille Lortel Theatre (George Forbes, Jeffrey Shubart, Nancy Hurvitz, Alana Canty-Samuel, Maura Le Viness, and Karla Liriano) produce the Lortel Awards Ceremony. Acclaimed writer/director Michael Heitzman directs the Lortel Awards with Terry Berliner as Co-Director. Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, United Scenic Artists, the Lucille Lortel Theatre, in addition to theatre journalists, academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee.

ABOUT THE LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS

The Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were created in 1985 by the Off-Broadway League. The Lortel Awards recognize excellence in Off-Broadway by honoring the invaluable contribution of artists to the theatre community. Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, United Scenic Artists, the Lucille Lortel Theatre, in addition to theatre journalists, academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee. Awards may be given in the following categories: Play, Musical, Solo Show, Revival, Alternative Theatrical Experience, Director, Choreographer, Lead Performer in a Play and Musical, Featured Performer in a Play and Musical, Ensemble, Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound, and Projection Design. The following honorary awards may also be given: Lifetime Achievement Award, Body of Work (awarded to an institution), Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award, and induction onto the Playwrights’ Sidewalk in front of the historic Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City. For more information, please see www.LortelAwards.org.

ABOUT THE OFF-BROADWAY LEAGUE

The Off-Broadway League was founded in 1959 to foster theatrical productions produced in Off-Broadway theatres (productions in Manhattan in venues with 76-499 seats), to assist in the voluntary exchange of information among its members, and to serve as a collective voice of its membership in pursuit of these goals. In recent years the League has grown to represent an average of 150 individual members and theatres and 100 non-for-profit and commercial shows per season.

Josh Radnor in The Ally at The Public Theater. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

For updates and news visit www.LortelAwards.org.  Follow the Lortel Awards (#LortelAwards) on X (https://twitter.com/Lortel_Theatre), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lorteltheatre), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LortelTheatre). Subscribe to the Lortel Awards YouTube channel to watch clips from previous ceremonies.

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