Sarah Hyland & Orville Peck to announce ’25 Drama League Awards nominations on 4/22/25 at Lincoln Center

• Distinguished Performance Award
• Outstanding Production of a Play
• Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Outstanding Revival of a Play
• Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Outstanding Direction of a Play
• Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Broadway and Off-Broadway productions must have been in previews between April 21, 2024 – April 20, 2025 to be eligible for this season’s awards. The winners of these nominations will be revealed at The 91st Annual Drama League Awards, the theater industry’s historic annual luncheon ceremony, at The Ziegfeld Ballroom (141 W 54th St, NYC) on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 12:00PM.In addition, as previously announced this year’s Drama League Awards Special Recognition Honorees are Lea Salonga, Whitney White, Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron, and Kate Navin and Audible Theater. Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga will receive the Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater for her outstanding work on stage as part of the musical theater community. Ms. Salonga, a two-time Grammy Award nominee, will be seen this spring in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends on Broadway. Director Whitney White will be honored with the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing for her groundbreaking work, which this season in New York includes Walden at Second Stage, Liberation at Roundabout Theater Company, Macbeth in Stride at BAM, and The Last Five Years on Broadway. The Gratitude Award will be presented to lead producers of this season’s new Broadway musical Smash. Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron, in recognition of their vibrant creative achievements, leadership, and commitment to the American theater. Audible Theater and Kate Navin will be honored with the Contribution to the Theater Award, for their unwavering commitment to furthering the art of the American theater, including the premiere of Dead Outlaw, which moves to Broadway this spring.First presented in 1922 and formalized in 1935, the Drama League Awards are a core service to the theater community of The Drama League, an arts organization that has provided vital support to the field and its artists for over a century. The organization’s mission provides the nation’s only full-time, lifelong creative home for stage directors and the audiences that enjoy their work around the world. Last year’s 2024 Awards Ceremony brought out the industry’s best and brightest with Daniel Radcliffe, Jessica Lange, Jonathan Groff, Rachel McAdams, Eddie Redmayne & more, dazzling the audience of more than 500 people.  Appropriate star Sarah Paulson took home the 2024 Distinguished Performance Award, which artists can only win once in their career; Hell’s Kitchen and Stereophonic won Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical and Play, respectively. The 2024 Drama League Awards also saw the third year of categories for Outstanding Direction of a Play (recipient Daniel Aukin for Stereophonic) and Outstanding Direction of a Musical (recipient Maria Friedman for Merrily We Roll Along). For a complete list of productions and performers that have won Drama League Awards in the event’s history, click here.

The Drama League is grateful for support from its generous donors and current Drama League Awards Sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor, J.P. Morgan; Gold Sponsors, BroadwayHD and Darin Oduyoye; Silver Sponsors, Mary Jain, Una Jackman/TALU Productions, John Gore Organization, Paula Kaminsky Davis, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, Nederlander Organization, Stan Ponte, and Frederic J. and Barby K. Siegel. More information on sponsoring the luncheon can be found at dramaleague.org/2025awards.The Awards Honorary Committee, still in formation, includes Sutton Foster, Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, and Audra McDonald.  The Steering Committee is led by co-chairs Bonnie Comley and Darin Oduyoye and members Trish Chambers, Irene Gandy, Sarah Hutton, Mary Jain, Paula Kaminsky Davis, Fred Siegel, and Kumiko Yoshii.

About the Nominations Hosts

Sarah Hyland, renowned for her iconic portrayal of Haley Dunphy in the critically acclaimed television series “Modern Family,” has led a multifaceted career that spans across film, television, and theater. She made her Broadway debut in Grey Gardens as a young Jackie Bouvier and returned to the New York stage this year as Audrey in the current hit revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Her other credits include notable roles in ABC’s “Annie” and “Dirty Dancing” remakes, Hair at The Hollywood Bowl, Geek Charming, Vampire Academy, Struck by Lightning, and “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin.” Hyland is also the co-founder and creative director of the chocolate supplement brand SOURSE. This year, she was honored with the first-ever Variety Courage Award at the magazine’s Power of Women gala, for her work as an advocate for domestic abuse survivors and animal welfare.

Orville Peck is an award-winning country music recording artist, songwriter and actor. After leaving his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa as a teenager, Orville has since worked and lived throughout Canada, the UK and across the United States, where he now calls Los Angeles home. In 2024, he released his third studio album, Stampede, following his critically acclaimed works of Bronco (2022) and Pony (2019).Despite never being seen without his signature mask, Orville has made a name for himself in Country music, blazing a trail as one of the genre’s few openly gay artists. He has collaborated and worked with a roster of music industry greats such as Elton John, Willie Nelson, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Shania Twain, Beck, Kylie Minogue, Noah Cyrus and many others. Revered for his live shows, Peck has toured across the US, Europe, Australia and Canada. He has sold out tours and played iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden, The Hollywood Bowl, The Ryman Auditorium, as well as performing at major festivals such as Lollapalooza, Stagecoach, and Coachella.As a young actor Orville received his training in the UK from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Upon graduating, he worked in classical theatre and appeared in an Olivier Award-nominated play on London’s West End. Orville has also provided voiceover work for countless TV, Film and animated series. His work in fashion as a model, creative and performer has brought him collaborations with names like Dior, Michael Kors, Adidas, Ivy Park, Levi’s and Pamela Love, to name a few. In 2024 Orville was the recipient of GLAAD’s highly honoured Vito Russo Award for his significant difference in accelerating LGBTQIA+ acceptance. Cabaret marks Orville’s Broadway debut.

About The Drama League

The Drama League advances the American theater by providing lifelong artistic resources for directors and a platform for dialogue with audiences. Founded in 1916, we are one of the longest-running arts service organizations in the country. We enable directors to make the most powerful, impactful work possible across multiple mediums reaching ever-wider audiences, and build sustainable careers. Uplifting directors of all economic classes, races, abilities, genders, and identities is a cornerstone of this mission. We provide support to directors throughout their artistic life, and our work in education offers both continued learning to professionals and introduces the skills of directing to young people. Underpinning our work is the support of our members, a community of ardent theater fans and industry professionals whose commitment to advancing the art form helps develop the careers of the talented directors we champion.Drama League members have voting privileges in the competitive award categories. Drama League memberships are open to industry professionals, artists, and audience members. They are tax-deductible and support The Drama League’s programs that provide vital career support for directors. Members enjoy access to exclusive members-only events, house seats to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and more. Members must be in good standing by April 15, 2025, in order to vote on this year’s Awards. To become a voting member, visit dramaleague.org/membership or call (212) 244-9494, ext. 101.More information about The Drama League’s programs, alumni, and the Awards history can be found at www.dramaleague.org.