Lucille Lortel Award Winners 2019: Honoring Off-Broadway Theatre
On Sunday night, The Off-Broadway League presented the 34th annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway, and TDF was there! Not only were we tweeting from the event, which was hosted by Mike Birbiglia and included big names such as Jeff Daniels, Judith Light and Annaleigh Ashford as presenters, but our Executive Director, Victoria Bailey, gave a speech celebrating the vibrant and innovative Off-Broadway scene, declaring, “You are the lifeblood of it all.” While only 30-odd productions open on Broadway each season, Off-Broadway boasts hundreds. It’s where you’ll find compelling and groundbreaking shows, and often future Tony winners. The last four Best Musical Award winners — Fun Home, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and The Band’s Visit — all started Off-Broadway at nonprofit theatres before transferring to Broadway, and this year, one Best Musical nominee and two Best Play nominees began Off-Broadway: Hadestown, Choir Boy and What the Constitution Means to Me.
Below are this season’s Lortel Award winners, plus links to articles we wrote about them. How many did you see?
Outstanding Play
Pass Overby Antoinette Nwandu at Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3
Outstanding Musical
Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Futureby Andrew R. Butler – Read our interview with creator and star Andrew R. Butler
Outstanding Revival
Carmen Jonesat Classic Stage Company – Read our interview with director John Doyle
Outstanding Solo Show
Fleabagwritten and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Outstanding Director
Lee Sunday Evans for Dance Nation
Outstanding Choreographer
Rick and Jeff Kuperman for Alice By Heart
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Juan Castano for Transfers
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine for Marys Seacole
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Gabriel Ebert for Pass Over
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Crystal Lucas-Perry for Ain’t No Mo’
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Steven Skybell for Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish – Read our interview with Steven Skybell
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Anika Noni Rose for Carmen Jones
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
George Salazar for Be More Chill
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Soara-Joye Ross for Carmen Jones
Outstanding Scenic Design
Arnulfo Maldonado for Sugar In Our Wounds – Read our interview with Arnulfo Maldonado
Outstanding Costume Design
Tie: Montana Levi Blanco for The House That Will Not Stand and Paloma Young for Alice By Heart
Outstanding Lighting Design
Lap Chi Chu for Mlima’s Tale
Outstanding Sound Design
Dan Moses Schreier for Carmen Jones
Outstanding Projection Design
Tal Yarden for Superhero
Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience
On Beckettat Irish Repertory Theatre – Read our interview with creator and star Bill Irwin
Honorary Awards
Outstanding Body of Work: Telsey + Company
Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee: María Irene Fornés
Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award: Terry Byrne
Top image: David Aron Damane, Anika Noni Rose and Clifton Duncan in Carmen Jones. Photo by Joan Marcus.