Chaperone, History Boys & Sweeney Win Big at Drama Desk Awards

The Drowsy Chaperone took home seven Drama Desk Awards at the annual ceremony, which was held May 21 at the Laguardia Concert Hall and was hosted by Harvey Fierstein. The new musical won Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Beth Leavel in addition to trophies for its score, book, set design and costume design.

With five awards including Outstanding Play, The History Boys was the most honored play of the year. Director Nicholas Hytner won a Drama Desk, as did stars Richard Griffiths, Samuel Barnett and Frances de la Tour.

John Doyle's reinvention of Sweeney Todd won the innovative director his first Drama Desk Award in the category of Outstanding Director of a Musical. In total, the hit revival won four trophies, including Outstanding Revival, Outstanding Lighting Design and Outstanding Orchestrations.

A complete list of winners follows:

Outstanding Musical
The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Play
The History Boys by Alan Bennett

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Awake and Sing!

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
John Lloyd Young, Jersey Boys

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Beth Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Jim Dale, The Threepenny Opera

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Richard Griffiths, The History Boys

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Frances de la Tour, The History Boys

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Samuel Barnett, The History Boys

Outstanding Music
Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Lyrics
Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Bob Martin and Don McKellar, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Director of a Musical
John Doyle, Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Director of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, The History Boys

Outstanding Choreography
Kathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game

Outstanding Set Design of a Musical
David Gallo, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Set Design of a Play
Michael Yeargan, Awake and Sing!

Outstanding Sound Design
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Jersey Boys

Outstanding Lighting Design
Richard G. Jones, Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Costume Design
Gregg Barnes, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Orchestrations
Sarah Travis, Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Solo Performance
Antony Sher, Primo

Unique Theatrical Experience
Christine Jorgensen Reveals

Production with Multiple Awards:
The Drowsy Chaperone - 7
The History Boys - 5
Sweeney Todd - 4
Awake and Sing! - 2
Jersey Boys - 2