It’s not every day that artists walk willingly into a roomful of critics, but this celebration of good will—and great work—happens at least once a year at the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards. On Monday, May 11, the 20-member group gathered at the Algonquin Hotel (where the Circle was founded in 1935) to present top honors to Lynn Nottage’s
Ruined (Best Play), Gregory Burke’s
Black Watch (Best Foreign Play), and
Billy Elliot (Best Musical). The Circle also awarded special citations to
Forbidden Broadway author Gerard Alessandrini, director Matthew Warchus and the cast of
The Norman Conquests, and four-time Tony winner (and current nominee for
Blithe Spirit)