NEW YORK
"August: Osage County," Tracy Letts' tale of a dysfunctional
Oklahoma family, was chosen best play of the New York theater
season, and "Passing Strange" was named best musical in awards
given by the organization of theater journalists.
"South Pacific" also received prizes for actor-musical, Paolo
Szot; director-musical, Bartlett Sher; sets-musical, Michael
Yeargan, and sound design, Scott Lehrer.
The revival of "Gypsy" picked up three musical performance
awards - for its star, Patti LuPone, as well as for two of its
featured or supporting players, Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti.
The revival-play award went to the farce "Boeing-Boeing." One
of its leading men, Mark Rylance, who portrays a hapless visitor to
Paris, won the actor-play prize.
Deanna Dunagan, who plays the cantankerous matriarch in
"August: Osage County," received the actress-play award and the
production's director, Anna D. Shapiro, also won.
Other featured performer winners were Linda Lavin in Paul
Rudnick's comedy "The New Century" and Conleth Hill in Conor
McPherson's "The Seafarer."
Stew, who stars in "Passing Strange," also won for lyrics and
for the show's music, which he co-wrote with Heidi Rodewald.
Douglas Carter Beane's book for the musical "Xanadu" also was
honored.
The prize for solo performance went to Laurence Fishburne for
his portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in
"Thurgood," while "The 39 Steps" took the award for unique
theatrical experience.
Rob Ashford won the choreography prize for "Cry-Baby," while
Katrina Lindsay received the costume-design award for "Les Liaison
Dangereuses." "Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening" was named
best revue.
The Drama Desk, which was founded in 1949, honors both Broadway
and off-Broadway productions.
The awards show took place at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at
Lincoln Center.
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