Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical

{{Infobox award

| name = Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Book of a Musical

| awarded_for = Outstanding Book of a Musical

| presenter = Drama Desk

| location = New York City

| country = United States

| year = 1969

| holder = Will Aronson and Hue Park for Maybe Happy Ending (2025)

| website = {{Website defunct|dramadesk.org}}

}}

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. It was first presented at the 1969 ceremony, under the shorter name Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book, changing to its current name as of the 1988 ceremony.

For two years, in addition to the award for Outstanding Book, an award was presented to the writers of the Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Book. In 1972, that award went to Melvin Van Peebles for Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, while the 1973 award went to Ron House and Diz White for El Grande de Coco-Cola.

Winners and nominees

=1960s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1969
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Peter Stone \| *1776*

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1969

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Peter Stone

| 1776

=1970s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1970
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| George Furth \| *Company*
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1971
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Burt Shevelove \| *No, No, Nanette*
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1972
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| John Guare and Mel Shapiro \| *Two Gentlemen of Verona*
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1973
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Hugh Wheeler \| *A Little Night Music*
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1974
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Hugh Wheeler \| *Candide*
align="center"\| 1975 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="4" align="center"\| 1976
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante \| *A Chorus Line*
Alfred Uhry \| The Robber Bridegroom
John Weidman \| Pacific Overtures
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1977
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Thomas Meehan \| *Annie*
align="center"\| 1978 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1979
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Hugh Wheeler \| *Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street*

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1970

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| George Furth

| Company

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1971

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Burt Shevelove

| No, No, Nanette

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1972

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| John Guare and Mel Shapiro

| Two Gentlemen of Verona

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1973

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Hugh Wheeler

| A Little Night Music

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1974

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Hugh Wheeler

| Candide

align="center"| 1975

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="4" align="center"| 1976

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante

| A Chorus Line

Alfred Uhry

| The Robber Bridegroom

John Weidman

| Pacific Overtures

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1977

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Thomas Meehan

| Annie

align="center"| 1978

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1979

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Hugh Wheeler

| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

=1980s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
align="center"\| 1980–1983 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="4" align="center"\| 1984
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| James Lapine \| *Sunday in the Park with George*
Harvey Fierstein \| La Cage aux Folles
Garry Trudeau \| Doonesbury
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1985
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Jerry Colker \| *Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down*
rowspan="4" align="center"\| 1986
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Rupert Holmes \| *The Mystery of Edwin Drood*
Marta Kauffman, Seth Friedman and David Crane \| Personals
Warren Leight \| Mayor
rowspan="3" align="center"\| 1987
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| L. Arthur Rose, Douglas Furber, Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent \| *Me and My Girl*
Barry Harman \| Olympus on My Mind
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1988
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| James Lapine \| *Into the Woods*
align="center"\| 1989 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

align="center"| 1980–1983

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="4" align="center"| 1984

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| James Lapine

| Sunday in the Park with George

Harvey Fierstein

| La Cage aux Folles

Garry Trudeau

| Doonesbury

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1985

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Jerry Colker

| Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down

rowspan="4" align="center"| 1986

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Rupert Holmes

| The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Marta Kauffman, Seth Friedman and David Crane

| Personals

Warren Leight

| Mayor

rowspan="3" align="center"| 1987

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| L. Arthur Rose, Douglas Furber, Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent

| Me and My Girl

Barry Harman

| Olympus on My Mind

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1988

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| James Lapine

| Into the Woods

align="center"| 1989

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

=1990s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1990
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Larry Gelbart \| *City of Angels*
rowspan="3" align="center"\| 1991
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Marsha Norman \| *The Secret Garden*
John Weidman \| Assassins
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1992
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| George C. Wolfe \| *Jelly's Last Jam*
align="center"\| 1993 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="3" align="center"\| 1994
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| James Lapine \| *Passion*
Michael John LaChiusa \| Hello Again
align="center"\| 1995 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="6" align="center"\| 1996
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Jonathan Larson \| *Rent*
Graciela Daniele and Jim Lewis \| Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Laurence Klavan \| Bed and Sofa
Tina Landau \| Floyd Collins
John Weidman \| Big: the musical
align="center"\| 1997 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="2" align="center"\| 1998
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Terrence McNally \| *Ragtime*
rowspan="3" align="center"\| 1999
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Alfred Uhry \| *Parade*
William Finn and James Lapine \| A New Brain

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1990

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Larry Gelbart

| City of Angels

rowspan="3" align="center"| 1991

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Marsha Norman

| The Secret Garden

John Weidman

| Assassins

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1992

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| George C. Wolfe

| Jelly's Last Jam

align="center"| 1993

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="3" align="center"| 1994

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| James Lapine

| Passion

Michael John LaChiusa

| Hello Again

align="center"| 1995

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="6" align="center"| 1996

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Jonathan Larson

| Rent

Graciela Daniele and Jim Lewis

| Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Laurence Klavan

| Bed and Sofa

Tina Landau

| Floyd Collins

John Weidman

| Big: the musical

align="center"| 1997

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="2" align="center"| 1998

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Terrence McNally

| Ragtime

rowspan="3" align="center"| 1999

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Alfred Uhry

| Parade

William Finn and James Lapine

| A New Brain

=2000s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
align="center"\| 2000 \| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
rowspan="6" align="center"\| 2001
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan \| *The Producers*
Kirsten Childs \| The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming \| Bat Boy: The Musical
Greg Kotis \| Urinetown
Terrence McNally \| The Full Monty
rowspan="5" align="center"\| 2002
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| John Lahr and Elaine Stritch \| *Elaine Stritch at Liberty*
John Guare \| Sweet Smell of Success
Jonathan Larson and David Auburn \| Tick, Tick... BOOM!
Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan \| Thoroughly Modern Millie
rowspan="6" align="center"\| 2003
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan \| *Hairspray*
Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris \| Zanna, Don't!
Terrence McNally \| A Man of No Importance
Jeremy Sams and Didier Van Cauwelaert \| Amour
Jeff Whitty \| Avenue Q
rowspan="3" align="center"\| 2004
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Winnie Holzman \| *Wicked*
Tony Kushner \| Caroline, or Change
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2005
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Rachel Sheinkin \| *The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*
Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe \| Cam Jansen
Kevin Del Aguila \| Altar Boyz
Mark Harelik \| The Immigrant
Eric Idle \| Monty Python's Spamalot
Jeffrey Lane \| Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
rowspan="4" align="center"\| 2006
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Bob Martin and Don McKellar \| *The Drowsy Chaperone*
Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman \| Jersey Boys
Doug Wright \| Grey Gardens
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2007
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone \| *Curtains*
Scott Brown and Anthony King \| Gutenberg! The Musical!
Julian Fellowes \| Mary Poppins
Heather Hach \| Legally Blonde
Steven Sater \| Spring Awakening
Alfred Uhry \| LoveMusik
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2008
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Douglas Carter Beane \| *Xanadu*
Harvey Fierstein \| A Catered Affair
Ben Katchor \| The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt \| Adding Machine
Stew \| Passing Strange
Eric H. Weinberger \| Wanda's World
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2009
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Lee Hall \| *Billy Elliot the Musical*
Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis \| This Beautiful City
Joe DiPietro \| The Toxic Avenger
Brian Hill \| The Story of My Life
David Lindsay-Abaire \| Shrek the Musical
Patricia Resnick \| 9 to 5

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

align="center"| 2000

| colspan="2" {{n/a}}

rowspan="6" align="center"| 2001

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan

| The Producers

Kirsten Childs

| The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin

Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming

| Bat Boy: The Musical

Greg Kotis

| Urinetown

Terrence McNally

| The Full Monty

rowspan="5" align="center"| 2002

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| John Lahr and Elaine Stritch

| Elaine Stritch at Liberty

John Guare

| Sweet Smell of Success

Jonathan Larson and David Auburn

| Tick, Tick... BOOM!

Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan

| Thoroughly Modern Millie

rowspan="6" align="center"| 2003

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan

| Hairspray

Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris

| Zanna, Don't!

Terrence McNally

| A Man of No Importance

Jeremy Sams and Didier Van Cauwelaert

| Amour

Jeff Whitty

| Avenue Q

rowspan="3" align="center"| 2004

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Winnie Holzman

| Wicked

Tony Kushner

| Caroline, or Change

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2005

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Rachel Sheinkin

| The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe

| Cam Jansen

Kevin Del Aguila

| Altar Boyz

Mark Harelik

| The Immigrant

Eric Idle

| Monty Python's Spamalot

Jeffrey Lane

| Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

rowspan="4" align="center"| 2006

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Bob Martin and Don McKellar

| The Drowsy Chaperone

Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman

| Jersey Boys

Doug Wright

| Grey Gardens

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2007

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone

| Curtains

Scott Brown and Anthony King

| Gutenberg! The Musical!

| Mary Poppins

| Legally Blonde

| LoveMusik

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2008

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Douglas Carter Beane

| Xanadu

Harvey Fierstein

| A Catered Affair

Ben Katchor

| The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island

Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt

| Adding Machine

Stew

| Passing Strange

Eric H. Weinberger

| Wanda's World

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2009

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Lee Hall

| Billy Elliot the Musical

Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis

| This Beautiful City

Joe DiPietro

| The Toxic Avenger

Brian Hill

| The Story of My Life

David Lindsay-Abaire

| Shrek the Musical

Patricia Resnick

| 9 to 5

=2010s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2010
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Alex Timbers \| *Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson*
Joe DiPietro \| Memphis
Joe Iconis \| Bloodsong of Love
Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott \| Everyday Rapture
David Thompson \| The Scottsboro Boys
David Zellnik \| Yank!
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2011
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Adam Mathias \| *See Rock City and Other Destinations*
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth \| In Transit
Iris Rainer Dart \| The People in the Picture
Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott \| Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone \| The Book of Mormon
Michael Zam \| The Kid
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2012
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Joe DiPietro \| *Nice Work If You Can Get It*
Douglas Carter Beane \| Lysistrata Jones
Janus Cercone and Warren Leight \| Leap of Faith
Joy Gregory \| The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World
Michael John LaChiusa \| Queen of the Mist
Thomas Meehan and Peter Stone \| Death Takes a Holiday
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2013
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Dennis Kelly \| *Matilda the Musical*
Sybille Pearson \| Giant
Joseph Robinette \| A Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen \| The Other Josh Cohen
Jeff Whitty \| Bring It On: The Musical
Doug Wright \| Hands on a Hardbody
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2014
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Robert L. Freedman \| *A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder*
Chad Beguelin \| Aladdin
Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair \| Murder for Two
Lisa Kron \| Fun Home
Douglas McGrath \| Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Marsha Norman \| The Bridges of Madison County
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2015
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Lin-Manuel Miranda \| *Hamilton*
Hunter Bell and Lee Overtree \| Found
Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell \| Something Rotten!
Craig Lucas \| An American in Paris
Terrence McNally \| The Visit
Kim Rosenstock, Will Connolly, and Michael Mitnick \| Fly by Night
rowspan="4" align="center"\| 2016
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| John Caird \| *Daddy Long Legs*
Michael John LaChiusa \| First Daughter Suite
Jessie Nelson \| Waitress
rowspan="6" \|2017
style="background:#B0C4DE" \|Irene Sankoff and David Hein \|*Come from Away*
Terrence McNally \|Anastasia
Itamar Moses \|The Band's Visit
Richard Oberacker and Rob Taylor \|Bandstand
Joe Tracz \|The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
rowspan="5" \|2018
style="background:#B0C4DE" \|Tina Fey \|*Mean Girls*
Kyle Jarrow \|SpongeBob SquarePants
Peter Kellogg \|Desperate Measures
Hannah Moscovitch \|Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
rowspan="6" \|2019
style="background:#B0C4DE" \|Robert Horn \|*Tootsie*
Scott Brown and Anthony King \|Beetlejuice
Andrew R. Butler \|Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin \|The Prom
Dominique Morisseau \|Ain't Too Proud

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2010

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Alex Timbers

| Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Joe DiPietro

| Memphis

Joe Iconis

| Bloodsong of Love

Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott

| Everyday Rapture

David Thompson

| The Scottsboro Boys

David Zellnik

| Yank!

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2011

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Adam Mathias

| See Rock City and Other Destinations

Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth

| In Transit

Iris Rainer Dart

| The People in the Picture

Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott

| Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone

| The Book of Mormon

Michael Zam

| The Kid

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2012

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Joe DiPietro

| Nice Work If You Can Get It

Douglas Carter Beane

| Lysistrata Jones

Janus Cercone and Warren Leight

| Leap of Faith

Joy Gregory

| The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World

Michael John LaChiusa

| Queen of the Mist

Thomas Meehan and Peter Stone

| Death Takes a Holiday

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2013

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Dennis Kelly

| Matilda the Musical

Sybille Pearson

| Giant

Joseph Robinette

| A Christmas Story: The Musical

David Rossmer and Steve Rosen

| The Other Josh Cohen

Jeff Whitty

| Bring It On: The Musical

Doug Wright

| Hands on a Hardbody

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2014

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Robert L. Freedman

| A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

Chad Beguelin

| Aladdin

Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair

| Murder for Two

Lisa Kron

| Fun Home

Douglas McGrath

| Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Marsha Norman

| The Bridges of Madison County

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2015

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Lin-Manuel Miranda

| Hamilton

Hunter Bell and Lee Overtree

| Found

Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell

| Something Rotten!

Craig Lucas

| An American in Paris

Terrence McNally

| The Visit

Kim Rosenstock, Will Connolly, and Michael Mitnick

| Fly by Night

rowspan="4" align="center"| 2016

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| John Caird

| Daddy Long Legs

Michael John LaChiusa

| First Daughter Suite

Jessie Nelson

| Waitress

rowspan="6" |2017

style="background:#B0C4DE"

|Irene Sankoff and David Hein

|Come from Away

Richard Oberacker and Rob Taylor

|Bandstand

Joe Tracz

|The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

rowspan="5" |2018

style="background:#B0C4DE"

|Tina Fey

|Mean Girls

Kyle Jarrow

|SpongeBob SquarePants

Peter Kellogg

|Desperate Measures

Hannah Moscovitch

|Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story

rowspan="6" |2019

style="background:#B0C4DE"

|Robert Horn

|Tootsie

Scott Brown and Anthony King

|Beetlejuice

Andrew R. Butler

|Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future

Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin

|The Prom

Dominique Morisseau

|Ain't Too Proud

=2020s=

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
style="background:#bebebe;" ! style="width:10%;"\| Year ! style="width:30%;"\| Writer ! style="width:60%;"\| Production
rowspan="7" align="center"\| 2020
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Michael R. Jackson \| *A Strange Loop*
David Henry Hwang \| Soft Power
Dave Malloy \| Octet
Lynn Nottage \| The Secret Life of Bees
Mark Saltzman \| Romeo & Bernadette
Dick Scanlan \| The Unsinkable Molly Brown
2021 \| colspan="2" {{n/a\|No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City{{cite news \|title=Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic" \|first=Greg \|last=Evans \|date=2021-05-05 \|work=Deadline Hollywood \|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/broadway-reopen-september-14-andrew-cuomo-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow-1234750270/ \|access-date=2023-12-03 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602084344/https://deadline.com/2021/05/broadway-reopen-september-14-andrew-cuomo-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow-1234750270/ \|archive-date=2023-06-02 \|url-status=live}}}}
rowspan="5" align="center"\| 2022
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Bruce Sussman \| *Harmony: A New Musical*
Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel \| Mr. Saturday Night
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss \| Six
Lynn Nottage \| Intimate Apparel
rowspan="6" align="center"\| 2023
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Matthew López and Amber Ruffin \| *Some Like It Hot*
Jonathan Hogue \| Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical
Robert Horn \| Shucked
Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue \| Titanique
David West Read \| & Juliet
style="background:#B0C4DE" ! rowspan="5" align="center"\|2024{{Cite web \|date=2024-06-10 \|title=Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards with 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play - Playbill.com \|url=https://playbill.com/article/stereophonic-leads-2024-drama-desk-awards-with-7-wins-including-outstanding-play \|access-date=2024-06-13 \|language=en-US}} \| Itamar Moses \| *Dead Outlaw*
Justin Huertas \| Lizard Boy: The Musical
Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs \| Teeth
Michael John LaChiusa \| The Gardens of Anuncia
Rebekah Green Melocik \| How to Dance in Ohio
rowspan=7 \| 2025{{cite web\|title=Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here\|first=Logan\|last=Culwell-Block\|date=April 30, 2025\|url=https://playbill.com/article/boop-leads-2025-drama-desk-award-nominations-with-11-nods-including-outstanding-musical-read-the-full-list-here\|access-date=May 4, 2025}}
style="background:#B0C4DE" \| Will Aronson and Hue Park \| Maybe Happy Ending
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts \| Operation Mincemeat
Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver \| Just in Time
Bob Martin \| Boop! The Musical
Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage \| The Big Gay Jamboree
Marco Pennette \| Death Becomes Her

class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"

style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:10%;"| Year

! style="width:30%;"| Writer

! style="width:60%;"| Production

rowspan="7" align="center"| 2020

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Michael R. Jackson

| A Strange Loop

David Henry Hwang

| Soft Power

Dave Malloy

| Octet

Lynn Nottage

| The Secret Life of Bees

Mark Saltzman

| Romeo & Bernadette

Dick Scanlan

| The Unsinkable Molly Brown

2021

| colspan="2" {{n/a|No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City{{cite news |title=Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic" |first=Greg |last=Evans |date=2021-05-05 |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/broadway-reopen-september-14-andrew-cuomo-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow-1234750270/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602084344/https://deadline.com/2021/05/broadway-reopen-september-14-andrew-cuomo-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow-1234750270/ |archive-date=2023-06-02 |url-status=live}}}}

rowspan="5" align="center"| 2022

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Bruce Sussman

| Harmony: A New Musical

Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel

| Mr. Saturday Night

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss

| Six

Lynn Nottage

| Intimate Apparel

rowspan="6" align="center"| 2023

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Matthew López and Amber Ruffin

| Some Like It Hot

Jonathan Hogue

| Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical

Robert Horn

| Shucked

Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue

| Titanique

David West Read

| & Juliet

style="background:#B0C4DE"

! rowspan="5" align="center"|2024{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards with 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play - Playbill.com |url=https://playbill.com/article/stereophonic-leads-2024-drama-desk-awards-with-7-wins-including-outstanding-play |access-date=2024-06-13 |language=en-US}}

| Itamar Moses

| Dead Outlaw

Justin Huertas

| Lizard Boy: The Musical

Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs

| Teeth

Michael John LaChiusa

| The Gardens of Anuncia

Rebekah Green Melocik

| How to Dance in Ohio

rowspan=7 | 2025{{cite web|title=Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here|first=Logan|last=Culwell-Block|date=April 30, 2025|url=https://playbill.com/article/boop-leads-2025-drama-desk-award-nominations-with-11-nods-including-outstanding-musical-read-the-full-list-here|access-date=May 4, 2025}}

style="background:#B0C4DE"

| Will Aronson and Hue Park

| Maybe Happy Ending

David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts

| Operation Mincemeat

Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver

| Just in Time

Bob Martin

| Boop! The Musical

Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage

| The Big Gay Jamboree

Marco Pennette