Playwrights Horizons wins big with New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards

A Strange Loop and Heroes of the Fourth Turning are the 2019-2020 'Best Musical' and 'Best Play,' respectively.

The New York Theatre Guide would like to congratulate Playwrights Horizons, Michael R. Jackson and Will Arbery, following the announcement of the winners of this season's New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards.

The organization is comprised of 20 theater critics, with our very own Joe Dziemianowicz serving as vice president, and was established in 1936 as America's second-oldest theater award (after the Pulitzer Prize for Drama). The committee met yesterday for its 85th annual voting process and the winners will be presented with their respective awards in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, April 28.

The Award for 'Best Musical' goes to Michael R. Jackson, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the highly acclaimed (and equally unconventional) musical A Strange Loop. The production ran at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater from May 24 through July 28, 2019, under the direction of Stephen Brackett. Read our 4-star review.

Will Arbery's Heroes of the Fourth Turning took home the prize (a $2,500 cash prize made possible by a grant from the Lucille Lortel Foundation) for 'Best Play.' This production, directed by Danya Taymor, also played Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater with a limited engagement from September 13 through November 17, 2019. Read our 4-star review.

Congratulations to Playwrights Horizons and Artistic Director Tim Sanford for staging these two winning world premieres.

The New York Drama Critics' Circle also cited special recognition for New Wave icon David Byrne and his widely celebrated Broadway premiere of American Utopia (which is currently scheduled to return to the Hudson Theatre from September 18, 2020), as well as stage veteran Deirdre O'Connell for career excellence including her most recent performance in Dana H. at the Vineyard Theatre. Finally, a special mention also went to the New York theater community as a whole for its determined perseverance in the face of loss during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

^{(Photos by Joan Marcus)}