2012 NY Drama Critics’ Circle Awards

The New York Drama Critics' Circle met on 7 May 2012, to determine the winners of its 77th annual awards. The results were as follows:

Best Play: Sons of the Prophet, by Stephen Karam
Best Foreign Play: Tribes, by Nina Raine
Best Musical: Once, by Enda Walsh, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglova
Special Citations: Signature Theatre Company; Mike Nichols for his contribution to the theater.

The first ballot for Best Play was highly diverse; with no single play received more than five of the 25 total votes. On the third ballot (weighted), Tribes (30 points) took a slight lead over Sons of the Prophet (28 points) and 4000 Miles (23 points), but none reached the requisite threshold of 38 points. The Circle moved to a fourth ballot that reduced the field to the third ballot's top four vote-getters. Sons of the Prophet won this ballot with 40 points (versus 35 for Tribes and 31 for 4000 Miles).

The Circle then moved to the award for Best Foreign Play, which Tribes narrowly won on the first ballot with 13 of 25 votes cast.

In the vote for Best Musical, Once lost by a hair on the first ballot (with 12 votes out of 25) before winning by a decisive margin on the third ballot.

After a discussion of many eligible candidates, the Circle voted to award two Special Citations: to the Signature Theatre Company on the occasion of its major expansion; and to director Mike Nichols for career achievement.

The awards will be presented at a private ceremony at Angus McIndoe Restaurant on 14 May 2012.

Best PlayBest Foreign PlayBest Musical

Originally published on Oct 19, 201700:00

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