2024-2025 AWARDS
The New York Drama Critics’ Circle met at the New York offices of Time Out Media on Monday, May 5, 2025 to determine the winners of its 89th annual awards. In addition to Best Play and Best Musical, the Circle voted on two new awards: Best Individual Performance and Best Ensemble Performance. The results were as follows:
Best Play: Purpose (Branden Jacobs-Jenkins)
Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending (Will Aronson and Hue Park)
Best Individual Performance: Andrew Scott, Vanya
Best Ensemble Performance: The cast of Liberation
Special Citations: Cole Escola for Oh, Mary!; Cats: The Jellicle Ball; David Greenspan for lifetime achievement
On the first ballot for Best Play, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s Purpose placed first with 9 votes, short of a majority of the 23 active members. A second vote was then taken to determine whether an award would be given at all. Having agreed that one should, the Circle moved to third and fourth ballots. In the end, Purpose won with 34 points, edging out The Hills of California (31 points), John Proctor is the Villain (27 points) and Liberation (22 points).
Maybe Happy Ending handily won a majority on the first ballot for Best Musical, with 18 votes.
On the first ballot for Best Individual Performance, a new category, Vanya’s Andrew Scott and Gypsy’s Audra McDonald tied for first with five votes a piece but no candidate won a majority. Hotly contested third, fourth and fifth ballots ensued, with fewer candidates each time. When the smoke cleared, Scott had won with 29 points, followed by Cole Escola and Sarah Snook (26 points) and Jasmine Amy Rogers (21 points).
On the first ballot for the other new category, Best Ensemble Performance, the Circle moved to a weighted third ballot. Liberation won on the fourth ballot with 29 points, followed by The Hills of California (27 points) and Cats: The Jellicle Ball (26 points) and Purpose (20 points).
The Circle also voted to award three Special Citations: to Cole Escola for Oh, Mary!; Cats: The Jellicle Ball; David Greenspan for lifetime achievement.
The awards will be presented in a private ceremony on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
David Barbour: Liberation
David Cote (proxy): John Proctor Is the Villain
Joe Dziemianowicz: Purpose
Greg Evans (proxy): Here There Are Blueberries
Adam Feldman: Purpose
Rhoda Feng: John Proctor is the Villain
David Finkle: The Hills of California
Elysa Gardner: Purpose
Robert Hofler: Liberation
Sara Holdren (proxy): Liberation
Charles Isherwood: Here There Are Blueberries
Chris Jones: The Hills of California
Soraya Nadia McDonald (proxy): Purpose
Jackson McHenry: Liberation
Johnny Oleksinski: Purpose
Brittani Samuel: Purpose
Frank Scheck: Purpose
Helen Shaw: Liberation
David Sheward: Purpose
Zachary Stewart: Purpose
Tim Teeman: Liberation
Elisabeth Vincentelli: The Hills of California
Matt Windman: John Proctor is the Villain
David Barbour:
Liberation
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
David Cote (proxy)::
John Proctor is the Villain
Purpose
Deep Blue Sound
Joe Dziemianowicz:
Purpose
John Proctor is the Villain
The Antiquities
Greg Evans (proxy):
Here There Are Blueberries
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Adam Feldman:
Purpose
The Hills of California
Grangeville
Rhoda Feng:
John Proctor is the Villain
Liberation
The Picture of Dorian Gray
David Finkle:
The Hills of California
Here There Are Blueberries
Cult of Love
Elysa Gardner:
Purpose
The Hills of California
The Antiquities
Robert Hofler:
Liberation
Purpose
Becoming Eve
Sara Holdren (proxy):
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Vanya
Charles Isherwood:
Here There Are Blueberries
We Had a World
Grangeville
Chris Jones:
The Hills of California
Purpose
Cult of Love
Soraya Nadia McDonald:
Purpose
Liberation
Here There Are Blueberries
Jackson McHenry:
Liberation
Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp.
Deep Blue Sound
Johnny Oleksinski:
Purpose
We Had a World
The Hills of California
Brittani Samuel:
Purpose
The Hills of California
The Great Privation (How to flip ten cents into a dollar)
Frank Scheck:
Purpose
The Hills of California
Grangeville
Helen Shaw:
Kara & Emma & Barbara & Miranda
Liberation
Purpose
David Sheward:
Purpose
The Antiquities
John Proctor is the Villain
Zachary Stewart:
The Hills of California
Purpose
Liberation
Tim Teeman:
Liberation
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp.
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
The Hills of California
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Matt Windman:
John Proctor is the Villain
The Hills of California
We Had a World
Best Play, fourth ballot:
David Barbour:
The Hills of California
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Joe Dziemianowicz:
Purpose
John Proctor is the Villain
The Hills of California
Adam Feldman:
Purpose
The Hills of California
Liberation
Rhoda Feng:
John Proctor is the Villain
Liberation
Purpose
David Finkle:
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Purpose
Elysa Gardner:
Purpose
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Robert Hofler:
Liberation
Purpose
The Hills of California
Charles Isherwood:
John Proctor is the Villain
The Hills of California
Purpose
Chris Jones:
The Hills of California
Purpose
Liberation
Jackson McHenry:
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Purpose
Johnny Oleksinski:
Purpose
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Brittani Samuel:
Purpose
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Frank Scheck:
Purpose
The Hills of California
Liberation
Helen Shaw:
John Proctor is the Villain
Liberation
Purpose
David Sheward:
Purpose
John Proctor is the Villain
Liberation
Zachary Stewart:
The Hills of California
Purpose
Liberation
Tim Teeman:
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Purpose
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
The Hills of California
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Matt Windman:
John Proctor is the Villain
The Hills of California
Purpose
David Barbour: Maybe Happy Ending
David Cote (proxy): Maybe Happy Ending
Joe Dziemianowicz: Maybe Happy Ending
Greg Evans (proxy): Death Becomes Her
Adam Feldman: Maybe Happy Ending
Rhoda Feng: Maybe Happy Ending
David Finkle: Operation Mincemeat
Elysa Gardner: Maybe Happy Ending
Robert Hofler:Maybe Happy Ending
Sara Holdren (proxy): Operation Mincemeat
Charles Isherwood: Maybe Happy Ending
Chris Jones: Maybe Happy Ending
Soraya Nadia McDonald (proxy): Operation Mincemeat
Jackson McHenry: Maybe Happy Ending
Johnny Oleksinski: Maybe Happy Ending
Brittani Samuel: Maybe Happy Ending
Frank Scheck: Maybe Happy Ending
Helen Shaw: Maybe Happy Ending
David Sheward: Operation Mincemeat
Zachary Stewart: Maybe Happy Ending
Tim Teeman: Maybe Happy Ending
Elisabeth Vincentelli: Maybe Happy Ending
Matt Windman: Maybe Happy Ending
Best Individual Performance, first ballot:
David Barbour: Andrew Scott, Vanya
David Cote (proxy): Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Joe Dziemianowicz: Andrew Scott, Vanya
Greg Evans: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Adam Feldman: Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Rhoda Feng: Audra McDonald, Gypsy
David Finkle: Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Elysa Gardner: Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Robert Hofler: Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve
Sara Holdren (proxy): Andrew Scott, Vanya
Charles Isherwood:Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Chris Jones: Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Soraya Nadia McDonald: Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jackson McHenry: Andrew Scott, Vanya
Johnny Oleksinski: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Brittani Samuel: Michelle Wilson, The Fires
Frank Scheck: Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Helen Shaw: Steve Mellor, The Barbarians
David Sheward: Andrew Scott, Vanya
Zachary Stewart: Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Tim Teeman: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Elisabeth Vincentelli: Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Matt Windman: Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Best Individual Performance, third ballot:
David Barbour:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
David Cote (proxy):
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jonathan Groff, Just In Time
Joe Dziemianowicz:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
David Greenspan, I Assume You Know David Greenspan
Greg Evans (proxy):
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Jonathan Groff, Just In Time
Adam Feldman:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Rhoda Feng:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
David Finkle:
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
F. Murray Abraham, Krapp’s Last Tape
Kit Connor, Romeo + Juliet
Elysa Gardner:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
F. Murray Abraham, Krapp’s Last Tape
Robert Hofler:
Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Sara Holdren (proxy):
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Charles Isherwood:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
Chris Jones:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Soraya Nadia McDonald (proxy):
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Kara Young, Purpose
Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain
Jackson McHenry:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
David Greenspan, I’m Assuming You Know David Greenspan
Johnny Oleksinski:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Brittani Samuel:
Michelle Wilson, The Fires
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Frank Scheck:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Helen Shaw:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Steve Mellor, The Barbarians
David Sheward:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Zachary Stewart:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Tim Teeman:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Matt Windman:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Best Individual Performance, fourth ballot:
David Barbour:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Joe Dziemianowicz:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Adam Feldman:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Rhoda Feng:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
David Finkle:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Elysa Gardner:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Robert Hofler:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Charles Isherwood:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Chris Jones:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Jackson McHenry:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Johnny Oleksinski:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
\
Brittani Samuel:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Frank Scheck:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Helen Shaw:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
David Sheward:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Zachary Stewart:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Tim Teeman:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Matt Windman:
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Best Individual Performance, fifth ballot:
David Barbour:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Joe Dziemianowicz:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Adam Feldman:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Rhoda Feng:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
David Finkle:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Elysa Gardner:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Robert Hofler:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Charles Isherwood:
Abstain
Chris Jones:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jackson McHenry:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Johnny Oleksinski:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Brittani Samuel:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Frank Scheck:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Helen Shaw:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
David Sheward:
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Zachary Stewart:
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop!
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Tim Teeman:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
Abstain
Matt Windman:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Ensemble Performance, first ballot:
David Barbour: Deep Blue Sound
David Cote (proxy): Liberation
Joe Dziemianowicz: The Hills of California
Greg Evans: John Proctor is the Villain
Adam Feldman: Purpose
Rhoda Feng: Liberation
David Finkle: Operation Mincemeat
Elysa Gardner: The Hills of California
Robert Hofler: Hold On To Me Darling
Sara Holdren (proxy): Liberation
Charles Isherwood: Purpose
Chris Jones: Purpose
Soraya Nadia McDonald (proxy): John Proctor is the Villain
Jackson McHenry: Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Johnny Oleksinski: Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Brittani Samuel: Liberation
Frank Scheck: Purpose
Helen Shaw: Liberation
David Sheward: Operation Mincemeat
Zachary Stewart: Burnout Paradise
Tim Teeman: Operation Mincemeat
Elisabeth Vincentelli: Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Matt Windman: Dead Outlaw
Best Ensemble Performance, third ballot:
David Barbour:
Deep Blue Sound
Liberation
The Hills of California
David Cote (proxy):
Liberation
Operation Mincemeat
Buena Vista Social Club
Joe Dziemianowicz:
The Hills of California
Liberation
Operation Mincemeat
Adam Feldman:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
Liberation
Rhoda Feng:
Liberation
Purpose
Henry IV
David Finkle:
Operation Mincemeat
The Hills of California
Dead Outlaw
Elysa Gardner:
The Hills of California
Wine in the Wilderness
Henry IV
Robert Hofler:
Hold On to Me Darling
Dead Outlaw
Purpose
Sara Holdren (proxy):
Liberation
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
John Proctor is the Villain
Charles Isherwood:
Purpose
John Proctor
The Hills of California
Chris Jones:
Purpose
Dead Outlaw
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Jackson McHenry:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Johnny Oleksinski:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
The Hills of California
Brittani Samuel:
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
Eureka Day
Frank Scheck:
Purpose
Dead Outlaw
The Hills of California
Helen Shaw:
Deep Blue Sound
Liberation
John Proctor is the Villain
David Sheward:
Operation Mincemeat
Liberation
The Antiquities
Zachary Stewart:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Operation Mincemeat
Liberation
Tim Teeman:
Eureka Day
Operation Mincemeat
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Liberation
Hills of California
Matt Windman:
Dead Outlaw
The Hills of California
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Best Ensemble Performance, fourth ballot:
David Barbour:
Liberation
The Hills of California
Purpose
Joe Dziemianowicz:
The Hills of California
Liberation
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Adam Feldman:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
Liberation
Rhoda Feng:
Liberation
Purpose
The Hills of California
David Finkle:
Abstain
Elysa Gardner:
The Hills of California
Purpose
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Robert Hofler:
Liberation
The Hills of California
Purpose
Charles Isherwood:
Abstain
Chris Jones:
The Hills of California
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
Jackson McHenry:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Liberation
Purpose
Johnny Oleksinski:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
The Hills of California
Brittani Samuel:
Liberation
Purpose
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Frank Scheck:
Purpose
The Hills of California
Liberation
Helen Shaw:
Liberation
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
The Hills of California
David Sheward:
Liberation
The Hills of California
Purpose
Zachary Stewart:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
The Hills of California
Liberation
Tim Teeman:
Liberation
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
Elisabeth Vincentelli:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
The Hills of California
Liberation
Matt Windman:
The Hills of California
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Purpose
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