Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical

The Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical is an award presented annually at the Lucille Lortel Awards to honor excellence in Off-Broadway musical productions since 1991, when the category was added.

Winners and nominees

Key

1990s

Year

Production

Author(s)

Producers

Ref.

1991

Falsettoland

William Finn and James Lapine

Playwrights Horizons

1992

And the World Goes 'Round

John Kander and Fred Ebb

Manhattan Theatre Club

1993

Forbidden Broadway

Gerard Alessandrini

1994

Wings

Maury Yeston

1995

Jelly Roll!

Eubie Blake and Fredi Washington

1996

Floyd Collins

Adam Guettel and Tina Landau

Playwrights Horizons

1997

Violet

Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley

1998

No award given.

1999

2000s

Year

Production

Author(s)

Producers

Ref.

2000

James Joyce's The Dead

Richard Nelson and Adam Guettel

Playwrights Horizons

2001

Bat Boy: The Musical

Keythe Farley and Brian Fleming

Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Riot Entertainment, Robyn Goodman, Jean Doumanian, Michael Alden

American Rhapsody: A New Musical Revue

Ruth Leon, KT Sullivan, Mark Nadler

Louise Westergaard, Stephen Downey, Peter Martin

The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin

Kirsten Childs

Playwrights Horizons

Newyorkers

Stephen Weiner, Glenn Slater

Manhattan Theatre Club

Suburb

David Javerbaum, Robert S. Cohen

York Theatre Company

2002

Urinetown

Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann

The Araca Group and Dodger Theatricals, in association with TheaterDreams Inc. and Lauren Mitchell

Dragapella!

The Kinsey Sicks

Ben Schatz, Irwin Keller, Maurice Kelly, Chris Dilley, in association with Maria DiDia

The Last Five Years

Jason Robert Brown

Arielle Tepper, Marty Bell in association with Libby Adler Mages/Mari Glick, Rose/Land Productions

Tick, Tick… Boom!

Jonathan Larson

Victoria Leacock, Robyn Goodman, Dede Harris, Lorie Cowen Levy, Beth Smith

2003

Avenue Q

Jeff Whitty, Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx

Vineyard Theatre and The New Group

Hank Williams: Lost Highway

Hank Williams, Randal Myler and Mark Harelik

Manhattan Ensemble Theater

Radiant Baby

Stuart Ross, Ira Gasman and Debra Barsha

The Public Theater and New York Shakespeare Festival

Zanna, Don't!

Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris

Jack M. Dalgleish in association with Stephanie Joel

2004

Caroline, or Change

Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori

The Public Theater

Johnny Guitar

Nicholas van Hoogstraten, Joel Higgins and Martin Silvestri

Definite Maybe Productions and Mark Kress, in association with Victoria Lang & Pier Paolo Piccoli and The Century Center for the Performing Arts

The Musical of Musicals–The Musical!

Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart

York Theatre Company

2005

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Rachel Sheinkin, William Finn and Rebecca Feldman

Second Stage Theatre

Altar Boyz

Kevin Del Aguila, Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker

Ken Davenport and Robyn Goodman, in association with Walt Grossman, Ruth Hendel, Sharon Karmazin, Matt Murphy and Mark Shacket

Junie B. Jones

Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich

Theatreworks USA

Lone Star Love

John L. Haber, Jack Herrick and Robert Horn

Amas Musical Theatre

2006

The Seven

Will Power

New York Theatre Workshop

Bernarda Alba

Michael John LaChiusa

Lincoln Center Theater

Grey Gardens

Doug Wright, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie

Playwrights Horizons

See What I Wanna See

Michael John LaChiusa

The Public Theater

2007 (tie)

In the Heights

Quiara Alegría Hudes, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Jill Furman

Spring Awakening

Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik

Atlantic Theater Company, in association with Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman

Gutenberg! The Musical!

Scott Brown, Anthony King

Trevor Brown, Ron Kastner, Terry Allen Kramer, Joseph Smith, in association with Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

Striking 12

Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda

Nancy Nagel Gibbs and Greg Schaffert, in association with Mark Johannes and Amy Danis

2008

Adding Machine

Joshua Schmidt and Jason Loewith

Scott Morfee, Tom Wirtshafter, Margaret Cotter

Next to Normal

Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey

Second Stage Theatre

Passing Strange

Stew and Heidi Rodewald

The Public Theater, in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre

The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (or the Friends of Dr. Rushower)

Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy

Vineyard Theatre

Wanda's World

Eric H. Weinberger and Beth Falcone

Amas Musical Theatre, in association with Terry Schnuck

2009

Fela!

Jim Lewis, Bill T. Jones, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean

Ruth and Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay

My Vaudeville Man!

Jeff Hochhauser and Bob Johnston

York Theatre Company and Melanie Herman

Road Show

Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman

The Public Theater

Saved

Michael Friedman, John Dempsey and Rinne Groff

Playwrights Horizons, in association with Elephant Eye Theatrical

This Beautiful City

Michael Friedman, Steve Cosson and Jim Lewis

Vineyard Theatre

2010s

Year

Production

Author(s)

Producers

Ref.

2010

The Scottsboro Boys

David Thompson, John Kander, Fred Ebb

Vineyard Theatre

Click, Clack, Moo

Billy Aronson, Kevin Del Aguila, Brad Alexander, Doreen Cronin

Theatreworks USA

Everyday Rapture

Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott

Second Stage Theatre

The Toxic Avenger

Joe DiPietro and David Bryan

Jean Cheever and Tom Polum

Yank! A WWII Love Story

Joseph Zellnik and David Zellnik

York Theatre Company, Maren Berthelsen, Pamela Koslow, Stuart Wilk, Matt Schicker, Hugh Hayes, Jim Kierstead, Sondra Healy, Shidan Majidi

2011

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers

The Public Theater, Center Theatre Group and Les Freres Corbusier

In Transit

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

Primary Stages, the Baruch/Viertel/Routh/Frankel Group, Jane Bergere, Jodi Glucksman, Ken Greiner, Chip Meyrelles, Christina Papagjika, and Janet Rosen

The Burnt Part Boys

Chris Miller, Nathan Tysen, and Mariana Elder

Playwrights Horizons and Vineyard Theatre

The Kid

Andy Monroe, Jack Lechner and Michael Zam

The New Group

We the People: America Rocks!

Joe Iconis, Brad Alexander, Kevin Del Aguila, Eli Bolin, Sam Forman, Tommy Newman, Ryan Scott Oliver, Adam Overett, Mark Weiner, and Erik Weiner and Jordan Allen-Dutton

Theatreworks USA

2012

Once

Enda Walsh, Glen Hansard, and Markéta Irglová

New York Theatre Workshop

Queen of the Mist

Michael John LaChiusa

Transport Group

SILENCE! The Musical

Jon Kaplan, Al Kaplan, and Hunter Bell

Victoria Lang, Rich Affannato, Donna Trinkoff in association with Scott Kirschenbaum, Theater Mogul, Kitefliers Studio, Terry Schnuck, and John Arthur Pinckard

The Blue Flower

Jim Bauer and Ruth Bauer

Second Stage Theatre

The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World

Joy Gregory, Gunnar Madsen, and John Langs

Playwrights Horizons and New York Theatre Workshop

2013

Dogfight

Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Peter Duchan

Second Stage Theatre

Giant

Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson

The Public Theater in association with Dallas Theater Center

Murder Ballad

Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash

Manhattan Theatre Club

The Other Josh Cohen

David Rossmer and Steve Rosen

Amas Musical Theatre in association with Scandobean Productions, LLC

Skippyjon Jones

Kevin Del Aguila and Eli Bolin

Theatreworks USA

2014

Fun Home

Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron

The Public Theater

Here Lies Love

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, additional music by Tom Gandy and J Pardo

The Public Theater

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Dave Malloy

Howard & Janet Kagan, Paula Marie Black, John Logan, Lisa Matlin, Daveed Frazier, Tom Smedes, Vertical Ent./Roman Gambourg/Lev Gelfer

What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined

Burt Bacharach and Hal David, conceived by Kyle Riabko and David Lane Seltzer

New York Theatre Workshop

2015

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The Public Theater

The Fortress of Solitude

Itamar Moses and Michael Friedman

The Public Theater in association with Dallas Theater Center

The Lightning Thief

Rob Rokicki and Joe Tracz

Theatreworks USA

Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

Jonathan Christenson

Radio Mouse Entertainment, Martin Hummel, Caiola Productions, Terry Schnuck, Susan Jaffe Tane, Hernreich-Horvath Productions, Catalyst Theatre in association with Fireboat Productions, Mary Cossette, and Meredith Lynsey Schade

Pretty Filthy

Michael Friedman and Bess Wohl, conceived by Steve Cosson

The Civilians in association with Jon B. Platt

2016

Futurity

César Alvarez and The Lisps

Soho Rep, Ars Nova and Carole Shorenstein Hays

Iowa

Jenny Schwartz and Todd Almond

Playwrights Horizons

Southern Comfort

Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis, Kate Davis, Robert DuSold and Thomas Caruso

The Public Theater

Tappin’ Thru Life

Maurice Hines

Leonard Soloway, Bud Martin, Riki Kane Larimer, Jeff Wolk, Phyllis and Buddy Aerenson, and Darren P. DeVerna/Jeremiah J. Harris and the Shubert Organization

The Wildness: Sky-Pony's Rock Fairy Tale

Kyle Jarrow and Lauren Worsham

Ars Nova in collaboration with The Play Company

2017

The Band's Visit

David Yazbek and Itamar Moses and Eran Kolirin

Atlantic Theater Company

Dear Evan Hansen

Steven Levenson and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Second Stage Theatre in association with Stacey Mindich Productions

Hadestown

Anaïs Mitchell

New York Theatre Workshop

Ride the Cyclone

Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond

MCC Theater

The Total Bent

Stew and Heidi Rodewald

The Public Theater

2018

KPOP

Woodshed Collective, Jason Kim, Helen Park and Max Vernon

Ars Nova in association with Ma-Yi Theater Company and Woodshed Collective

Bella: An American Tall Tale

Kirsten Childs

Playwrights Horizons

Desperate Measures

Peter Kellogg and David Friedman

York Theatre Company in association with Cecilia Lin and Hu Guo

Hundred Days

The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher

New York Theatre Workshop

Jerry Springer: The Opera

Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas

The New Group

2019

Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future

Andrew R. Butler

Ars Nova

Be More Chill

Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz

Gerald Goehring, Michael F. Mitri, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Marc David Levine, Marlene and Gary Cohen, 42nd.club, The Baruch Frankel Viertel Group, Alisa and Charlie Thorne, Jenny Niederhoffer, Chris Blasting/Simpson & Longthorne, Brad Blume/Gemini Theatrical, Jonathan Demar/Kim Vasquez, Ben Holtzman and Sammy Lopez, Koenigsberg/Federman/Adler, Ashlee Latimer and Jenna Ushkowitz, Jenn Maley and Cori Stolbun, Robert and Joan Rechnitz, Fred and Randi Sternfeld, YesBroadway Productions, in association with Two River Theater

Girl from the North Country

Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan

The Public Theater

Midnight at the Never Get

Mark Sonnenblick and Sam Bolen

York Theatre Company by arrangement with Visceral Entertainment and Mark Cortale Productions, Nathaniel Granor, Jeff G. Peters, Daryl Roth, Megan Savage

Miss You Like Hell

Quiara Alegría Hudes and Erin McKeown

The Public Theater

2020s

Year

Production

Author(s)

Producers

Ref.

2020

Octet

Dave Malloy

Signature Theatre

A Strange Loop

Michael R. Jackson

Playwrights Horizons in association with Page 73 Productions

In the Green

Grace McLean

Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3

Soft Power

David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori

The Public Theater and Center Theatre Group

The Secret Life of Bees

Lynn Nottage and Duncan Sheik and Susan Birkenhead

Atlantic Theater Company

2021

No ceremony held due to COVID-19 pandemic.

2022

Kimberly Akimbo

David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori

Atlantic Theater Company

Black No More

John Ridley, Tariq Trotter, Anthony Tidd, James Poyser and Daryl Waters

The New Group

Intimate Apparel: A New Opera

Lynn Nottage and Ricky Ian Gordon

Lincoln Center Theater

Oratorio for Living Things

Heather Christian

Ars Nova

2023

Titanique

Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue

Eva Price, James L. Nederlander, Diamond Dog Entertainment LLC, Benj Pasek, Blumenthal Performing Arts, Penny Rousouli, Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum, Philip Byron, Marcia Ellis, Iris Smith and Stellar Live, Inc.

Dreaming Zenzile

Somi Kakoma

New York Theatre Workshop & National Black Theatre

Harmony

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Ken Davenport, Sandi Moran, Garry C. Kief, Amuse Inc., Patty Baker, Tom & Michael D’Angora, Susan DuBow, Michelle Kaplan, Mapleseed Productions, Harold Matzner and Neil Gooding Productions

Suffs

Shaina Taub

The Public Theater

Weightless

The Kilbanes

WP Theater

2024

(pray)

nicHi douglas, S T A R R Busby and JJJJJerome Ellis

Ars Nova and National Black Theatre

Buena Vista Social Club

Marco Ramirez and Buena Vista Social Club

Atlantic Theater Company

Dead Outlaw

David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna and Itamar Moses

Audible Theater

Hell's Kitchen

Alicia Keys and Kristoffer Diaz

The Public Theater

Teeth

Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson

Playwrights Horizons

2025

Three Houses

Dave Malloy

Signature Theatre Company

Drag: The Musical

Tomas Costanza, Justin Andrew Honard, and Ashley Gordon

Liza Minnelli, Tomas Costanza, Scott Prisand, Matthew Weaver, Paolo Coppola, Jodie Coppola, et al.

Medea: Re-Versed

Luis Quintero

Red Bull Theater and Bedlam in a co-production with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

The Big Gay Jamboree

Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage

Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Luckychap, Jillian Robbins, Hillary Wyatt, Indian Paintbrush, Runyonland et al.

We Live in Cairo

The Lazours

New York Theatre Workshop

2026

Mexodus

Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson

Audible Theater, P3 Productions, Gabrielle Palitz, Gina Maria Leonetti, Todd B. Rubin, Willette and Manny Klausner, and QM Productions / The Movement Theatre Company, MTTM Theatrics / Barzach Productions

Bigfoot! The Musical

Amber Ruffin, David Schmoll and Kevin Sciretta

Benson Drive Productions, David Carter, Frankly Spoken Productions, The Shubert Organization, Robin Thede, Carson Gleberman, Sean Nyberg, Adam Riemer, Stark Sands and Manhattan Theatre Club

My Joy is Heavy

The Bengsons

New York Theatre Workshop

Night Side Songs

The Lazours

Lincoln Center Theatre

Saturday Church

Sia, Damon Cardasis, James Ijames and Honey Dijon

New York Theatre Workshop

Artists with multiple wins

4 wins
  • Jeanine Tesori
2 wins
  • William Finn
  • John Kander
  • Fred Ebb
  • Adam Guettel
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Dave Malloy

Artists with multiple nominations

5 nominations
  • Jeanine Tesori
4 nominations
  • Kevin Del Aguila
  • Michael John LaChiusa
3 nominations
  • Benj Pasek
  • Dave Malloy
  • Itamar Moses
2 nominations
  • William Finn
  • John Kander
  • Fred Ebb
  • Adam Guettel
  • Kirsten Childs
  • Rachel Sheinkin
  • Quiara Alegría Hudes
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Duncan Sheik
  • Stew
  • Heidi Rodewald
  • Michael Friedman
  • Steve Cosson
  • Brad Alexander
  • Joe Iconis
  • Joe Tracz
  • Eli Bolin
  • Michael R. Jackson
  • Lynn Nottage
  • Marla Mindelle
  • David Yazbek
  • The Lazours

Theatres with multiple wins

4 wins
  • Playwrights Horizons
  • Manhattan Theatre Club
  • The Public Theater
  • Ars Nova
3 wins
  • Atlantic Theater Company
2 wins
  • Vineyard Theatre
  • Second Stage Theatre
  • New York Theatre Workshop

Theatres with multiple nomination

18 nominations
  • The Public Theater
13 nominations
  • Playwrights Horizons
10 nominations
  • New York Theatre Workshop
6 nominations
  • Manhattan Theatre Club
  • York Theatre Company
  • Second Stage Theatre
  • Ars Nova
5 nominations
  • Vineyard Theatre
  • Theatreworks USA
  • Atlantic Theater Company
4 nominations
  • The New Group
  • Lincoln Center Theater
3 nominations
  • Amas Musical Theatre
2 nominations
  • Center Theatre Group
  • Dallas Theater Center
  • National Black Theatre
  • Audible Theater

See also

  • Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical