Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical was an annual award given to the best actor in a musical on Broadway or Off-Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The award was named as "Best Actor in a Musical" until 1999.

The award was preceded by an award for Best Performance, but the newly gendered award for musical performance was first given out the 1987–1988 season through the season. The award was retired in 2022 and replaced by Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical and Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical in gender-neutral performance categories.

Nathan Lane held the record for most wins in the category, with three, with both Martin Short and Danny Burstein close behind with two wins each. Lane and Michael Cerveris have received the most nominations, with four each.

Awards winners

Key

1980s

Year	Actor	Work	Role
1988
1988	Michael Crawford	*The Phantom of the Opera*	Phantom
1989
1989	Jason Alexander	*Jerome Robbins' Broadway*	Narrator

1990s

Year	Actor	Work	Role
1990
	Michael Jeter	*Grand Hotel*	Otto Kringelein
	James Naughton	City of Angels	Stone
	Rene Auberjonois	City of Angels	Buddy Fidler/Irwin S. Irving
	Jonathan Hadary	Gypsy	Herbie
	Bob Gunton	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street	Sweeney Todd
1991
	Jonathan Pryce	*Miss Saigon*	The Engineer
	Paul Hipp	Buddy	Buddy Holly
	Evan Pappas	I Can Get It for You Wholesale	Bogen
	Mandy Patinkin	The Secret Garden	Lord Archibald Craven
1992
	Nathan Lane	*Guys and Dolls*	Nathan Detroit
	Harry Groener	Crazy for You	Bobby Child
	Spiro Malas	The Most Happy Fella	Tony Esposito
	Keith Carradine	The Will Rogers Follies	Will Rogers
1993
	Martin Short	*The Goodbye Girl*	Nathan Detroit
	Mike Burstyn	Ain't Broadway Grand	Mike Todd
	Gregory Hines	Jelly's Last Jam	Jelly Roll Morton
	Michael Cerveris	The Who's Tommy	Tommy
1994
1994	Boyd Gaines	*She Loves Me*	Georg Nowack
1995
1995	Matthew Broderick	*How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying*	J. Pierrepont Finch
1996
1996	Nathan Lane	*A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum*	Prologus/Pseudolus
1997
	Robert Cuccioli	*Jekyll & Hyde*	Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde
	James Naughton	Chicago	Billy Flynn
	Gregory Harrison	Steel Pier	Mick Hamilton
	Sam Harris	The Life	Jojo
1998
	Alan Cumming	*Cabaret*	Emcee
	John Cameron Mitchell	Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Hedwig
	Brian Stokes Mitchell	Ragtime	Coalhouse Walker Jr.
	Douglas Sills	The Scarlet Pimpernel	Sir Percy Blakeney
1999
	Martin Short	*Little Me*	The Men of Belle's Life
	Jeremy Kushnier	Footloose	Ren McCormack
	Tom Wopat	Annie Get Your Gun	Frank Butler
	Brent Carver	Parade	Leo Frank

2000s

Year	Actor	Work	Role
2000
	Brian Stokes Mitchell	*Kiss Me, Kate*	Fred Graham/Petruchio
	James Carpinello	Saturday Night Fever	Tony
	Craig Bierko	The Music Man	Prof. Harold Hill
	Taye Diggs	The Wild Party	Mr. Black
2001
	Nathan Lane	*The Producers*	Max Bialystock
	Michael Cumpsty	42nd Street	Julian Marsh
	Patrick Wilson	The Full Monty	Jerry Lukowski
	Matthew Broderick	The Producers	Leopold "Leo" Bloom
2002
	John Lithgow	*Sweet Smell of Success*	J.J. Hunsecker
	John Cullum	Urinetown	Caldwell B. Cladwell
	Brian d'Arcy James	Sweet Smell of Success	Sidney Falcone
	Hunter Foster	Urinetown	Bobby Strong
2003
	Antonio Banderas	*Nine*	Guido Contini
	Harvey Fierstein	Hairspray	Edna Turnblad
	Roger Rees	A Man of No Importance	Alfie Byrne
	Brian Stokes Mitchell	Man of La Mancha	Don Quixote/Miguel de Cervantes
	Jason Petty	Hank Williams: Lost Highway	Hank Williams
2004
	Hugh Jackman	*The Boy From Oz*	Peter Allen
	Alfred Molina	Fiddler on the Roof	Tevye
	Euan Morton	Taboo	George
	Gregg Edelman	Wonderful Town	Robert Baker
	Hunter Foster	Little Shop of Horrors	Seymour Krelborn
2005
	Norbert Leo Butz	*Dirty Rotten Scoundrels*	Freddy Benson
	Denis O'Hare	Sweet Charity	Oscar Lindquist
	Tim Curry	Spamalot	King Arthur
	Raúl Esparza	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang	Caractacus Potts
	Cheyenne Jackson	All Shook Up	Chad
2006
	John Lloyd Young	*Jersey Boys*	Frankie Valli
	Michael Cerveris	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street	Sweeney Todd
	Harry Connick, Jr.	The Pajama Game	Sid Sorokin
	Hugh Panaro	Lestat	Lestat
2007
	Raúl Esparza	*Company*	Bobby
	Michael Cerveris	LoveMusik	Kurt Weill
	David Hyde Pierce	Curtains	Lieutenant Frank Cioffi
	Gavin Lee	Mary Poppins	Bert
2008
	Paulo Szot	*South Pacific*	Emile de Becque
	Boyd Gaines	Gypsy	Herbie
	Roger Bart	Young Frankenstein	Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
	Daniel Evans	Sunday in the Park with George	George/Georges
2009
	Brian d'Arcy James	*Shrek the Musical*	Shrek
	James Barbour	A Tale of Two Cities	Sydney Carton
	Josh Grisetti	Enter Laughing	David Kolowitz
	Matt Cavenaugh	West Side Story	Tony
	David Pittu	What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling	Jacob Sterling

2010s

Year	Actor	Work	Role
2010
	Douglas Hodge	*La Cage aux Folles*	Albin
	Nathan Lane	The Addams Family	Gomez Addams
	Brandon Victor Dixon	The Scottsboro Boys	Haywood Patterson
	Sean Hayes	Promises, Promises	Chuck Baxter
	Chad Kimball	Memphis	Huey Calhoun
2011
	Josh Gad	*The Book of Mormon*	Elder Cunningham
	Daniel Radcliffe	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying	J. Pierrepont Finch
	Aaron Tveit	Catch Me If You Can	Frank Abagnale, Jr.
	Norbert Leo Butz	Catch Me If You Can	Carl Hanratty
	Tony Sheldon	Priscilla Queen of the Desert	Bernadette
2012
	Danny Burstein	*Follies*	Buddy Plummer
	Jeremy Jordan	Newsies	Jack Kelly
	Raúl Esparza	Leap of Faith	Jonas Nightingale
	Steve Kazee	Once	Guy
	Norm Lewis	The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess	Porgy
2013
	Billy Porter	*Kinky Boots*	Lola
	Matthew James Thomas	Pippin	Pippin
	Bertie Carvel	Matilda	Miss Trunchbull
	Santino Fontana	Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella	Topher
	Rob McClure	Chaplin	Charlie Chaplin
2014
	Jefferson Mays	*A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder*	The D'Ysquith Family
	Neil Patrick Harris	Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Hedwig
	Michael Cerveris	Fun Home	Bruce Bechdel
	Bryce Pinkham	A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder	Montague D'Ysquith Navarro
	Andy Karl	Rocky	Rocky Balboa
2015
	Robert Fairchild	*An American in Paris*	Jerry Mulligan
	Peter Gallagher	On the Twentieth Century	Oscar Jaffee
	Christian Borle	Something Rotten!	William Shakespeare
	Tony Yazbeck	On the Town	Gabey
	Brian d'Arcy James	Something Rotten!	Nick Bottom
2016
	Danny Burstein	*Fiddler on the Roof*	Tevye
	Robert Creighton	Cagney	James Cagney
	Alex Brightman	School of Rock	Dewey Finn
	Ben Platt	Dear Evan Hansen	Evan Hansen
	Benjamin Walker	American Psycho	Patrick Bateman
2017
	Andy Karl	*Groundhog Day*	Phil Connors
	David Hyde Pierce	Hello, Dolly!	Horace Vandergelder
	Christian Borle	Falsettos	Marvin
	Nick Cordero	A Bronx Tale	Sonny
	Tony Shalhoub	The Band's Visit	Tewfiq
2018
	Ethan Slater	*SpongeBob SquarePants*	SpongeBob SquarPants
	Conor Ryan	Desperate Measures	Johnny Blood
	Harry Hadden-Paton	My Fair Lady	Professor Henry Higgins
	Joshua Henry	Carousel	Billy Bigelow
2019
	Santino Fontana	*Tootsie*	Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
	Damon Daunno	Oklahoma!	Curly McLain
	Steven Skybell	Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish	Tevye
	Reeve Carney	Hadestown	Orpheus
	Brooks Ashmanskas	The Prom	Barry Glickman

2020s

Year	Actor	Work	Role
2020 (Hon.)	Larry Owens	A Strange Loop	Usher
	Adam Kantor	Darling Grenadine	Harry
	Jonathan Groff	Little Shop of Horrors	Seymour Krelborn
	Aaron Tveit	Moulin Rouge!	Christian
	Joshua Henry	The Wrong Man	Duran
	Isaac Powell	West Side Story	Tony
2021	No ceremony held due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2022
	Jaquel Spivey	*A Strange Loop*	Usher
	Rob McClure	Mrs. Doubtfire	Daniel Hillard
	Chip Zien	Harmony	"Rabbi" Josef Roman Cycowski
	Myles Frost	MJ the Musical	MJ
	Justin Cooley	Kimberly Akimbo	Seth

Multiple wins

3 wins

Nathan Lane

2 wins

Martin Short
Danny Burstein

Multiple nominations

4 nominations

Nathan Lane
Michael Cerveris

3 nominations

Brian Stokes Mitchell
Brian d'Arcy James
Raúl Esparza
David Hyde Pierce

2 nominations

James Naughton
Martin Short
Boyd Gaines
Matthew Broderick
Danny Burstein
Hunter Foster
Norbert Leo Butz
Aaron Tveit
Santino Fontana
Andy Karl
Christian Borle
Joshua Henry

2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards42nd Street (musical)A Bronx Tale (musical)A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumA Gentleman's Guide to Love and MurderA Man of No Importance (musical)A Strange LoopA Tale of Two Cities (musical)Aaron TveitAdam KantorAlan CummingAlex BrightmanAlfred MolinaAll Shook Up (musical)American Psycho (musical)An American in Paris (musical)Andy KarlAnnie Get Your Gun (musical)Antonio BanderasBen PlattBenjamin Walker (actor)Bertie CarvelBilly PorterBob GuntonBoyd GainesBrandon Victor DixonBrent CarverBrian d'Arcy JamesBrian Stokes MitchellBroadway theatreBrooks AshmanskasBryce PinkhamBuddy (musical)Buddy HollyCabaret (musical)Carl HanrattyCarousel (musical)Catch Me If You Can (musical)Chad KimballChaplin (2006 musical)Charlie ChaplinCheyenne JacksonChicago (musical)Chip ZienChitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)Christian BorleCity of Angels (musical)Company (musical)Conor Ryan (actor)COVID-19 pandemicCraig BierkoCrazy for You (musical)Curtains (musical)Damon DaunnoDaniel Evans (actor)Daniel RadcliffeDanny BursteinDavid Hyde PierceDavid PittuDear Evan HansenDenis O'HareDesperate Measures (musical)Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (musical)Don QuixoteDouglas HodgeDouglas SillsDr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (character)Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a MusicalEthan SlaterEuan MortonFalsettosFiddler on the RoofFolliesFootloose (musical)Frank Abagnale, Jr.Frank E. ButlerFrankie ValliFun Home (musical)Gavin LeeGomez AddamsGrand Hotel (musical)Gregg EdelmanGregory HarrisonGregory HinesGroundhog Day (musical)Guys and DollsGypsy (musical)HadestownHairspray (musical)Hank WilliamsHarmony (musical)Harry Connick, Jr.Harry GroenerHarry Hadden-PatonHarvey FiersteinHaywood PattersonHedwig and the Angry Inch (musical)Hello, Dolly! (musical)How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (musical)Hugh JackmanHugh PanaroHunter FosterI Can Get It for You WholesaleIsaac PowellJames BarbourJames CagneyJames CarpinelloJames NaughtonJaquel SpiveyJason AlexanderJason PettyJefferson MaysJekyll & Hyde (musical)Jelly Roll MortonJelly's Last JamJeremy Jordan (actor, born 1984)Jeremy KushnierJerome Robbins' BroadwayJersey BoysJohn Cameron MitchellJohn CullumJohn LithgowJohn Lloyd YoungJonathan GroffJonathan HadaryJonathan PryceJosh GadJosh GrisettiJoshua HenryJustin CooleyKeith CarradineKimberly Akimbo (musical)Kinky Boots (musical)Kiss Me, KateLa Cage aux Folles (musical)Larry Owens (actor)Leap of Faith (musical)Leo FrankLestat (musical)Little Me (musical)Little Shop of Horrors (musical)LoveMusikLucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a MusicalMan of La ManchaMandy PatinkinMartin ShortMary Poppins (musical)Matilda (musical)Matt CavenaughMatthew BroderickMatthew James ThomasMemphis (musical)Michael CerverisMichael CrawfordMichael CumpstyMichael JacksonMichael JeterMiguel de CervantesMike BurstynMiss SaigonMiss TrunchbullMJ the MusicalMoulin Rouge (musical)Mrs. Doubtfire (musical)Musical playMy Fair LadyMyles FrostNathan LaneNeil Patrick HarrisNew York CityNewsies (musical)Nick CorderoNine (musical)Norbert Leo ButzNorm LewisOff-BroadwayOklahoma!On the Town (musical)On the Twentieth CenturyOnce (musical)Outer Critics CircleOuter Critics Circle AwardOuter Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway MusicalOuter Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway MusicalParade (musical)Patrick BatemanPatrick WilsonPaul HippPaulo SzotPeter Allen (musician)Peter GallagherPetruchioPippin (musical)Priscilla Queen of the Desert (musical)Promises, Promises (musical)Ragtime (musical)Raúl EsparzaReeve CarneyRene AuberjonoisRob McClureRobert CuccioliRobert FairchildRocky (musical)Rocky BalboaRodgers & Hammerstein's CinderellaRoger BartRoger ReesSam HarrisSantino FontanaSaturday Night Fever (musical)School of Rock (musical)Sean HayesShe Loves MeShrek (character)Shrek the MusicalSir Percy BlakeneySomething Rotten!South Pacific (musical)SpamalotSpiro MalasSpongeBob SquarePants (character)SpongeBob SquarePants (musical)Steel Pier (musical)Steve KazeeSteven SkybellSunday in the Park with GeorgeSweeney ToddSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweet CharitySweet Smell of Success (musical)Sydney CartonTaboo (musical)Taye DiggsThe Addams Family (musical)The Band's Visit (musical)The Book of Mormon (musical)The Boy From OzThe Full Monty (musical)The Gershwins' Porgy and BessThe Goodbye GirlThe Life (musical)The Most Happy FellaThe Music ManThe Pajama GameThe Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)The Producers (musical)The Prom (musical)The Scarlet Pimpernel (musical)The Scottsboro Boys (musical)The Secret Garden (musical)The Who's TommyThe Wild Party (Lippa musical)The Will Rogers FolliesTim CurryTom WopatTony Award for Best Actor in a MusicalTony ShalhoubTony YazbeckTootsie (musical)UrinetownWest Side StoryWill RogersWilliam ShakespeareWonderful TownYoung Frankenstein

Backlinks (40)

2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards2009 Outer Critics Circle Awards2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards2012 Outer Critics Circle Awards2013 Outer Critics Circle Awards2014 Outer Critics Circle Awards2015 Outer Critics Circle Awards2016 Outer Critics Circle Awards2017 Outer Critics Circle Awards2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards2019 Outer Critics Circle Awards2020 Outer Critics Circle Awards2022 Outer Critic Circle Awards2022 Outer Critics Circle AwardsA Man of No Importance (musical)A Strange LoopAndy KarlBryce PinkhamDanny BursteinDear Evan HansenDesperate Measures (musical)FalsettosFun Home (musical)George HearnJoshua HenryKimberly Akimbo (musical)List of awards and nominations received by Nathan LaneLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)Michael CerverisMJ the MusicalMrs. Doubtfire (musical)Nick CorderoNorbert Leo ButzOuter Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardsRagtime (musical)Robbie FairchildSteel Pier (musical)Terrence Mann

External links (71)

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Subject Facts

QID: Q136171354

Label: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Description: American theatre award for Broadway actors

Wikidata Archive Data

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Captured: August 8, 2026 4:19 PM

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Main Menu

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Awards winners

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple wins

Multiple nominations

See also

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Awards winners

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple wins

Multiple nominations

See also

See Also

Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award

Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in an Off-Broadway Show

Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show

Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Female Dancer in an Off-Broadway Show

Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show