Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performance by a Lead Performer in a Broadway Play is an honor presented at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, a ceremony established in 1950 for excellence in Broadway productions, to actors for quality leading roles in a play, whether a new production or a revival. The awards replaced the former awards for Best Actor and Actress in a Play, replaced by distinct Broadway and Off-Broadway gender-neutral categories.

Award winners and nominees

2020s

Year	Actor	Project	Role(s)
2023
	Sean Hayes	*Good Night, Oscar*	Oscar Levant
	Audra McDonald	Ohio State Murders	Suzanne Alexander
	Hiran Abeysekera	Life of Pi	Pi
	Jessica Chastain	A Doll's House	Nora Helmer
	Corey Hawkins	Topdog/Underdog	Lincoln
2024
	Jessica Lange	*Mother Play*	Phyllis
	Jeremy Strong	An Enemy of the People	Dr. Thomas Stockmann
	Michael Stuhlbarg	Patriots	Boris Berezovsky
	Sarah Paulson	Appropriate	Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette
	Rachel McAdams	Mary Jane	Mary Jane
2025
	Laura Donnelly	*The Hills of California*	Joan/Veronica
	Mia Farrow	The Roommate	Sharon
	Louis McCartney	Stranger Things: The First Shadow	Henry Creel
	Kit Connor	Romeo + Juliet	Romeo
	Jon Michael Hill	Purpose	Nazareth "Naz" Jasper
2026
	Nathan Lane	*Death of a Salesman*	Willy Loman
	Will Harrison	Punch	Jacob Dunne
	Rose Byrne	Fallen Angels	Jane Banbury
	Kelli O'Hara	Fallen Angels	Julia Sterroll
	John Lithgow	Giant	Roald Dahl
	Lesley Manville	Oedipus	Jocasta

2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards2026 Outer Critics Circle AwardsA Doll's HouseAn Enemy of the PeopleAppropriate (play)Audra McDonaldBoris Berezovsky (businessman)Broadway theatreCorey HawkinsDeath of a SalesmanDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a PlayFallen Angels (play)Giant (play)Good Night, OscarHenry CreelJeremy StrongJessica ChastainJessica LangeJocastaJohn LithgowJon Michael HillKelli O'HaraKit ConnorLaura DonnellyLesley ManvilleLife of Pi (play)Louis McCartneyMary Jane (play)Mia FarrowMichael StuhlbargMother PlayNathan LaneNew York CityOedipus (Icke play)Off-BroadwayOhio State MurdersOscar LevantOuter Critics CircleOuter Critics Circle AwardOuter Critics Circle AwardsPatriots (play)Punch (play)Purpose (play)Rachel McAdamsRoald DahlRomeoRomeo and JulietRose ByrneSarah PaulsonSean HayesStranger Things: The First ShadowThe Hills of CaliforniaThe Roommate (play)Tony Award for Best Actor in a PlayTony Award for Best Actress in a PlayTopdog/UnderdogWill Harrison (actor)Willy Loman

Backlinks (29)

2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards2026 Outer Critics Circle AwardsDeath of a SalesmanFallen Angels (play)Giant (play)Good Night, OscarJon Michael HillKelli O'HaraLaura DonnellyList of awards and nominations received by Audra McDonaldList of awards and nominations received by Jessica LangeList of awards and nominations received by John LithgowList of awards and nominations received by Nathan LaneOedipus (Icke play)Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a PlayOuter Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a PlayOuter Critics Circle AwardsPatriots (play)Punch (play)Purpose (play)Rose ByrneSean HayesStranger Things: The First ShadowThe Hills of CaliforniaTony Award for Best Actor in a PlayTony Award for Best Actress in a PlayWill Harrison (actor)

External links (17)

http://www.outercriticscircle.org/

deadline.com/...

https://outercritics.org/awards/2022-2023/

https://outercritics.org/awards/2023-2024/

https://outercritics.org/awards/2024-2025/

playbill.com/...

scholar.google.com/...

web.archive.org/...

www.google.com/...

www.jstor.org/...

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Subject Facts

QID: Q136032343

Label: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Description: American theatre award for Broadway actors

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Captured: August 8, 2026 4:10 PM

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Main Menu

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Award winners and nominees

2020s

See also

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Award winners and nominees

2020s

See also

See Also

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical

Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance