Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play


The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements by theatre directors across collective Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City, United States. The awards were established in 1955, with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director being presented each year to a director from any play or musical production. Starting in 1975, the singular director's award was replaced by separate play and musical categories.
Jack O'Brien and Jerry Zaks hold the record for most wins in the category, with three each. Daniel J. Sullivan holds the record for most nominations, with seven, followed closely by Joe Mantello with six and Mike Nichols with five. Mary Zimmerman was the first female winner, receiving the award in 2002 for Metamorphoses. Since her win, Anna D. Shapiro, Pam MacKinnon, Marianne Elliott, Rebecca Frecknall and current winner Danya Taymor have also won the award as female directors.

Winners and nominees

;Key

Multiple wins

;3 wins
;2 wins

Multiple nominations

;7 nominations
;6 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations

;3 nominations


;2 nominations