The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City.
The award was established in 1980, with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design being presented each year to any play or musical production. Starting in 2010, the singular award was replaced by separate play and musical categories.
Acme Sound Partners, Brian Ronan, Scott Lehrer and Nevin Steinberg hold the record for the most wins in the category, with two each. Ronan also holds the record for most nominations, with ten, followed by Lehrer with nine and Kai Harada with six.
Winners and nominees Key
2010s Year Designer Production Ref. 2010 Acme Sound Partners Ragtime Jonathan Deans La Cage aux Folles Kurt Eric Fischer, Ashley Hanson and Brian Ronan Everyday Rapture Peter Hylenski The Scottsboro Boys Scott Lehrer Finian's Rainbow Brian Ronan Promises, Promises 2011 Brian Ronan Anything Goes |align=center rowspan=5| |- | Lindsay Jones | The Burnt Part Boys |- | Michael Rasbury | Hello Again |- | Brian Ronan | The Book of Mormon |- | Jon Weston | In Transit |- ! rowspan="7"| 2012 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Acme Sound Partners| Porgy and Bess |align=center rowspan=6| |- | Jonathan Deans | Carrie |- | Clive Goodwin | Once |- | Kai Harada | Follies |- | Steve Canyon Kennedy | Jesus Christ Superstar |- | Jon Weston | Death Takes a Holiday |- ! rowspan="7"| 2013 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Steve Canyon Kennedy| Hands on a Hardbody Scott Lehrer and Drew Levy Chaplin: The Musical Tony Meola The Mystery of Edwin Drood Brian Ronan Bring It On: The Musical Giant Dan Moses Schreier Passion 2014 Brian Ronan Beautiful: The Carole King Musical |align=center rowspan=6| |- | Kai Harada | Fun Home |- | rowspan="2"| Peter Hylenski | Bullets Over Broadway |- | Rocky the Musical |- | Dan Moses Schreier | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder |- | Jon Weston | The Bridges of Madison County |- ! rowspan="7"| 2015 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Nevin Steinberg| Hamilton Peter Hylenski Side Show Scott Lehrer The King and I Scott Lehrer and Drew Levy Honeymoon in Vegas Brian Ronan The Last Ship Jon Weston An American in Paris 2016 Dan Moses Schreier American Psycho Mick Potter School of Rock Brian Ronan Lazarus Nevin Steinberg Bright Star Scott Lehrer Shuffle Along2017 Nicholas Pope Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Simon Baker 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips Peter Hylenski Anastasia Scott Lehrer Hello, Dolly! Mick Potter Cats Brian Ronan War Paint Matt Stine Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street2018 Kai Harada The Band's Visit |rowspan=4| |- | Scott Lehrer | Carousel |- | Will Pickens | KPOP |- | Dan Moses Schreier | Pacific Overtures |- ! rowspan="6" |2019 |- style="background:#DCEEFF" | Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz| Hadestown Simon Baker Girl from the North Country Drew Levy Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Brian Ronan Tootsie Mikaal Sulaiman Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
2020s Year Designer Production Ref. 2020 Peter Hylenski Moulin Rouge! Tom Gibbons West Side Story Kai Harada Soft Power Hidenori Nakajo Octet Nevin Steinberg The Wrong Man 2021 colspan="2" 2022 Gareth Owen MJ Ian Dickinson for Autograph Company Paul Gatehouse Six Kai Harada Kimberly Akimbo 2023 Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann Into the Woods Peter Hylenski Almost Famous John Shivers Shucked Joanna Lynne Staub Weightless Jon Weston Parade 2024 Nick Lidster for Autograph Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Cody Spencer The Outsiders Walter Trarbach Water for Elephants Jason Crystal Suffs Kai Harada and Joshua Millican Dead Outlaw 2025 Peter Hylenski Just in Time Adam Fisher Sunset Blvd. Scott Lehrer Gypsy Mick Potter Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Dan Moses Schreier Floyd Collins2026Mikhail FikselMexodusJordana AbrenicaBeau the MusicalJason CrystalThe Baker's WifeKai HaradaRagtimeAlex Hawthorn and Drew LevyLights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Multiple wins 2 wins Acme Sound Partners Brian Ronan Scott Lehrer Nevin Steinberg
Multiple nominations 10 nominations Brian Ronan
9 nominations Scott Lehrer
7 nominations Kai Harada
5 nominations Jon Weston Dan Moses Schreier
4 nominations Nevin Steinberg
3 nominations Drew Levy Mick Potter
2 nominations Acme Sound Partners Jonathan Deans Steve Canyon Kennedy Simon Baker
See also Laurence Olivier Award for Best Sound Design Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Sound Design
References