The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City.
From 1955 to 1974, acting awards were given only for lead performances, without making distinctions between roles in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses. From 1975 to 2022, acting awards were presented in eight categories: separate categories by gender; further divided by lead or featured performer; producing four acting awards each for plays and musicals.
In 2023, the Drama Desk organization announced that, starting with that year's awards, the eight acting categories had been retired and replaced with four gender neutral categories with twice the winners and nominees: separate categories by lead or featured performer; producing two acting categories each for plays and musicals. The former awards for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play were merged to create this Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play category.
Winners and nominees Key
2020s YearActorTitleCharacterRef.2023Miriam SilvermanThe Sign in Sidney Brustein's WindowMavis Parodus BrysonBrandon UranowitzLeopoldstadtLudwig Jakobovicz / Nathan FischbeinEmily BerglGood Night, OscarJune LevantDanielle BrooksThe Piano LessonBernieceAmelda BrownLoveBarbaraRay FisherThe Piano LessonLymonK. Todd FreemanDownstateDeeFrancis GuinanDownstateFredNick HolderLoveColinArian MoayedA Doll's HouseTorvald HelmerBrian QuijadaWolf PlayRyanKara YoungCost of LivingJess2024Celia Keenan-BolgerMother PlayMarthaKara YoungPurlie VictoriousLutiebell Gussie Mae JenkinsBrittany AdebumolaJaja's African Hair BraidingMiriam Marylouise BurkeInfinite LifeEileen Michael Esper AppropriateFranz Lafayette Marin Ireland Uncle VanyaSonya Will Keen PatriotsVladimir Putin Conrad RicamoraOh, Mary!Abraham LincolnSheila TouseyManahattaMother / Bobbie Bubba WeilerSwing StateRyan2025 Amalia Yoo John Proctor is the Villain Raelynn Nix Kara Young Purpose Aziza Jasper Greg Keller Pre-Existing Condition Performer Julia Lester All Nighter Wilma Adrienne C. Moore The Blood Quilt Gio Deirdre O’Connell Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp. Cast Maria-Christina Oliveras Cymbeline Queen Maryann Plunkett Deep Blue Sound Ella Michael Rishawn Table 17 River, Eric, & Others Jude Tibeau Bad Kreyòl Pita Anjana Vasan A Streetcar Named Desire Stella Kowalski Frank Wood Hold On to Me Darling Mitch2026Alden EhrenreichBecky ShawMax GarrettRuben Santiago-HudsonJoe Turner's Come and GoneBynum WalkerCaroline AaronThe ReservoirBeverlyEdoardo BenzoniAre the Bennett Girls OK?MenMaria-Christina OliverasThe BalustersLuz BaccayNathan Darrow(un)conditionalHankEmily DavisWell, I'll Let You GoAngelaWest DuchovnyDiversionMandyLinda EmondBecky ShawSusan SlaterDavid GreenspanPrince FaggotPerformer 5River Lipe-SmithCarolineCarolineLizan MitchellCold War Choir PracticePuddinRichard ThomasThe BalustersElliott Emerson
Statistics Multiple Wins 2 wins Kara Young
Multiple Nominations 3 nominations Kara Young
2 nominations Maria-Christina Oliveras
References