Primary Stages' New York premiere of Ike Holter's Exit Strategy was named Best New Play, while Soho Rep and Ars Nova's production of Futurity was named Best New Musical; the latter also picked up the 2016 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Musical.
The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off-Broadway producers, theatres, general managers, press agents and marketing professionals, announced the nominees for the awards, which honor commercial and not-for-profit productions that opened Off-Broadway during the 2015-16 season, April 26.
Awards are presented in seven competitive categories: Best New Musical, Best New Play, Best Musical Revival, Best Play Revival, Best Unique Theatrical Experience, Best Solo Performance and Best Family Show.
Four Off Broadway Alliance Legend of Off Broadway Awards are also presented for sustained achievement in the world of Off-Broadway. The 2016 Legend of Off Broadway recipients are Merle Debuskey, Linda Lavin, Robert Moss and Lois Smith. Awards also were presented posthumously to Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach, Anne Meara and Elizabeth Swados.
A complete list of nominees follows; winners names are in bold preceded by an asterisk.
Best New Musical
Cagney
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
*Futurity
Who’s Your Baghdaddy?
Best New Play
*Exit Strategy
Gloria
John
O, Earth
The Qualms
Best Musical Revival
Once Upon a Mattress
*The Robber Bridegroom
Rothschild & Sons
Ruthless!
Sayonara
Best Play Revival
Incident at Vichy
*The School for Scandal
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Widowers’ Houses
Women Without Men
Best Unique Theatrical Experience
Angel Reapers
Preludes
*Sense & Sensibility
Shear Madness
Standard Time
Best Solo Performance
Mike Birbiglia, Thank God for Jokes
Staceyann Chin, Motherstruck
*James Lecesne, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
Joanna Rush, Kick
Andrew Schneider, Youarenowhere
Best Family Show
The Commedia Rapunzel
*The Pirate La Dee Da
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Young Charles Dickens
Legend of Off Broadway Honorees
Merle Debuskey
Linda Lavin
Robert Moss
Lois Smith
Hall of Fame Awards
Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach
Anne Meara
Elizabeth Swados
For more information, visit OffBroadwayAlliance.com.
