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Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical

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Tony Award for
Best Direction of a Musical
2026 Recipients: Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch
Awarded forBest Direction of a Musical
LocationNew York City
Presented byAmerican Theatre Wing The Broadway League
Currently held byZhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch for Cats: The Jellicle Ball (2026)
WebsiteTonyAwards.com

The Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical has been given since 1960. Before 1960 there was only one award for both play direction and musical direction, then in 1960 the award was split into two categories: Dramatic and Musical.

Winners and nominees

[edit]

1950s

[edit]
Year Production Director
1950
South Pacific Joshua Logan
1951
Guys and Dolls George S. Kaufman
1958
My Fair Lady Moss Hart

1960s

[edit]
Year Production Director
1960
(14th)
[1]
Fiorello! George Abbott
Destry Rides Again Michael Kidd
Gypsy Jerome Robbins
The Sound of Music Vincent J. Donehue
Take Me Along Peter Glenville
1961
(15th)
[2]
Bye Bye Birdie Gower Champion
Do Re Mi Garson Kanin
Irma La Douce Peter Brook
1962
(16th)
[3]
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Abe Burrows
All American Joshua Logan
Carnival! Gower Champion
No Strings Joe Layton
1963
(17th)
[4]
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum George Abbott
Brigadoon John Fearnley
Little Me Cy Feuer and Bob Fosse
Oliver! Peter Coe
1964
(18th)
[5]
Hello, Dolly! Gower Champion
110 in the Shade Joseph Anthony
High Spirits Noël Coward
She Loves Me Harold Prince
1965
(19th)
[6]
Fiddler on the Roof Jerome Robbins
Half a Sixpence Gene Saks
Oh, What a Lovely War! Joan Littlewood
The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd Anthony Newley
1966
(20th)
[7]
Man of La Mancha Albert Marre
Mame Gene Saks
Skyscraper Cy Feuer
Sweet Charity Bob Fosse
1967
(21st)
[8]
Cabaret Harold Prince
Annie Get Your Gun Jack Sydow
The Apple Tree Mike Nichols
I Do! I Do! Gower Champion
1968
(22nd)
[9]
The Happy Time Gower Champion
Hallelujah, Baby! Burt Shevelove
How Now, Dow Jones George Abbott
Illya Darling Jules Dassin
1969
(23rd)
[10]
1776 Peter Hunt
Hair Tom O'Horgan
Promises, Promises Robert Moore
Zorba Harold Prince

1970s

[edit]
Year Production Director
1970
(24th)
[11]
Applause Ron Field
Coco Michael Benthall
Purlie Philip Rose
1971
(25th)
[12]
Company Harold Prince
The Me Nobody Knows Robert H. Livingston
No, No, Nanette Burt Shevelove
The Rothschilds Michael Kidd
1972
(26th)
[13]
Follies Harold Prince and Michael Bennett
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Gilbert Moses
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Burt Shevelove
Two Gentlemen of Verona Mel Shapiro
1973
(27th)
[14]
Pippin Bob Fosse
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Vinnette Carroll
A Little Night Music Harold Prince
Sugar Gower Champion
1974
(28th)
[15]
Candide Harold Prince
Over Here! Tom Moore
Raisin Donald McKayle
Seesaw Michael Bennett
1975
(29th)
[16]
The Wiz Geoffrey Holder
Gypsy Arthur Laurents
Mack & Mabel Gower Champion
The Magic Show Grover Dale
1976
(30th)
[17]
A Chorus Line Michael Bennett
Chicago Bob Fosse
Pacific Overtures Harold Prince
Very Good Eddie Bill Gile
1977
(31st)
[18]
I Love My Wife Gene Saks
Annie Martin Charnin
Porgy and Bess Jack O'Brien
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Vinnette Carroll
1978
(32nd)
[19]
Ain't Misbehavin' Richard Maltby Jr.
Dancin' Bob Fosse
On the Twentieth Century Harold Prince
Runaways Elizabeth Swados
1979
(33rd)
[20]
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Harold Prince
Ballroom Michael Bennett
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune
They're Playing Our Song Robert Moore

1980s

[edit]
Year Production Director
1980
(34th)
[21]
Evita Harold Prince
Barnum Joe Layton
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine Tommy Tune
Sugar Babies Ernie Flatt and Rudy Tronto
1981
(35th)
[22]
The Pirates of Penzance Wilford Leach
42nd Street Gower Champion
Sophisticated Ladies Michael Smuin
Woman of the Year Robert Moore
1982
(36th)
[23]
Nine Tommy Tune
Dreamgirls Michael Bennett
The First Martin Charnin
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Tony Tanner
1983
(37th)
[24]
Cats Trevor Nunn
Merlin Ivan Reitman
My One and Only Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh
Show Boat Michael Kahn
1984
(38th)
[25]
La Cage aux Folles Arthur Laurents
Baby Richard Maltby Jr.
Sunday in the Park with George James Lapine
The Tap Dance Kid Vivian Matalon
1985
(39th)
[26]
Big River Des McAnuff
Grind Harold Prince
The King and I Mitch Leigh
Quilters Barbara Damashek
1986
(40th)
[27]
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Wilford Leach
Big Deal Bob Fosse
Song and Dance Richard Maltby Jr.
Tango Argentino Héctor Orezzoli and Claudio Segovia
1987
(41st)
[28]
Les Misérables John Caird and Trevor Nunn
Me and My Girl Mike Ockrent
The Mikado Brian Macdonald
Starlight Express Trevor Nunn
1988
(42nd)
[29]
The Phantom of the Opera Harold Prince
Anything Goes Jerry Zaks
Into the Woods James Lapine
Sarafina! Mbongeni Ngema
1989
(43rd)
[30]
Jerome Robbins' Broadway Jerome Robbins
Black and Blue Héctor Orezzoli and Claudio Segovia
Starmites Larry Carpenter
Welcome to the Club Peter Mark Schifter

1990s

[edit]
Year Production Director
1990
(44th)
[31]
Grand Hotel Tommy Tune
Aspects of Love Trevor Nunn
City of Angels Michael Blakemore
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Susan H. Schulman
1991
(45th)
[32]
The Will Rogers Follies Tommy Tune
Miss Saigon Nicholas Hytner
Once on This Island Graciela Daniele
Those Were the Days Eleanor Reissa
1992
(46th)
[33]
Guys and Dolls Jerry Zaks
Crazy for You Mike Ockrent
Falsettos James Lapine
Jelly's Last Jam George C. Wolfe
1993
(47th)
[34]
The Who's Tommy Des McAnuff
Blood Brothers Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson
The Goodbye Girl Michael Kidd
Kiss of the Spider Woman Harold Prince
1994
(48th)
[35]
Carousel Nicholas Hytner
Beauty and the Beast Robert Jess Roth
Passion James Lapine
She Loves Me Scott Ellis
1995
(49th)
[36]
Show Boat Harold Prince
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Des McAnuff
Sunset Boulevard Trevor Nunn
Smokey Joe's Cafe Jerry Zaks
1996
(50th)
[37]
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk George C. Wolfe
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Jerry Zaks
The King and I Christopher Renshaw
Rent Michael Greif
1997
(51st)
[38]
Chicago Walter Bobbie
Juan Darién Julie Taymor
The Life Michael Blakemore
Steel Pier Scott Ellis
1998
(52nd)
[39]
The Lion King Julie Taymor
Cabaret Rob Marshall and Sam Mendes
Ragtime Frank Galati
1776 Scott Ellis
1999
(53rd)
[40]
Swan Lake Matthew Bourne
Fosse Richard Maltby Jr. and Ann Reinking
Parade Harold Prince
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Michael Mayer

2000s

[edit]
Year Production Director
2000
(54th)
[41]
Kiss Me, Kate Michael Blakemore
Contact Susan Stroman
The Music Man
Swing! Lynne Taylor-Corbett
2001
(55th)
[42]
The Producers Susan Stroman
42nd Street Mark Bramble
The Full Monty Jack O'Brien
The Rocky Horror Show Christopher Ashley
2002
(56th)
[43]
Urinetown John Rando
Into the Woods James Lapine
Oklahoma! Trevor Nunn
Thoroughly Modern Millie Michael Mayer
2003
(57th)
[44]
Hairspray Jack O'Brien
La bohème Baz Luhrmann
Movin' Out Twyla Tharp
Nine David Leveaux
2004
(58th)
[45]
Assassins Joe Mantello
Avenue Q Jason Moore
Caroline, or Change George C. Wolfe
Wonderful Town Kathleen Marshall
2005
(59th)
[46]
Monty Python's Spamalot Mike Nichols
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Jack O'Brien
The Light in the Piazza Bartlett Sher
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee James Lapine
2006
(60th)
[47]
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street John Doyle
The Drowsy Chaperone Casey Nicholaw
Jersey Boys Des McAnuff
The Pajama Game Kathleen Marshall
2007
(61st)
[48]
Spring Awakening Michael Mayer
Company John Doyle
Curtains Scott Ellis
Grey Gardens Michael Greif
2008
(62nd)
[49]
Rogers & Hammerstein's South Pacific Bartlett Sher
Gypsy Arthur Laurents
In the Heights Thomas Kail
Sunday in the Park with George Sam Buntrock
2009
(63rd)
[50]
Billy Elliot the Musical Stephen Daldry
Hair Diane Paulus
Next to Normal Michael Greif
Rock of Ages Kristin Hanggi

2010s

[edit]
Year Production Director
2010
(64th)
[51]
La Cage aux Folles Terry Johnson
Fela! Bill T. Jones
Memphis Christopher Ashley
Ragtime Marcia Milgrom Dodge
2011
(65th)
[52]
The Book of Mormon Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker
Anything Goes Kathleen Marshall
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Rob Ashford
The Scottsboro Boys Susan Stroman
2012
(66th)
[53]
Once John Tiffany
Newsies Jeff Calhoun
Nice Work If You Can Get It Kathleen Marshall
Porgy and Bess Diane Paulus
2013
(67th)
[54]
Pippin Diane Paulus
Kinky Boots Jerry Mitchell
Matilda the Musical Matthew Warchus
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Scott Ellis
2014
(68th)
[55]
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Darko Tresnjak
After Midnight Warren Carlyle
Hedwig and the Angry Inch Michael Mayer
Violet Leigh Silverman
2015
(69th)
[56]
Fun Home Sam Gold
An American in Paris Christopher Wheeldon
The King and I Bartlett Sher
On the Town John Rando
Something Rotten! Casey Nicholaw
2016
(70th)
[57]
Hamilton Thomas Kail
The Color Purple John Doyle
She Loves Me Scott Ellis
Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed George C. Wolfe
Spring Awakening Michael Arden
2017
(71st)
[58]
Come from Away Christopher Ashley
Dear Evan Hansen Michael Greif
Groundhog Day Matthew Warchus
Hello, Dolly! Jerry Zaks
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Rachel Chavkin
2018
(72nd)
[59]
The Band's Visit David Cromer
Mean Girls Casey Nicholaw
My Fair Lady Bartlett Sher
Once on This Island Michael Arden
SpongeBob SquarePants Tina Landau
2019
(73rd)
[60]
Hadestown Rachel Chavkin
Ain't Too Proud Des McAnuff
Oklahoma! Daniel Fish
The Prom Casey Nicholaw
Tootsie Scott Ellis

2020s

[edit]
Year Production Director
2020
(74th)
[61]
Moulin Rouge! The Musical Alex Timbers
Jagged Little Pill Diane Paulus
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Phyllida Lloyd
2022
(75th)
[62]
Company Marianne Elliott
Girl from the North Country Conor McPherson
MJ Christopher Wheeldon
SIX: The Musical Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage
A Strange Loop Stephen Brackett
2023
(76th)
[63]
Parade Michael Arden
Into the Woods Lear deBessonet
Kimberly Akimbo Jessica Stone
Shucked Jack O'Brien
Some Like It Hot Casey Nicholaw
2024
(77th)
[64]
The Outsiders Danya Taymor
Hell's Kitchen Michael Greif
Merrily We Roll Along Maria Friedman
Suffs Leigh Silverman
Water for Elephants Jessica Stone
2025
(78th)
Maybe Happy Ending Michael Arden
Buena Vista Social Club Saheem Ali
Dead Outlaw David Cromer
Death Becomes Her Christopher Gattelli
Sunset Blvd. Jamie Lloyd
2026
(79th)
Cats: The Jellicle Ball Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch
The Lost Boys Michael Arden
Ragtime Lear deBessonet
Schmigadoon! Christopher Gattelli
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) Tim Jackson

Multiple wins

[edit]

Multiple nominations

[edit]

Female winners and nominees

[edit]

Out of 26 women nominated for 41 musicals, only 6 women have won this award for 6 musicals:[65]

Bold represents winner

Director Nominated musical(s)
Joan Littlewood Oh, What a Lovely War! (1965)
Vinnette Caroll Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1973)
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1977)
Elizabeth Swados Runaways (1978)
Barbara Damashek Quilters (1985)
Susan H. Schulman Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street revival (1990)
Graciela Daniele Once on this Island (1991)
Eleanor Reissa Those Were the Days (1992)
Julie Taymor Juan Darién (1997)
The Lion King (1998)[66]
Ann Reinking Fosse (1999)
Susan Stroman Contact (2000)
The Music Man revival (2000)
The Producers (2001)[67]
The Scottsboro Boys (2012)
Lynne Taylor-Corbett Swing! (2000)
Twyla Tharp Movin' Out (2003)
Kathleen Marshall Wonderful Town revival (2004)
The Pajama Game revival (2006)
Anything Goes revival (2011)
Nice Work If You Can Get it (2012)
Kristin Hanggi Rock of Ages (2009)
Diane Paulus Hair revival (2009)
Porgy and Bess revival (2012)
Pippin revival (2013)[68]
Jagged Little Pill (2020)
Marcia Milgrom Dodge Ragtime revival (2010)
Leigh Silverman Violet (2014)
Suffs (2024)
Rachel Chavkin Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (2017)
Hadestown (2019)
Tina Landau SpongeBob SquarePants (2018)
Phyllida Lloyd Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (2020)
Marianne Elliott Company revival (2022)
Lucy Moss Six (2022)
Jessica Stone Kimberly Akimbo (2023)
Water for Elephants (2024)
Lear deBessonet Into the Woods revival (2023)
Ragtime revival (2026)
Maria Friedman Merrily We Roll Along revival (2024)
Danya Taymor The Outsiders (2024)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "1960 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ "1961 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  3. ↑ "1962 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  4. ↑ "1963 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ "1964 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  6. ↑ "1965 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. ↑ "1966 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ "1967 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  9. ↑ "1968 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  10. ↑ "1969 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ "1970 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ "1971 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ "1972 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ "1973 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ "1974 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  16. ↑ "1975 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  17. ↑ "1976 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ "1977 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  19. ↑ "1978 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ "1979 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  21. ↑ "1980 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  22. ↑ "1981 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  23. ↑ "1982 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  24. ↑ "1983 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  25. ↑ "1984 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  26. ↑ "1985 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  27. ↑ "1986 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  28. ↑ "1987 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  29. ↑ "1988 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  30. ↑ "1989 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  31. ↑ "1990 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  32. ↑ "1991 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  33. ↑ "1992 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  34. ↑ "1993 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  35. ↑ "1994 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  36. ↑ "1995 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  37. ↑ "1996 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  38. ↑ "1997 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  39. ↑ "1998 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  40. ↑ "1999 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  41. ↑ "2000 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  42. ↑ "2001 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  43. ↑ "2002 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  44. ↑ "2003 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  45. ↑ "2004 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  46. ↑ "2005 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  47. ↑ "2006 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  48. ↑ "2007 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  49. ↑ "2008 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  50. ↑ "2009 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  51. ↑ "2010 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  52. ↑ "2011 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  53. ↑ "2012 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  54. ↑ "2013 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  55. ↑ "2014 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Tony Nominations 2015: Full List". Variety. April 28, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  57. ↑ "2016 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  58. ↑ "2017 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  59. ↑ "2018 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  60. ↑ "2019 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  61. ↑ "2020 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  62. ↑ "2022 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  63. ↑ "2023 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. May 2, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  64. ↑ "2024 Tony Awards Nominees". New York Times. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  65. ↑ Clement, Olivia. "Can You Name the 9 Trailblazing Women Who Won Tony Awards for Directing?" Playbill, September 28, 2017
  66. ↑ The Lion King Playbill, retrieved September 27, 2017
  67. ↑ The Producers Playbill, retrieved September 27, 2017
  68. ↑ Gioia, Michael. "Third Time's the Charm: Diane Paulus Receives First Tony Award With Her Third Tony-Winning Revival" Playbill, June 10, 2013
[edit]
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