Video: Creatives Hit the Red Carpet at the 2023 Drama League Awards

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World

We're at the Ziegfeld Ballroom for the 89th Annual Drama League Awards

celebrating the very best of the 2022-2020-23 Broadway and off-Broadway season. It's always great for me to be at this event every year

because it reminds me that directors need a home too. And to call this our artistic home where we get to fellowship

and to admire and look at others' work. It's a great time, one time in a year where you're in a room with a bunch of artists

and you're not working on something. So it's great. It's so thrilling

I mean, I've had a little bit of a hiatus here. And suddenly I'm back again

And I think, oh my God, it's just as exciting as it was the first time

It's so rare as a director to actually hang out with other directors

We kind of see each other from afar. And being a director can sometimes be a little bit of a solo

isolating, lonely experience. And so the fact that there's a place at the Drama League

for there to be a community so we can share ideas, uplift each other, and really, really band together

is exciting. Being a part of this theater season, here in New York

what it's meant to you? Oh my gosh what a season I in awe I sort of genuflecting at every theater that I go to I like wow we are amongst these amazing artists It a real honor I love this event This is like a community event

This is that one event where everybody, you really come together and you have fun and everybody's here

And it just is, it's really, I look forward to this one. It's so exciting because when I was nominated for the inheritance, there was none of this, right

It was the pandemic year. So I feel like I'm finally experiencing something that I didn't get to

the first time. So it's great. And to be here with something like it hot, celebrate what we've

made and the people that we made it with, it's incredible to celebrate Jay and celebrate Casey in the show

Couldn't be happier. How many years have you been to the Drama League before, right? Oh, yeah. Like, probably. I mean, I scramble it was 18 years ago. So 18 years of Drama League

probably, right? Does it? Yes. Let's talk about how much joy your show is bringing up

the Schubert Theater. People are dancing out onto Schubert Alley, what that means to you. Oh, the best

How could it mean anything else? I'm so excited about it all. I love everyone so much

It's just, it's been a really great experience. Welcome back, but you were a director's fellowship here, right, at the Drama League

I was indeed. In 2004, me, Lear de Bessonet, Steve Freed, and Shauna Cooper got sent up to Ithaca

and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Okay so what does it mean to be back here with all these incredible people today The Drama League is one of those nonprofits where I don even have to think I just there I there to support I there to talk with earlier career directors with mid directors who are developing

new work through other fellowships. It's just like the most integral support for directors in our field

You're an honoree today. What if that means to a big honor from the Drama League

Well, the Drama League has been a through line in my entire career. I was a Drama League director when I was 23rd

years old. Rachel Chavkin and I were in the same cohort of four, and that's how we met. So I feel like

it has had a huge impact on my life. Truly, it was my first paid work as a director, and I am grateful

to this place always. What's made it so joyful for you with bringing Shuck to Broadway, and how much

joy it brings to audiences? I mean, that's it. That is what the most exciting, fulfilling. I mean

I feel like somebody said this that wasn't here, said it sounds like. It sounds like

you're vibrating. And I said, that is what it feels like here, especially this week with everybody

here and just, you know, gearing up for all of the things that are happening and people seeing

the show for the first time and the joy. I mean, that's a great word for it. What a season this has

been for you. Just talk about the joy. You brought fresh new audiences to see your two gentlemen

in your show what that meant to you Right Well I mean it when I wrote the play way back when in 1999 I thought I love this play and I love these characters and I love this story And it just great to see yet a new generation of people who have that kind of love for it

I really appreciate it. Bringing a whole new audience to a theater, that's what we need

That's exactly what we need. And not just bring them in, but to tell them stories that are relevant

that move them to think about the human condition and to embrace life in a whole new way

It's really important. Is it a big pinch me moments you have like, oh my God

A lot of people who I love are here today. Absolutely. I've seen so many people that my mouth instantly dried up when I saw them

So, yeah, I'm feeling it. Yeah, and it's such an amazing season with all the shows and all the performers

It's great to be here. Let's talk about how much joy you had brought to audiences with your show

Oh, gosh. I'm so happy about that. It makes me feel like that's the thing that I've always wanted to do as a theater artist

and it's happening. And I just feel very fortunate. Yeah, the best thing is seeing the audience at the end, leave with joy, leave with laughter

That's what we want. Well, it's actually this is particularly thrilling. because it covers Broadway and off-Broadway

And so just to see all these faces here and this energy and you get to go up to everyone who you've seen all their work

and congratulate them and share all this. It's very exciting. Just being a part of this theater season

making your Broadway debut what that means to you. Oh my gosh, it's so good

It's such an incredible season. It's such a deep season. I mean, there's, what, 20 new plays this year

It's incredible. I'm so honored to be a part of it. It's been loads of fun to help bring Broadway back