Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical

Outer Critics Circle Award for
Best New Off-Broadway Musical
Awarded forBest New Off-Broadway Musical
LocationNew York City
Presented byOuter Critics Circle
Currently held byDrag: The Musical (2025)
WebsiteOuterCritics.org

The Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Off-Broadway Musical is an annual award given to the best new musical playing Off-Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The awards have existed since 1949-1950 season, but this category was added in 1983.

Little Shop of Horrors won the inaugural award in 1984. The follow composers and writers have won the award two times:James Lapine, William Finn, Jonathan Larson, Joe DiPietro, Jeanine Tesori, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Itamar Moses, with Tesori as the only woman to win twice. She is also tied with Michael John LaChiusa for the most nominations, with four each.

Award winners

1980s

  indicates the winner.
Year Production Bookwriter Composer Ref.
1983
Little Shop of Horrors Howard Ashman Howard Ashman and Alan Menken [1]
1984 No award given.
1985
Kuni-Leml Nahma Sandrow Raphael Crystal and Richard Engquist [2]
1986
Nunsense Dan Goggin [3]
1987
Stardust Various [4]
1988
Oil City Symphony Various [5]
Romance/Romance Barry Harman Barry Harman and Keith Herrmann
1989 No award given.

1990s

Year Production Bookwriter Composer Ref.
1990
Closer Than Ever Various Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire [6]
1991
Falsettoland James Lapine William Finn [7]
Smoke on the Mountain Connie Ray Various
1992
Song of Singapore Allan Katz, Erik Frandsen, Robert Hipkens, Michael Garin and Paula Lockheart Erik Frandsen, Robert Hipkens, Michael Garin and Paula Lockheart [8]
Opal Robert Lindsey-Nassif
Pageant Bill Russell and Frank Kelly Albert Evans, Bill Russell and Frank Kelly
Return to the Forbidden Planet Bob Carlton Various
1993
Ruthless! Joel Paley Marvin Laird and Joel Paley [9]
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! Allan Sherman and Lou Busch
Putting It Together Stephen Sondheim and Julia McKenzie Stephen Sondheim
Scapin Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell Rusty Magee
1994
Annie Warbucks Thomas Meehan Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin [10]
1995
Jelly Roll! Vernel Bagneris [11]
Jack's Holiday Mark St. Germain Randy Courts
That's Life Various
1996
Rent Jonathan Larson [12]
Floyd Collins Tina Landau Adam Guettel
Cowgirls Betsy Howie Mary Murfitt
Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk Reg E. Gaines Daryl Waters, Zane Mark, Ann Duquesnay, George C. Wolfe and Reg E. Gaines
Bed & Sofa Laurence Klavan Polly Penn and Laurence Klavan
1997
Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly Howard Crabtree and Mark Waldrop [13]
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Joe DiPietro Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts
The Green Heart Charles Busch Rusty Magee
Violet Brian Crawley Brian Crawley and Jeanine Tesori
1998
Hedwig and the Angry Inch John Cameron Mitchell Stephen Trask [14]
Dinah Was Oliver Goldstick Various
The Last Session Jim Brochu [[ Steve Schalchlin]], John Bettis and Marie Cain
The Show Goes On N/A Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
1999
A New Brain William Finn and James Lapine William Finn [15]
Captains Courageous Patrick Cook Patrick Cook and Frederick Freyer
Rollin' on the T.O.B.A. Ronald "Smokey" Stevens and Jaye Stewart
Woody Guthrie's American Song Peter Glazer Woody Guthrie

2000s

Year Production Bookwriter Composer Ref.
2000
The Wild Party Andrew Lippa [16]
The Bomb-itty of Errors Jordan Allen-Dutton, Jason Catalano, GQ, and Erik Weiner
Jolson & Co. Stephen Mo Hanan, Jay Berkow
2001
Bat Boy: The Musical Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming Laurence O'Keefe [17]
Newyorkers N/A Stephen Weiner and Glenn Slater
Pete 'n' Keely James Hindman Mark Woldrop, Patrick Brady, others
Suburb David Javerbaum David Javerbaum and Robert S. Cohen
2002
Tick, Tick... Boom! Jonathan Larson [18]
The Spitfire Grill James Valcq and Fred Alley
The Last Five Years Jason Robert Brown
Summer of '42 Hunter Foster David Kirshenbaum
2003
A Man of No Importance Terrence McNally Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens [19]
Avenue Q Jeff Whitty Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Hank Williams: Lost Highway Randal Myler and Mark Harelik Hank Williams
Radiant Baby Ira Gasman, Stuart Ross and Debra Barsha
Zanna, Don't! Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris
2004
Johnny Guitar Nicholas van Hoogstraten Joel Higgins and Martin Silvestri [20]
The Thing About Men Joe DiPietro Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts
Fame on 42nd Street Jose Fernandez Steve Margoshes and Jacques Levy
2005
Altar Boyz Kevin Del Aguila Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker [21]
Dessa Rose Lynn Ahrens Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
Lone Star Love John L. Haber and Robert Horn Jack Herrick
2006
Grey Gardens Doug Wright Scott Frankel and Michael Korie [22]
Bernarda Alba Michael John LaChiusa
See What I Wanna See
Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story Stephen Dolginoff
2007
In the Heights Quiara Alegría Hudes Lin-Manuel Miranda [23]
Evil Dead The Musical George Reinblatt George Reinblatt, Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla and Melissa Morris
Floyd and Clea David Cale David Cale and Jonathan Kreisberg
Gutenberg! The Musical! Scott Brown and Anthony King
2008
Adding Machine Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt [24]
Make Me a Song -- The Music of William Finn Rob Ruggiero William Finn
Next to Normal Brian Yorkey Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt
The Glorious Ones Lynn Ahrens [[Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
2009
The Toxic Avenger Joe DiPietro [[Joe DiPietro and David Bryan [25]
Happiness John Weidman Scott Frankel and Michael Korie
Rooms: a Rock Romance Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon Paul Scott Goodman
What’s That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling David Pittu David Pittu and Randy Redd

2010s

Year Production Bookwriter Composer Ref.
2010
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Alex Timbers Michael Friedman [26]
The Scottsboro Boys David Thompson John Kander and Fred Ebb
The Tin Pan Alley Rag Mark Saltzman Irving Berlin and Scott Joplin
Yank! David Zellnik David Zellnik and Joseph Zellnik
2011
The Kid Michael Zam Andy Monroe and Jack Lechner [27]
Freckleface Strawberry Gary Kupper and Rose Caiola Gary Kupper
In Transit Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth
Tomorrow Morning Laurence Mark Wythe
2012
Queen of the Mist Michael John LaChiusa [28]
Death Takes a Holiday Peter Stone and Thomas Meehan Maury Yeston
Play it Cool Martin Casella and Larry Dean Harris Mark Winkler and Phillip Swann
Lucky Guy Willard Beckham
2013
Here Lies Love David Byrne and Fatboy Slim [29]
February House Seth Bockley Gabriel Kahane
Dogfight Peter Duchan Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Giant Sybille Pearson Michael John LaChiusa
Murder Ballad Julia Jordan Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash
2014
Fun Home Lisa Kron Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori [30]
Murder for Two Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian
Storyville Toni Morrison, Donald McKayle and Dorothea Freitag
What's it All About? Bacharach Reimagined David Lane Seltzer and Kyle Riabko Bacharach and Hal David
Far From Heaven Richard Greenberg Scott Frankel and Michael Korie
2015
Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda [31]
A Christmas Memory Duane Poole Larry Grossman and Carol Hall
Lonesome Traveler: A Journey Down the Rivers and Streams of American Folk James O'Neil Dan Wheetman
The Fortress of Solitude Itamar Moses Michael Friedman
Disenchanted! Dennis T. Giacino
2016
Dear Evan Hansen Steven Levenson Benj Pasek and Justin Paul [32]
Cagney Robert Creighton and Peter Colley Robert Creighton and Christopher McGovern
Southern Comfort Dan Collins Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis
Lazarus Enda Walsh David Bowie
Daddy Long Legs John Caird Paul Gordon
2017
The Band's Visit Itamar Moses David Yazbek [33]
Himself and Nora Jonathan Brielle
Hadestown Anaïs Mitchell
Spamilton Gerard Alessandrini
Kid Victory Greg Pierce Greg Pierce and John Kander
2018
Desperate Measures Peter Kellogg David Friedman and Peter Kellogg [34]
Cruel Intentions: The Musical Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin and Jordan Ross Schindler Various
Jerry Springer: The Opera Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee
Miss You Like Hell Quiara Alegría Hudes Erin McKeown and Quiara Alegría Hudes
2019
Girl from the North Country Conor McPherson Bob Dylan [35]
The Beast in the Jungle David Thompson John Kander
Black Light Daniel Alexander Jones Jomama Jones
The Hello Girls Peter Mills and Cara Reichel Peter Mills

2020s

Year Production Bookwriter Composer Ref.
2020 (Honorees) Darling Grenadine Daniel Zaitchik [36]
Octet Dave Malloy
The Secret Life of Bees Lynn Nottage Duncan Sheik and Susan Birkenhead
Soft Power David Henry Hwang David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori
A Strange Loop Michael R. Jackson
2021 Awards cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Kimberly Akimbo David Lindsay-Abaire Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire [37]
Black No More John Ridley Tariq Trotter, Anthony Tidd, James Poyser and Daryl Waters
Harmony Bruce Sussman Bruce Sussman and Barry Manilow
Intimate Apparel: A New Opera Lynn Nottage Ricky Ian Gordon
Little Girl Blue Laoina Michelle, Devanand Janki
2023
The Harder They Come Suzan-Lori Parks [38]
The Bedwetter Sarah Silverman and Joshua Harmon Sarah Silverman, Adam Schlesinger and David Yazbek
Between the Lines Timothy Allen McDonald Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson
Only Gold Andy Blankenbuehler and Ted Malawer Kate Nash
Without You Anthony Rapp
2024
Dead Outlaw Itamar Moses David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna [39]
Buena Vista Social Club Marco Ramirez Various
The Connector Jonathan Marc Sherman and Daisy Prince Jason Robert Brown
Teeth Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson
Illinoise Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury Sufjan Stevens
2025
Drag: The Musical Tomas Costanza, Justin Andrew Honard and Ash Gordon [40]
The Big Gay Jamboree Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage Marla Mindelle, Jonathan Parks-Ramageand, and Philip Drennen
We Live in Cairo Daniel Lazour, Patrick Lazour

Multiple wins

2 wins

Multiple nominations

4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

References

  1. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1983". BroadwayWorld.com.
  2. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1985". BroadwayWorld.com.
  3. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1986". BroadwayWorld.com.
  4. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1987". BroadwayWorld.com.
  5. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1988". BroadwayWorld.com.
  6. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1990". BroadwayWorld.com.
  7. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1991". BroadwayWorld.com.
  8. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1992". BroadwayWorld.com.
  9. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1993". BroadwayWorld.com.
  10. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1994". BroadwayWorld.com.
  11. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1995". BroadwayWorld.com.
  12. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1996". BroadwayWorld.com.
  13. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1997". BroadwayWorld.com.
  14. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1998". BroadwayWorld.com.
  15. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 1999". BroadwayWorld.com.
  16. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2000". BroadwayWorld.com.
  17. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2001". BroadwayWorld.com.
  18. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2002". BroadwayWorld.com.
  19. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2003". BroadwayWorld.com.
  20. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2004". BroadwayWorld.com.
  21. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2005". BroadwayWorld.com.
  22. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2006". BroadwayWorld.com.
  23. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2007". BroadwayWorld.com.
  24. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2008". BroadwayWorld.com.
  25. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2009". BroadwayWorld.com.
  26. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2010". BroadwayWorld.com.
  27. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2011". BroadwayWorld.com.
  28. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2011-2012". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  29. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2012-2013". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  30. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2013-2014". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  31. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2014-2015". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  32. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2015-2016". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  33. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2016-2017". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  34. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2017-2018". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  35. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2018-2019". AboutTheArtists. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  36. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2020". BroadwayWorld.com.
  37. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2022". BroadwayWorld.com.
  38. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2023". BroadwayWorld.com.
  39. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024". BroadwayWorld.com.
  40. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2025". BroadwayWorld.com.
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