May 17, 2009 (New York City)- Billy Elliott The Musical blew away the competition at the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards, winning 10 awards, including Best Musical, Best Director, Outstanding Featured Actor and Actress and Outstanding Music (Elton John).
Shrek The Musical was a distant second with three awards, including one for Brian d’Arcy James, who took home the honors as Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Other big winners included Lynn Nottage, who took Best Play honors for Ruined, The Norman Conquests, which won for Outstanding Revival of a Play and Hair, which won for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.
In the acting categories, Geoffrey Rush was named Outstanding Actor in a Play (The Norman Conquests), Janet McTeer was Outstanding Actress in a Play (Mary Stuart) and Allison Janney, of West Wing fame, took Best Actress in a Musical for her work in 9 to 5.
