Jonathan Larson - Wikipedia

American composer, lyricist and playwright (1960–1996) For the American journalist, see Jonathan Larsen. "Jon Larson" redirects here. For other people with similar names, see John Larson (disambiguation).

Jonathan Larson
Born	Jonathan David Larson(1960-02-04)February 4, 1960Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Died	January 25, 1996(1996-01-25) (aged 35)New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Composer lyricist playwright
Education	Adelphi University (BFA)
Years active	1982–1996
Notable works	Rent (1996) Tick, Tick... Boom! (2001) Superbia (not officially published)

Jonathan David Larson (February 4, 1960 – January 25, 1996) was an American composer, lyricist and playwright, most famous for writing the musicals Rent and Tick, Tick... Boom!, which explored the social issues of multiculturalism, substance use disorder, and homophobia.

Larson had worked on both musicals throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s. After several years of workshopping, Rent began an off-Broadway run in early 1996, though Larson died from an aortic dissection the day before its first preview performance. The show went on to enjoy critical and commercial success, and transferred to Broadway that April, one of the longest-running Broadway productions. Larson posthumously received three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Rent was also adapted into a 2005 film. Tick, Tick... Boom! received an off-Broadway production in 2001, and was also adapted into a 2021 film.

Early years and education

[edit]

Jonathan David Larson was born on February 4, 1960, in Mount Vernon, New York, to Nanette (née Notarius; 1927–2018)[1] and Allan Larson (1925–2021)[2] of White Plains, New York.[3][4][5][6] His family was Jewish.[7] His grandfather, Bernard Isaac Lazarson, who was born in Russia, changed the family surname to Larson.[8] At an early age, Larson played the trumpet and tuba, sang in his school's choir, and took piano lessons. His early musical influences and his favorite rock musicians included Elton John, The Doors, The Who, and Billy Joel, as well as the classic composers of musical theatre, especially Stephen Sondheim. He also loved Pete Townshend, The Police, Prince, Liz Phair, and The Beatles.[9] Larson attended White Plains High School, where he was also involved in acting, performing in lead roles in various productions, graduating in 1978.[10] He had a sister, Julie.

Larson attended Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, with a four-year scholarship as an acting major, in addition to performing in numerous plays and musical theatre, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Larson stopped acting to focus on compositions.[citation needed] During his college years, he began music composition, composing music first for small student productions, called cabarets, and later the score to a musical entitled The Book of Good Love (Libro de Buen Amor), written by the department head, Jacques Burdick, who was also Larson's college mentor.[citation needed]

As a student at Adelphi University, Larson co-wrote Sacrimmoralinority, a Brechtian-themed cabaret musical and his first musical, with David Glenn Armstrong.[citation needed] It was first staged at Adelphi University in the winter of 1981. After Larson and Armstrong graduated in 1982, they renamed it Saved! - An Immoral Musical on the Moral Majority. It played a four-week showcase run at Rusty's Storefront Blitz, a small theatre on 42nd Street in New York, Manhattan, and won both authors a writing award from ASCAP.[citation needed]

After graduating, Larson participated in a summer stock theatre program at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, as a piano player, which resulted in his earning an Equity card for membership in the Actors' Equity Association.[citation needed]

Career and works

[edit] Main article: List of works by Jonathan Larson

Superbia

[edit] Main article: Superbia (musical)

In 1983, Larson planned to write a musical adaptation of George Orwell's book Nineteen Eighty-Four, which he planned to get produced in the year 1984; however, the Orwell estate denied him permission. Larson then began the process of adapting his work on 1984 into a futuristic story of his own, titled Superbia.[11]

Superbia won the Richard Rodgers Production Award and the Richard Rodgers Development Grant.[10] However, despite performances at Playwrights Horizons and a rock concert version produced by Larson's close friend and producer Victoria Leacock at the Village Gate in September 1989, Superbia never received a full production.[11]

In the 2001 three-person musical version of Larson's monologue tick, tick... BOOM!, the 11 o'clock number from an earlier version of Superbia, "Come to Your Senses", was included. Another song from Superbia ("LCD Readout") was included on the 2007 album "Jonathan Sings Larson". In 2019, the song "One of These Days", originally sung by Josh near the beginning of the early drafts of Superbia, was included on the album "The Jonathan Larson Project". On February 4, 2022, the abridged "Sextet Montage" was released on streaming platforms as a single.[12]

tick, tick... BOOM!

[edit] Main article: Tick, Tick... Boom!

tick, tick... BOOM!, completed in 1991, was an autobiographical "rock monologue". This piece, written for only Larson with a piano and rock band, drew on his feelings of rejection caused by the disappointment of Superbia. The show was performed off-Broadway at the Village Gate in Greenwich Village, then at the Second Stage Theater on the Upper West Side. Both of these productions were produced by Victoria Leacock.[citation needed] Producer Jeffrey Seller saw a reading of Boho Days and expressed interest in producing Larson's musicals.

After Larson's death, Victoria Leacock and Robyn Goodman, with the permission of the Larson family, brought in playwright David Auburn to go through Larson’s five versions of the rock monologue, and expand it for three actors. Stephen Oremus was hired to orchestrate and be the musical director, as he had already been working on the tour of RENT. The stage version premiered off-Broadway in 2001 and starred Raúl Esparza as Larson, a performance for which he earned an Obie Award. It has since been produced on a West End theatre.

A film adaptation of tick, tick... BOOM!, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield (in an Academy Award nominated performance) as Larson, with a rewritten script by Steven Levenson was released on Netflix on November 12, 2021.

Rent

[edit] Main article: Rent (musical)

In 1989, Larson began collaborating with playwright Billy Aronson on a musical updating Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème to take place in contemporary New York City.[13] Larson conceived the title, Rent, and re-centered the narrative in the East Village, reflecting the lives of artists and young people in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic.

The show underwent significant development at the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), starting with staged readings in 1993 and culminating in a three-week studio production in late 1994. Producer Jeffrey Seller became a crucial champion during this period. Tragically, Larson died from an aortic dissection on January 25, 1996, the morning of Rent's first off-Broadway preview performance at NYTW.

The show proceeded, garnering immense critical and popular success, and transferred to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996.[14] Rent became a cultural phenomenon, winning numerous prestigious awards, including a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Drama[15] and several Tony Awards for Larson.[16]

Death

[edit]

In the days preceding Rent's first previews in January 1996, Larson began experiencing pain in his chest and back, fever, dizziness, and shortness of breath. He was assessed at Cabrini Medical Center on January 21 and at St. Vincent's Hospital on January 23, but doctors found nothing of concern in X-rays or electrocardiograms (ECGs), and variously attributed his symptoms to stress, food poisoning, or a virus; a note from one doctor on an ECG speculated about a possible myocardial infarction, but the matter was not further pursued.[3][17] Larson continued to complain of severe and persistent pain and discomfort throughout this period.[17]

At around 12:30 a.m. on January 25, 1996, the scheduled day of the first preview performance, Larson returned to his apartment from a production meeting, and collapsed in the kitchen.[17] At around 3 a.m.,[a] his body was discovered by his roommate, who called emergency services and attempted CPR.[3] Police arrived and pronounced Larson dead at the scene, aged 35.[3] The cause of death was found to be an aortic dissection.[17] A court found that Larson had been misdiagnosed by doctors at both hospitals he had visited.[18] A medical malpractice lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount. The New York State Department of Health launched an investigation and concluded that it is possible he could have lived if the aortic dissection had been properly diagnosed and treated with cardiac surgery.[19][20] Cabrini Medical Center and St. Vincent's Hospital were fined $10,000 and $6,000, respectively.[3]

Larson may have had an undiagnosed case of Marfan syndrome, which increases the risk of aortic dissection; the possibility was publicly promoted by the National Marfan Foundation to raise awareness about the condition, at the urging of the New York State Health Department.[21]

Legacy

[edit]

Rent played on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre from its debut in April 1996 until September 7, 2008.[22] It is the 12th longest running show in Broadway history. In addition, it has toured throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Singapore, Philippines, Mexico, Germany, Poland, and throughout Europe, as well as in other locations. A film version of Rent was released in 2005.

After his death, Larson's family and friends started the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation to provide monetary grants to artists, especially musical theatre composers and writers, to support their creative work. The Jonathan Larson Grants are now administered by the American Theatre Wing, thanks to an endowment funded by the Foundation and the Larson Family.[23]

His semi-autobiographical musical Tick, Tick... Boom! premiered off-Broadway in May 2001, toured the United States in 2003, and premiered in London in May 2005. The show was later revived in London's West End in May 2009 and twice off-Broadway in June 2014 and October 2016.[24]

In December 2003, Larson's work was given to the Library of Congress. The collection includes numerous musicals, revues, cabarets, pop songs, dance and video projects – both produced and un-produced.[25]

Less than three years after Rent closed on Broadway, the show was revived off-Broadway at Stage 1 of New World Stages just outside the Theater District. The show was directed by Michael Greif, who had directed the original productions. The show began previews on July 14, 2011, and opened August 11, 2011.

From October 9 to 14, 2018, Feinstein's/54 Below presented The Jonathan Larson Project, a concert of several previously unheard songs by Larson. The show was conceived and directed by Jennifer Ashley Tepper. It starred George Salazar, Lauren Marcus, Andy Mientus, Krysta Rodriguez, and Nick Blaemire. A CD of the show was released by Ghostlight Records in April 2019.[26][27] A full off-Broadway version of the project will open at the Orpheum Theatre on March 10, 2025, with previews set to begin February 14.[28]

Jonathan is portrayed by actor Andrew Garfield in the biographical musical drama Tick, Tick... Boom! which was released on the streaming service Netflix on November 19, 2021. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with high praise for director Lin-Manuel Miranda’s direction in his directorial debut, score, and musical sequences, and Garfield's performance garnering universal acclaim. It was named one of the best films of 2021 by the American Film Institute, and earned Garfield the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy as well as Best Lead Actor nominations for the Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics Choice Movie Award.

Jonathan Larson Grants

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In memory of Larson, in 1996, the Larson family along with the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation established an award honoring emerging musical theater writers and composers.[29] In 2008, the American Theatre Wing adopted and continued on the legacy through the Jonathan Larson Grants, an unrestricted cash gift to aid in the creative endeavors of the writers and promote their work.[23] Notable winners of the grant include Dave Malloy, Laurence O'Keefe, Nell Benjamin, Amanda Green, Joe Iconis, Pasek and Paul, Shaina Taub and Michael R. Jackson.

Personal life

[edit]

In college, Larson dated Victoria Leacock.[30] He also dated a dancer for four years who sometimes left him for other men, though she eventually left him for a woman. These experiences influenced the autobiographical aspects of Rent.

Larson lived and died in a loft with no heat on the fourth floor of 508 Greenwich Street, on the corner of Greenwich Street and Spring Street in Lower Manhattan. He lived with various roommates over the years, including Greg Beals, a journalist for Newsweek magazine and the brother of actress Jennifer Beals. For a while, he and his roommates kept an illegal wood-burning stove because of lack of heat in their building.

From the spring of 1985, when he was 25 years old, Larson worked weekends as a waiter at the Moondance Diner, while working on composing and writing musicals during the week. Many people came to the diner to meet Larson. He was involved in writing the employee manual.[31] Jesse L. Martin worked as Larson's waiting trainee at the diner; Martin later performed the role of Tom Collins in the original cast of Rent. Larson quit the diner on October 21, 1995, as Rent was being produced by the New York Theatre Workshop.

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1996	Pulitzer Prize	Drama	Rent	Won
	Tony Award	Best Book of a Musical		Won
		Best Musical		Won
		Best Original Score		Won
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Book of a Musical		Won
		Outstanding Music		Won
		Outstanding Lyrics		Won
	New York Drama Critics' Circle	Best Musical		Won
2002	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Book of a Musical	Tick, Tick... Boom!	Nominated
		Outstanding Music		Nominated
		Outstanding Lyrics		Nominated

Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Variously reported as 3:00,[13] "around 3:30",[17] or 3:40 a.m.[3]

References

[edit]

1. ^ "Obituaries in Westchester, NY | The Journal News". lohud.com. February 11, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
2. ^ Harms, Talaura (January 3, 2022). "Allan Larson, Father of Rent Creator Jonathan Larson, Dies".
3. ^ a b c d e f "The Story of Jonathan— One Week in January". Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Urgent Care Association. June 15, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
4. ^ Evans, Greg (January 1, 2022). "Allan Larson Dies: Father Of Playwright Jonathan Larson And Caretaker Of Legacy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
5. ^ "Nanette T. Larson Obituary (1927-2018)". The Journal News. February 11, 2019.
6. ^ "Jonathan Larson". PBS. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
7. ^ GRANT, BRIGIT (December 9, 2021). "Stephen Sondheim's last message". Jewish News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
8. ^ "Jews in News: Alana Haim, Sean Penn and Andrew Garfield". Tampa JCCS and Federation. November 25, 2021. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
9. ^ ISTEL, JOHN (July 1996). "Jonathan Larson Talks About His Writing Process and Making 'Rent'". Theatre Communications Group. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
10. ^ a b Gussow, Mel (January 26, 1996). "Jonathan Larson, 35, Composer of Rock Opera and Musicals". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
11. ^ a b TEPPER, JENNIFER ASHLEY (October 9, 2018). "5 Jonathan Larson Songs You've Probably Never Heard". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
12. ^ "LISTEN: TICK, TICK...BOOM! Releases 'Sextet Montage' From SUPERBIA". BroadwayWorld. February 4, 2022. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
13. ^ a b Tommasini, Anthony (March 17, 1996). "Theater; The Seven-Year Odyssey that Led to 'Rent'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
14. ^ Winer, Laurie (April 30, 1996). "'Rent' Goes Up -- to Broadway". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020.
15. ^ Pacheco, Patrick (April 14, 1996). "Life, Death and 'Rent'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020.
16. ^ "Rent, Master Class Win Top Tonys". Playbill. June 3, 1996. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
17. ^ a b c d e Van Gelder, Lawrence (December 13, 1996). "On the Eve of a New Life, an Untimely Death". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
18. ^ Span, Paula (December 14, 1996). "JUST WHAT IS THE PRICE OF FAME? 'RENT' AUTHOR'S FAMILY SEEKS ANSWER IN SUIT". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
19. ^ Nicholson, Joe; Kornblut, Anne (December 13, 1996). "State Faults Hosps for 'Rent' Tragedy". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
20. ^ Rosenthal, Elisabeth (December 13, 1996). "2 Hospitals Fined In Wake of Death Of 'Rent' Creator". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
21. ^ "No Rest for the Parents of the Parent of 'Rent'". The New York Times. June 12, 2001. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
22. ^ Jones, Kenneth (March 26, 2008). "Rent Extension: Hit Show Will Close Sept. 7". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
23. ^ a b Bloom, Julie (September 16, 2008). "Footnotes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
24. ^ Tick Tick Boom productions AboutTheArtists
25. ^ "Jonathan Larson papers". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
26. ^ "The Jonathan Larson Project". Feinstein's/54 Below. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
27. ^ Peikert, Mark (January 28, 2019). "The Jonathan Larson Project Album Sets April Release Date". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
28. ^ Hall, Margaret. "The Jonathan Larson Project Is Headed Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
29. ^ Gans, Andrew (February 14, 2008). "Jonathan Larson Award Winners Announced; Rapp, Testa and Harris to Perform at Ceremony". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
30. ^ Pullar, Jess (November 22, 2021). "The Tragic True Story Behind Netflix's New Musical, 'Tick Tick... Boom!'". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
31. ^ Stevens-Garmon, Morgen (November 23, 2021). "Waiting with Jonathan Larson". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.

External links

[edit]

• Jonathan Larson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Jonathan Larson at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
• Jonathan Larson at IMDb

v t e Jonathan Larson
Musicals	Superbia (unproduced) Tick, Tick... Boom! (1993) J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation (1995) Rent (1996)
Songs	"La Vie Bohème" "Seasons of Love" "Take Me or Leave Me"
Film and television	Rent (2005 film) Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008 film) Rent: Live (2019) Revolution Rent (2021) Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)
Albums/soundtracks	Rent albums (1996 / 2005) Tick, Tick... Boom! film soundtrack (2021)
Other	Without You Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation

Awards for Jonathan Larson

v t e Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical 1970–2000 George Furth (1970) Burt Shevelove (1971) John Guare and Mel Shapiro (1972) Hugh Wheeler (1973) Hugh Wheeler (1974) No Award (1975) James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante (1976) Thomas Meehan (1977) Hugh Wheeler (1979) No Awards (1980–1983) James Lapine (1984) Jerry Colker (1985) Rupert Holmes (1986) L. Arthur Rose, Douglas Furber, Stephen Fry, and Mike Ockrent (1987) James Lapine (1988) Larry Gelbart (1990) Marsha Norman (1991) George C. Wolfe (1992) James Lapine (1994) Jonathan Larson (1996) Terrence McNally (1998) Alfred Uhry (1999) No Award (2000) 2001–present Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (2001) John Lahr and Elaine Stritch (2002) Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan (2003) Winnie Holzman (2004) Rachel Sheinkin (2005) Bob Martin and Don McKellar (2006) Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone (2007) Douglas Carter Beane (2008) Lee Hall (2009) Alex Timbers (2010) Adam Mathias (2011) Joe DiPietro (2012) Dennis Kelly (2013) Robert L. Freedman (2014) Lin-Manuel Miranda (2015) John Caird (2016) Irene Sankoff and David Hein (2017) Tina Fey (2018) Robert Horn (2019) Michael R. Jackson (2020) No Award (2021) Bruce Sussman (2022) Matthew López and Amber Ruffin (2023) Itamar Moses (2024) Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025) v t e Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics 1969–2000 Fred Ebb (1969) Stephen Sondheim / Bertolt Brecht (1970) Stephen Sondheim (1971) John Guare (1972) Stephen Sondheim (1973) Al Carmines (1974) Charlie Smalls (1975) Edward Kleban (1976) Martin Charnin (1977) Carol Hall (1978) Stephen Sondheim (1979) Tim Rice (1980) Stephen Sondheim / Maury Yeston (1982) Howard Ashman (1983) Stephen Sondheim (1984) Roger Miller (1985) Stephen Sondheim (1988) David Zippel (1990) William Finn (1991) Susan Birkenhead (1992) Joel Paley (1993) Stephen Sondheim (1994) Jonathan Larson (1996) Gerard Alessandrini (1997) Lynn Ahrens (1998) Gerard Alessandrini (1999) Stephen Sondheim (2000) 2001–present Mel Brooks (2001) Jason Robert Brown (2002) Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (2003) Stephen Schwartz (2004) Eric Idle (2005) Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (2006) Steven Sater (2007) Stew (2008) Stephen Sondheim (2009) John Kander and Fred Ebb (2010) Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone (2011) Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (2012) Tim Minchin (2013) Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak (2014) Lin-Manuel Miranda (2015) Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (2016) David Yazbek (2017) Peter Kellogg (2018) David Yazbek (2019) Michael R. Jackson (2020) No Award (2021) Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (2022) Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (2023) David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna (2024) Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025) v t e Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music 1969–2000 Al Carmines / Burt Bacharach (1969) Stephen Sondheim / Kurt Weill (1970) Stephen Sondheim (1971) Galt MacDermot (1972) Stephen Sondheim (1973) Al Carmines (1974) Charlie Smalls (1975) Marvin Hamlisch (1976) Cy Coleman (1977) Cy Coleman / Carol Hall (1978) Stephen Sondheim (1979) Andrew Lloyd Webber (1980) Maury Yeston (1982) Andrew Lloyd Webber (1983) Jerry Herman (1984) Larry Grossman (1985) Rupert Holmes (1986) Noel Gay / Claude-Michel Schönberg (1987) Andrew Lloyd Webber (1988) Cy Coleman (1990) Cy Coleman (1991) Erik Frandsen, Michael Garin, Paul Lockheart, and Robert Hipkins (1992) Marvin Hamlisch (1993) Stephen Sondheim (1994) Jonathan Larson (1996) Cy Coleman (1997) Stephen Flaherty (1998) Jason Robert Brown (1999) Andrew Lippa (2000) 2001–present David Yazbek (2001) Jason Robert Brown (2002) Marc Shaiman (2003) Jeanine Tesori (2004) Adam Guettel (2005) Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (2006) Duncan Sheik (2007) Stew and Heidi Rodewald (2008) Elton John (2009) David Bryan (2010) Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone (2011) Alan Menken (2012) David Byrne and Fatboy Slim (2013) Jason Robert Brown (2014) Lin-Manuel Miranda (2015) Steve Martin and Edie Brickell (2016) David Yazbek (2017) David Friedman (2018) David Yazbek (2019) Dave Malloy (2020) No Award (2021) Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (2022) Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (2023) Shaina Taub (2024) Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025) v t e Pulitzer Prize for Drama 1918–1950 Why Marry? by Jesse Lynch Williams (1918) Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill (1920) Miss Lulu Bett by Zona Gale (1921) Anna Christie by Eugene O'Neill (1922) Icebound by Owen Davis (1923) Hell-Bent Fer Heaven by Hatcher Hughes (1924) They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard (1925) Craig's Wife by George Kelly (1926) In Abraham's Bosom by Paul Green (1927) Strange Interlude by Eugene O'Neill (1928) Street Scene by Elmer Rice (1929) The Green Pastures by Marc Connelly (1930) Alison's House by Susan Glaspell (1931) Of Thee I Sing by George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind and Ira Gershwin (1932) Both Your Houses by Maxwell Anderson (1933) Men in White by Sidney Kingsley (1934) The Old Maid by Zoë Akins (1935) Idiot's Delight by Robert E. Sherwood (1936) You Can't Take It with You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman (1937) Our Town by Thornton Wilder (1938) Abe Lincoln in Illinois by Robert E. Sherwood (1939) The Time of Your Life by William Saroyan (1940) There Shall Be No Night by Robert E. Sherwood (1941) The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder (1943) Harvey by Mary Coyle Chase (1945) State of the Union by Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay (1946) A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (1948) Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (1949) South Pacific by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan (1950) 1952–1975 The Shrike by Joseph Kramm (1952) Picnic by William Inge (1953) The Teahouse of the August Moon by John Patrick (1954) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams (1955) The Diary of Anne Frank by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich (1956) Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill (1957) Look Homeward, Angel by Ketti Frings (1958) J.B. by Archibald MacLeish (1959) Fiorello! by Jerome Weidman, George Abbott, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (1960) All the Way Home by Tad Mosel (1961) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows (1962) The Subject Was Roses by Frank D. Gilroy (1965) A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee (1967) The Great White Hope by Howard Sackler (1969) No Place to Be Somebody by Charles Gordone (1970) The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel (1971) That Championship Season by Jason Miller (1973) Seascape by Edward Albee (1975) 1976–2000 A Chorus Line by Michael Bennett, Nicholas Dante, James Kirkwood, Jr., Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban (1976) The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer (1977) The Gin Game by Donald L. Coburn (1978) Buried Child by Sam Shepard (1979) Talley's Folly by Lanford Wilson (1980) Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley (1981) A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller (1982) 'night, Mother by Marsha Norman (1983) Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet (1984) Sunday in the Park with George by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim (1985) Fences by August Wilson (1987) Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry (1988) The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein (1989) The Piano Lesson by August Wilson (1990) Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon (1991) The Kentucky Cycle by Robert Schenkkan (1992) Angels in America: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner (1993) Three Tall Women by Edward Albee (1994) The Young Man from Atlanta by Horton Foote (1995) Rent by Jonathan Larson (1996) How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel (1998) Wit by Margaret Edson (1999) Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies (2000) 2001–2025 Proof by David Auburn (2001) Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks (2002) Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz (2003) I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright (2004) Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley (2005) Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire (2007) August: Osage County by Tracy Letts (2008) Ruined by Lynn Nottage (2009) Next to Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (2010) Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris (2011) Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hudes (2012) Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar (2013) The Flick by Annie Baker (2014) Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis (2015) Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2016) Sweat by Lynn Nottage (2017) Cost of Living by Martyna Majok (2018) Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury (2019) A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson (2020) The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall (2021) Fat Ham by James Ijames (2022) English by Sanaz Toossi (2023) Primary Trust by Eboni Booth (2024) Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (2025) v t e Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 1950–1975 South Pacific by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan (1950) Hello, Dolly! by Michael Stewart (1964) Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein (1965) Company by George Furth (1971) Two Gentlemen of Verona by John Guare and Mel Shapiro (1972) A Little Night Music by Hugh Wheeler (1973) Candide by Hugh Wheeler (1974) Shenandoah by James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell and Philip Rose (1975) 1976–2000 A Chorus Line by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante (1976) Annie by Thomas Meehan (1977) On the Twentieth Century by Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1978) Sweeney Todd by Hugh Wheeler (1979) Evita by Tim Rice (1980) Woman of the Year by Peter Stone (1981) Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen (1982) Cats by T. S. Eliot (1983) La Cage aux Folles by Harvey Fierstein (1984) Big River by William Hauptman (1985) The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes (1986) Les Misérables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (1987) Into the Woods by James Lapine (1988) No Award (1989) City of Angels by Larry Gelbart (1990) The Secret Garden by Marsha Norman (1991) Falsettos by William Finn and James Lapine (1992) Kiss of the Spider Woman by Terrence McNally (1993) Passion by James Lapine (1994) Sunset Boulevard by Don Black and Christopher Hampton (1995) Rent by Jonathan Larson (1996) Titanic by Peter Stone (1997) Ragtime by Terrence McNally (1998) Parade by Alfred Uhry (1999) James Joyce's The Dead by Richard Nelson (2000) 2001–present The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (2001) Urinetown by Greg Kotis (2002) Hairspray by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell (2003) Avenue Q by Jeff Whitty (2004) The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Rachel Sheinkin (2005) The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin and Don McKellar (2006) Spring Awakening by Steven Sater (2007) Passing Strange by Stew (2008) Billy Elliot the Musical by Lee Hall (2009) Memphis by Joe DiPietro (2010) The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (2011) Once by Enda Walsh (2012) Matilda the Musical by Dennis Kelly (2013) A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman (2014) Fun Home by Lisa Kron (2015) Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2016) Dear Evan Hansen by Steven Levenson (2017) The Band's Visit by Itamar Moses (2018) Tootsie by Robert Horn (2019) Jagged Little Pill by Diablo Cody (2020/21) A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson (2022) Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire (2023) Suffs by Shaina Taub (2024) Maybe Happy Ending by Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025) v t e Tony Award for Best Original Score 1947–1975 Street Scene by Kurt Weill (1947) Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter (1949) South Pacific by Richard Rodgers (1950) Call Me Madam by Irving Berlin (1951) No Strings by Richard Rodgers (1962) Oliver! by Lionel Bart (1963) Hello, Dolly! by Jerry Herman (1964) Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (1965) Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion (1966) Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1967) Hallelujah, Baby! by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1968) Company by Stephen Sondheim (1971) Follies by Stephen Sondheim (1972) A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim (1973) Gigi by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner (1974) The Wiz by Charlie Smalls (1975) 1976–2000 A Chorus Line by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban (1976) Annie by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin (1977) On the Twentieth Century by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1978) Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim (1979) Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (1980) Woman of the Year by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1981) Nine by Maury Yeston (1982) Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber and T. S. Eliot (1983) La Cage aux Folles by Jerry Herman (1984) Big River by Roger Miller (1985) The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes (1986) Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer, and Alain Boublil (1987) Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim (1988) No Award (1989) City of Angels by Cy Coleman and David Zippel (1990) The Will Rogers Follies by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1991) Falsettos by William Finn (1992) Kiss of the Spider Woman by John Kander and Fred Ebb / The Who's Tommy by Pete Townshend (1993) Passion by Stephen Sondheim (1994) Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, and Christopher Hampton (1995) Rent by Jonathan Larson (1996) Titanic by Maury Yeston (1997) Ragtime by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (1998) Parade by Jason Robert Brown (1999) Aida by Elton John and Tim Rice (2000) 2001–present The Producers by Mel Brooks (2001) Urinetown by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (2002) Hairspray by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (2003) Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (2004) The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel (2005) The Drowsy Chaperone by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (2006) Spring Awakening by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater (2007) In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2008) Next to Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (2009) Memphis by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro (2010) The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (2011) Newsies by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman (2012) Kinky Boots by Cyndi Lauper (2013) The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown (2014) Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron (2015) Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2016) Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (2017) The Band's Visit by David Yazbek (2018) Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell (2019) A Christmas Carol by Christopher Nightingale (2020/21) Six by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (2022) Kimberly Akimbo by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire (2023) Suffs by Shaina Taub (2024) Maybe Happy Ending by Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025)

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