SCENE PARTNERS
ANNOUNCES LONG-TERM PLANS TO PRODUCE AND EXPAND
THE DRAMA DESK AWARDS
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR A SPECIAL 70TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN 2026,
AND A NEW CEREMONY FORMAT IN 2027
New York, NY (June 2, 2025) – Scene Partners, the experiential entertainment venture builder, is pleased to announce its long-term plans to produce and expand the Drama Desk Awards. Scene Partners, under the leadership of founder Matt Britten, will form Drama Desk Awards Productions to produce the annual Drama Desk Awards show going forward and to pursue new opportunities for the Drama Desks year-round and across the country.
The Drama Desk organization and its membership will continue its role of nominating and voting on the New York awards, and the annual event will continue to benefit the Drama Desk organization in its mission to promote and support artistic excellence in the theater.
Scene Partners will be joined in the effort by The Season, led by producers and marketers Mike Karns and Steven Tartick, to further elevate the profile and impact of the awards. Veteran theatrical and live events producer Victoria Weinberg has been appointed to lead the newly-formed Drama Desk Awards Productions.
The 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, celebrating a milestone and the rich history of the awards. The 71st Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2027, in a new format, honoring theater from across the United States of America in addition to New York City.
“Theater is a vital art form—one that deserves to be recognized with a ceremony as extraordinary as the work it honors,” said Matt Britten, Founder of Scene Partners. “We thank the Drama Desk organization for their continued dedication to theater and for their partnership. With deep respect for the legacy of the Desks, we’re honored to carry the baton forward—expanding the event’s reach, growing its impact, and ensuring the Drama Desk Awards continue to shine as a powerful celebration of outstanding theater.”
“The Drama Desk board is pleased to announce this plan to solidify the future of the annual presentation of the Drama Desk Awards and expansion of the awards franchise,” said Charles Wright and David Barbour, Co-Presidents of the Drama Desk organization. “We’re grateful to Matt and his partners for their vision and their respect for the Drama Desk Awards.”
Over the decades, the Drama Desk Awards have recognized a remarkable roster of American theater legends and cultural icons. Winners include Cynthia Erivo, Bryan Cranston, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Viola Davis, Al Pacino, Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Sondheim, August Wilson, Tony Kushner, Audra McDonald, Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Christopher Walken, Julie Taymor, George C. Wolfe, Laurie Metcalf, Sutton Foster, James Earl Jones, Glenn Close, Suzan-Lori Parks, Brian Dennehy, Liev Schreiber, Harvey Fierstein, Cherry Jones, Tonya Pinkins, Bebe Neuwirth, Jefferson Mays, and André De Shields. These artists, and thousands of others recognized by the Drama Desks—spanning generations, genres, and disciplines—have helped shape the American stage. From breakthrough performances to career-defining roles, the Drama Desk Awards have long been a bellwether for excellence, honoring the visionaries who continue to redefine what theater can be.
To view the complete winners list of the 2025 Drama Desk Awards and to sign up to be notified about the future of the Drama Desk Awards, visit dramadesks.com.
About Scene Partners
Founded by Matt Britten (previously Broadway Brands, Broadway Briefing), Scene Partners is an experiential entertainment venture builder based in New York. Scene Partners works with entrepreneurs and leaders across the live entertainment landscape, creating, investing, and advising across all stages of the venture lifecycle to build exciting products and experiences for entertainment fans, and lasting value for its partners.
About the Drama Desk Organization
Since its founding in 1949, Drama Desk organization’s mission has been to promote and support artistic excellence in the New York professional theater, in its multitude of forms and styles and on stages of various sizes and configurations. The organization accomplishes its goal by bestowing the annual Drama Desk Awards and presenting various educational forums and panel discussions to its members and the theatergoing public.
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