THE DRAMA DESK, founded in 1949 under the leadership of its first president, Sam Zolotow of the New York Times, is an association of New York Drama Critics, Drama Editors and Drama Reporters. It was created to provide a forum for theatre reporters, editors and critics to meet, exchange ideas and address issues of concern to the theatrical community. It was the first major organization to recognize the merits of Off-Broadway.

At the end of the 1954–55 season the Drama Desk created the Vernon Rice Awards to honor off-Broadway achievement. The award was named for the late critic of the New Yok Post. However, in 1964, the Award was changed to the Drama Desk-Vernon Rice Award.

In 1969, Drama Desk president Henry Hewes of the Saturday Review instituted several major changes. The Awards were expanded to include Broadway as well as 0ff-Broadway and the name was changed to the Drama Desk Award.

In 1996, New York-1 News broadcast the Awards ceremony live from The New Victory Theater. Tony Randall was host.

In 1999, Bernadette Peters hosted the Awards at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. Kevin Spacey presented the Outstanding Actor Award to Brian Dennehy.

For the past several years, the Awards have been televised live on channel New York-1 and rebroadcast on WNET Channel 13.

Tom McMorrow, editor of the Drama Desk News & a past president, wrote in the Summer/Fall 1986 issue, “philosophically, the Drama Desk takes the position that the conscientious critic assumes a responsibility in the theatricial community beyond that of a detached observer, on appropriate occasion becoming a participant in the role of amicus curiae.”

DRAMA DESK BOARD OF DIRECTORS—2003–2004

William Wolf/President (Wolfentertainmentguide.com)
Leslie (Hoban) Blake/Vice President (Encore, BAMbill)
Charles Wright/Treasurer & 2nd Vice President
               (A&E Television Networks; Theatremania.com)
Ellis Nassour/Secretary (Playbill, Broadwaystars.com)-

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Sam Norkin (freelance theater artist)
Barbara Siegel (Siegel Entertainment, Theatremania.com)
David Kaufman (The Nation)
Michael Bracken (WFUV Radio; Newsday)
Elyse Sommer (Curtainup.com)