UPDATE: Drama Desk Committee to Address Shelved 'Best Book of a Musical' Category

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Drama Desk winners Vanessa Williams and Matthew Morrison announced the nominations for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards yesterday, April 28. However, the 'Best Book of a Musical' category was not included this year.

In response to this development, Doug Wright, President of the Dramatists Guild of America, wrote a letter to the Drama Desk's president saying he and his team are "painfully aggrieved" this season's book writers aren't being given the credit they deserve.

Read the full letter below:

April 29, 2016

Drama Desk

Charles Wright, President

Dear Mr. Wright,

The Dramatists Guild was disappointed to see that the Award for Best Book of a Musical was shelved this year, and that the reason cited was a dearth of worthy candidates. The nominating committee was able to select five potential Best Musicals, so it's curious that it found no commendable book among them.

Admittedly, the book writer's specific contributions are often hard to discern; they can sometimes be found in story-telling conceits, in dialogue or in the crafting of particular scenes. But more often than not, the book writer is the architect of the show as a whole. While his or her work isn't always apparent, it is essential. Musicals cannot exist without the storytellers at their core.

It's been a compelling season both aesthetically and financially on Broadway. Musical book writers deserve at least some of the credit for the year's success, and we're painfully aggrieved that it's being denied to them.

Sincerely,

Doug Wright

President, Dramatists Guild of America

UPDATE: The Drama Desk committee just released the following statement:

"We have heard the concerns of the theatre community about this year's omission of the Outstanding Book of a Musical category, and take them seriously. The Nominating Committee will reconvene to address the matter next week."

In keeping with Drama Desk's mission, nominators considered shows that opened on Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off Off Broadway during the 2015-2016 New York theater season. The 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards, hosted by Michael Urie, will take place on Sunday, June 5, 2016, at 8:00 PM.