Norm Lewis has signed on to announce the nominations for the 2025 Drama Desk Awards. As previously reported, nominations for the 69th annual ceremony will be revealed on April 30 at 12:50 p.m. on Spectrum News NY1 alongside “On Stage” host Frank DiLella and Spectrum News anchor Rocco Vertuccio.
Lewis is known for his Tony Award-nominated turn in the 2012 revival of “Porgy and Bess,” a performance for which he also garnered a Drama Desk nomination. Lewis previously received a Drama Desk nomination for his featured turn in 2005’s “Dessa Rose.” Lewis’ additional stage credits include “Chicken and Biscuits,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Side Show,” “The Wild Party” and “Miss Saigon,” as well as revivals of “Les Misérables” and “Once on This Island.” Lewis holds the distinction of being the second Black actor to step into the title role in “The Phantom of the Opera,” and the first to do so on the Main Stem.
The Drama Desk Awards recognize excellence across Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions. To be eligible for the 2025 honors, production must have opened between April 26, 2024 and April 27, 2025.
The 2025 Drama Desk ceremony, hosted by Tituss Burgess and Debra Messing and executive produced by Staci Levine and Jessica R. Jenen, will take place on June 1 at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. For the first time, all net proceeds from the event will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund.
The 2024-2025 Drama Desk nominating committee is led by chair Martha Wade Steketee; committee members include Linda Armstrong, Daniel Dinero, Peter Filichia, Kenji Fujishima, Raven Snook and Charles Wright.
The Drama Desk is led by co-presidents Wright and David Barbour.
