The 2025-26 theater season is now over and that means it's time for the 15th annual David Desk Awards with my choices for the best onstage in NYC theater out of everything I've seen in the past twelve months. Shows like Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Libertation are not included because I considered them last year for their Off-Broadway runs. I categorize Masquerade, the immersive version of Phantom of the Opera as both a revival and a Unique Theatrical Experience. 
Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock
in Little Bear Ridge Road.
Credit: Julieta Cervantes
Play:
The Balusters (David Lindsay-Abaire)
Cold War Choir Practice (Ro Reddick)
Giant (Mark Rosenblatt)
Kyoto (Joe Murphy, Joe Robertson)
Little Bear Ridge Road (Samuel D. Hunter)
Meet the Cartozians (Talene Monahon)
Prince Faggot (Jordan Tannahill)
Punch (James Graham)
Musical:
The Lost Boys
Mexodus
My Joy Is Heavy
Saturday Church
Schmigadoon!
Revival of a Play:
Becky Shaw
Bug
Death of a Salesman
Galas
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
You Got Older
Revival of a Musical:
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Baker’s Wife
The Gospel at Colonus
Masquerade
Ragtime
The Rocky Horror Show
Actor in a Play:
Jon Bernthal, Dog Day Afternoon
Will Harrison, Punch
John Krasinski, Angry Alan
Stephen Kunken, Kyoto
Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
John Lithgow, Giant
Okieriete Onaodowan, The Monsters
Micah Stock, Little Bear Ridge Road
Mark Strong, Oedipus
Actress in a Play:
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Well, I’ll Let You Go
Carrie Coon, Bug
Lesley Manville, Oedipus
Laurie Metcalf, Little Bear Ridge Road
Aigner Mizzelle, The Monsters
Alia Shawkat, You Got Older
Actor in a Musical:
LJ Benet, The Lost Boys
Alex Brightman, Schmigadoon!
Nicholas Christopher, Chess
Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show
Joshua Henry, Ragtime
Actress in a Musical:
Abigail Bengson, My Joy Is Heavy
Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!
Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Marla Mindelle, Titanique
