Welcome!

Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

Home Return to Study Hints Random
Global Score: 0
Trophies: 0 🏆

‹ Back

Score: 0 / 100

Study Guide: The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: History, Winners, and Evolution

Cheat Sheet:
The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: History, Winners, and Evolution Study Guide

The Drama Desk Awards: Scope and Presentation

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play was restricted solely to actresses performing in Broadway productions.

Answer: False

Explanation: The award recognized excellence in supporting roles within plays staged in New York City, encompassing Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway venues, not exclusively Broadway.

Return to Game

The Drama Desk Awards are presented by an organization composed of theatre critics, journalists, and editors.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Drama Desk Awards are presented by the Drama Desk, an organization comprising theatre critics, journalists, and editors.

Return to Game

The award recognized actresses in supporting roles in both plays and musicals.

Answer: False

Explanation: This award specifically recognized supporting roles within plays; it did not extend to performances in musicals.

Return to Game

The award specifically recognized actresses performing in featured roles, not lead roles.

Answer: True

Explanation: The award's designation as 'Outstanding Featured Actress' precisely indicates its focus on performers in supporting or featured roles, distinct from lead roles.

Return to Game

The award's scope included productions from Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway.

Answer: True

Explanation: The award's scope encompassed theatrical productions staged within New York City, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway venues.

Return to Game

What was the primary purpose of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play?

Answer: To recognize supporting actresses in New York City-based plays.

Explanation: The award's primary purpose was to recognize and honor excellence in supporting acting roles within theatrical plays staged in New York City.

Return to Game

What is the name of the organization that presents the Drama Desk Awards?

Answer: The Drama Desk

Explanation: The Drama Desk Awards are presented by the Drama Desk, an organization comprising theatre critics, journalists, and editors.

Return to Game

Genesis and Early History of the Award (1975-1990s)

Frances Sternhagen was the inaugural recipient of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 1975, recognized for her performance in 'Equus'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Frances Sternhagen received the inaugural award in 1975 for her portrayal of Dora Strang in the production of 'Equus'.

Return to Game

The establishment of this award category was intended to refine existing acting recognitions that previously lacked distinction between lead and featured roles.

Answer: True

Explanation: The award was established as part of a broader initiative in 1975 to create more specific acting categories, replacing an earlier award that did not differentiate between lead and featured performers, nor between plays and musicals, nor gender.

Return to Game

Rosemary De Angelis received the 1977 award for her role as Mother in 'The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Rosemary De Angelis was honored in 1977 for her portrayal of Mother in 'The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie'.

Return to Game

In which year was the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play first presented?

Answer: 1975

Explanation: The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play was first presented in 1975, marking the establishment of more specific acting categories by the Drama Desk organization.

Return to Game

Who was the inaugural winner of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play?

Answer: Frances Sternhagen

Explanation: The inaugural winner was Frances Sternhagen, who received the award in 1975.

Return to Game

For which play did Frances Sternhagen win the award in 1975?

Answer: Equus

Explanation: Frances Sternhagen received the 1975 award for her performance in the play 'Equus'.

Return to Game

What was the nature of the award that the 1975 acting categories replaced?

Answer: An award that did not distinguish between plays and musicals or gender.

Explanation: The acting categories established in 1975 were intended to replace an earlier award that lacked specificity regarding lead vs. featured roles, plays vs. musicals, and gender, thereby enabling more precise recognition.

Return to Game

Which of the following actresses won the award in 1976 for her role in 'Habeas Corpus'?

Answer: Rachel Roberts

Explanation: Rachel Roberts received the 1976 award for her role as Mrs. Wicksteed in 'Habeas Corpus'.

Return to Game

Distinguished Recipients and Notable Achievements

Christine Baranski achieved two wins for this award; however, both accolades were for roles in plays, not musicals.

Answer: True

Explanation: While Christine Baranski received two Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, her wins were for her performances in the plays 'The Real Thing' (1984) and 'Lips Together, Teeth Apart' (1992), not for roles in musicals.

Return to Game

Viola Davis secured the award for her portrayal of Rose Maxson in 'Fences' on two separate occasions.

Answer: True

Explanation: Viola Davis won the award for her role as Rose Maxson in 'Fences' in 2010. Mary Alice also won for the same role in 1987, making Viola Davis one of two actresses to win for this specific character.

Return to Game

Judith Ivey secured two awards in consecutive years for distinct theatrical roles.

Answer: True

Explanation: Judith Ivey won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in consecutive years: 1983 for 'Steaming' and 1985 for 'Hurlyburly'.

Return to Game

Madeline Kahn received the award in 1993 for her performance in 'The Sisters Rosensweig'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Madeline Kahn was awarded the Drama Desk for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 1993 for her role as Gorgeous Teitlebaum in 'The Sisters Rosensweig'.

Return to Game

Celia Keenan-Bolger received two awards for portraying the same character.

Answer: False

Explanation: Celia Keenan-Bolger received two awards, but for different characters: Scout Finch in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (2019) and Laura Wingfield in 'The Glass Menagerie' (2014). She did not win twice for the same character.

Return to Game

Joanna Gleason was honored in 1986 for her performances in 'It's Only a Play'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Joanna Gleason received the 1986 award for her performances in two distinct plays: 'Social Security' and 'It's Only a Play'.

Return to Game

Adriane Lenox was awarded in 2005 for her role as Mrs. Miller in 'Doubt'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Adriane Lenox received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 2005 for her performance as Mrs. Miller in 'Doubt'.

Return to Game

Judith Light received the award twice consecutively.

Answer: True

Explanation: Judith Light won the award twice consecutively, in 2012 for 'Other Desert Cities' and in 2013 for 'The Assembled Parties'.

Return to Game

Frances Conroy was honored in 1990 for her portrayal of Marion French in 'The Secret Rapture'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Frances Conroy received the award in 1990 for her performance as Marion French in 'The Secret Rapture'.

Return to Game

Only one actress has ever won the award for playing Rose Maxson in 'Fences'.

Answer: False

Explanation: This statement is false; both Mary Alice (1987) and Viola Davis (2010) won the award for portraying Rose Maxson in 'Fences'.

Return to Game

Audra McDonald received the award in 2004 for her role as Ruth Younger in 'A Raisin in the Sun'.

Answer: True

Explanation: Audra McDonald was awarded the Drama Desk for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 2004 for her performance as Ruth Younger in 'A Raisin in the Sun'.

Return to Game

Which actress won the award in 1983 for her role in 'Steaming'?

Answer: Judith Ivey

Explanation: Judith Ivey won the 1983 award for her role as Josie in the play 'Steaming'.

Return to Game

Which actress won the award in 1986 for performances in two different plays, 'Social Security' and 'It's Only a Play'?

Answer: Joanna Gleason

Explanation: Joanna Gleason received the 1986 award for her performances in both 'Social Security' and 'It's Only a Play'.

Return to Game

Which of the following actresses won the award for playing Rose Maxson in 'Fences'?

Answer: Both Mary Alice and Viola Davis

Explanation: Both Mary Alice (1987) and Viola Davis (2010) won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for their respective portrayals of Rose Maxson in 'Fences'.

Return to Game

In which year did Viola Davis win her second Drama Desk Award for her role as Rose Maxson in 'Fences'?

Answer: 2010

Explanation: Viola Davis won the award for her role as Rose Maxson in 'Fences' in 2010. This was her second win for the role, following Mary Alice's win in 1987.

Return to Game

Which of these actresses won the award for a role in 'A View from the Bridge'?

Answer: Allison Janney

Explanation: Allison Janney won the award in 1998 for her role as Beatrice Carbone in 'A View from the Bridge'.

Return to Game

Transition and Modernization: Award Retirement and Replacement

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play ceased to be presented following the 2022 awards ceremony.

Answer: True

Explanation: The award was last presented in 2022, not after the 2023 ceremony. It was subsequently retired.

Return to Game

The discontinuation of the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play award was attributed to a scarcity of qualified nominees.

Answer: False

Explanation: The retirement was a strategic decision to transition to new, gender-neutral award categories, rather than a lack of qualified nominees.

Return to Game

Effective in 2023, the award was superseded by a gender-neutral category designated as Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play.

Answer: True

Explanation: The award was indeed replaced in 2023 by the gender-neutral category of Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, which encompasses performers of any gender in featured roles within dramatic productions.

Return to Game

No Drama Desk Awards were presented in 2021 due to scheduling conflicts.

Answer: False

Explanation: The absence of award presentations in 2021 was not due to scheduling conflicts but rather the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on theatrical productions.

Return to Game

The final winner of the award in 2022 was Angela Lansbury.

Answer: False

Explanation: Angela Lansbury was not the final recipient in 2022; that distinction belonged to Francis Benhamou. Lansbury won the award in 2009.

Return to Game

The award category was renamed 'Best Supporting Actress in a Play' after 2022.

Answer: False

Explanation: The award category was not renamed 'Best Supporting Actress in a Play'; it was replaced by a gender-neutral category. The original award was retired after 2022.

Return to Game

When was the final Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play given?

Answer: 2022

Explanation: The final presentation of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play occurred in 2022.

Return to Game

What was the reason for retiring the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play?

Answer: A decision was made to transition to new, gender-neutral award categories.

Explanation: The award was retired as part of a strategic shift by the Drama Desk organization to transition towards gender-neutral acting categories.

Return to Game

What replaced the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 2023?

Answer: Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

Explanation: In 2023, the award was superseded by the gender-neutral category 'Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play'.

Return to Game

Why were no Drama Desk Awards presented in 2021?

Answer: Theatrical productions were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Explanation: The suspension of award presentations in 2021 was a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the closure of New York theatres from March 2020 through September 2021, profoundly affecting theatrical productions.

Return to Game

Which actress won the final Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 2022?

Answer: Francis Benhamou

Explanation: The final recipient of the award in 2022 was Francis Benhamou for her role in 'Prayer for the French Republic'.

Return to Game