Tony Award for Best Lighting Design

This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design for outstanding lighting design of a play or musical. The award was first presented in 1970. Since 2005, the category was divided into Lighting Design in a Play and Lighting Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award.

Tony Award for
Best Lighting Design
Awarded forBest Lighting Design
LocationUnited States New York City
Presented byAmerican Theatre Wing The Broadway League
Currently held byNatasha Katz for MJ the Musical (2022)
WebsiteTonyAwards.com

Winners and nominees edit

  indicates the winner

1970s edit

Year Designer Production
1970
24th Tony Awards
Jo Mielziner Child's Play
Tharon Musser Applause
Thomas R. Skelton Indians
1971
25th Tony Awards
R.H. Poindexter Paul Sill's Story Theatre
Robert Ornbo Company
William Ritman Sleuth
1972
26th Tony Awards
Tharon Musser Follies
Martin Aronstein Ain't Supposed To Die a Natural Death
John Bury Old Times
Jules Fisher Jesus Christ Superstar
1973
27th Tony Awards
Jules Fisher Pippin
Martin Aronstein Much Ado About Nothing
Ian Calderon That Championship Season
Tharon Musser A Little Night Music
1974
28th Tony Awards
Jules Fisher Ulysses in Nighttown
Martin Aronstein Boom Boom Room
Ken Billington The Visit
Ben Edwards A Moon for the Misbegotten
Tharon Musser The Good Doctor
1975
29th Tony Awards
Neil Peter Jampolis Sherlock Holmes
Abe Feder Goodtime Charley
Chip Monk The Rocky Horror Show
Andy Phillips Equus
Thomas R. Skelton All God's Chillun Got Wings
James Tilton Seascape
1976
30th Tony Awards
Tharon Musser A Chorus Line
Ian Calderon Trelawny of the Wells
Jules Fisher Chicago
Tharon Musser Pacific Overtures
1977
31st Tony Awards
Jennifer Tipton The Cherry Orchard
John Bury No Man's Land
Pat Collins Threepenny Opera
Neil Peter Jampolis The Innocents
1978
32nd Tony Awards
Jules Fisher Dancin'
Ken Billington Working
Jules Fisher Beatlemania
Tharon Musser The Act
1979
33rd Tony Awards
Roger Morgan The Crucifer of Blood
Ken Billington Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Beverly Emmons The Elephant Man
Tharon Musser Ballroom

1980s edit

Year Designer Production
1980
34th Tony Awards
David Hersey Evita
Beverly Emmons A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine
Craig Miller Barnum
Dennis Parichy Talley's Folly
1981
35th Tony Awards
John Bury Amadeus
Tharon Musser 42nd Street
Dennis Parichy Fifth of July
Jennifer Tipton Sophisticated Ladies
1982
36th Tony Awards
Tharon Musser Dreamgirls
Martin Aronstein Medea
David Hersey The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Marcia Madeira Nine
1983
37th Tony Awards
David Hersey Cats
Ken Billington Foxfire
Robert Bryan All's Well That Ends Well
Allen Lee Hughes K2
1984
38th Tony Awards
Richard Nelson Sunday in the Park with George
Ken Billington End of the World
Jules Fisher La Cage aux Folles
Marc B. Weiss A Moon for the Misbegotten
1985
39th Tony Awards
Richard Riddell Big River
Terry Hands Cyrano de Bergerac
Much Ado About Nothing
Allen Lee Hughes Strange Interlude
1986
40th Tony Awards
Pat Collins I'm Not Rappaport
Jules Fisher Song and Dance
Paul Gallo The House of Blue Leaves
Thomas R. Skelton The Iceman Cometh
1987
41st Tony Awards
David Hersey Les Misérables
Martin Aronstein Wild Honey
Beverly Emmons and Chris Parry Les Liaisons Dangereuses
David Hersey Starlight Express
1988
42nd Tony Awards
Andrew Bridge The Phantom of the Opera
Paul Gallo Anything Goes
Richard Nelson Into the Woods
Andy Phillips M. Butterfly
1989
43rd Tony Awards
Jennifer Tipton Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Neil Peter Jampolis and Jane Reisman Black and Blue
Brian Nason Metamorphoses
Nancy Schertler Largely New York

1990s edit

Year Designer Production
1990
44th Tony Awards
Jules Fisher Grand Hotel
Paul Gallo City of Angels
Neil Peter Jampolis and Paul Pyant Orpheus Descending
Kevin Rigdon The Grapes of Wrath
1991
45th Tony Awards
Jules Fisher The Will Rogers Follies
David Hersey Miss Saigon
Allen Lee Hughes Once on This Island
Jennifer Tipton La Bête
1992
46th Tony Awards
Jules Fisher Jelly's Last Jam
Paul Gallo Crazy for You
Guys and Dolls
Richard Pilbrow Four Baboons Adoring the Sun
1993
47th Tony Awards
Chris Parry The Who's Tommy
Howell Binkley Kiss of the Spider Woman
Jules Fisher Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Dennis Parichy Redwood Curtain
1994
48th Tony Awards
Rick Fisher An Inspector Calls
Beverly Emmons Passion
Jules Fisher Angels in America: Perestroika
Natasha Katz Beauty and the Beast
1995
49th Tony Awards
Andrew Bridge Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Emmons The Heiress
Mark Henderson Indiscretions
Paul Pyant Arcadia
1996
50th Tony Awards
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk
Christopher Akerlind Seven Guitars
Blake Burba Rent
Nigel Levings The King and I
1997
51st Tony Awards
Ken Billington Chicago
Beverly Emmons Jekyll and Hyde
Donald Holder Juan Darién
Richard Pilbrow The Life
1998
52nd Tony Awards
Donald Holder The Lion King
Paul Anderson The Chairs
Mike Baldassari and Peggy Eisenhauer Cabaret
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Ragtime
1999
53rd Tony Awards
Andrew Bridge Fosse
Mark Henderson The Iceman Cometh
Natasha Katz Twelfth Night
Chris Parry Not About Nightingales

2000s edit

Year Award Type Designer Production
2000
54th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design Natasha Katz Aida
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Marie Christine
The Wild Party
Peter Kaczorowski Kiss Me, Kate
2001
55th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design Peter Kaczorowski The Producers
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Jane Eyre
Paul Gallo 42nd Street
Kenneth Posner The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
2002
56th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design Brian MacDevitt Into the Woods
David Hersey Oklahoma!
Natasha Katz Sweet Smell of Success
Paul Gallo The Crucible'
2003
57th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design Nigel Levings La bohème
Donald Holder Movin' Out
Brian MacDevitt Nine
Kenneth Posner Hairspray
2004
58th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Assassins
Brian MacDevitt Fiddler on the Roof
Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2
Kenneth Posner Wicked
2005
59th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Brian MacDevitt The Pillowman
Pat Collins Doubt: A Parable
Donald Holder A Streetcar Named Desire
Gem of the Ocean
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Christopher Akerlind The Light in the Piazza
Mark Henderson Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Kenneth Posner Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Hugh Vanstone Monty Python's Spamalot
2006
60th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Mark Henderson The History Boys
Christopher Akerlind Awake and Sing!
Paul Gallo Three Days of Rain
Mark Henderson Faith Healer
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Howell Binkley Jersey Boys
Ken Billington and Brian Monahan The Drowsy Chaperone
Natasha Katz Tarzan
Brian MacDevitt The Color Purple
2007
61st Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Natasha Katz, Brian MacDevitt and Kenneth Posner The Coast of Utopia
Paule Constable Coram Boy
Brian MacDevitt Inherit the Wind
Jason Taylor Journey's End
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Kevin Adams Spring Awakening
Christopher Akerlind 110 in the Shade
Howard Harrison Mary Poppins
Peter Kaczorowski Grey Gardens
2008
62nd Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Kevin Adams The 39 Steps
Howard Harrison Macbeth
Donald Holder Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Ann G. Wrightson August: Osage County
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Donald Holder South Pacific
Ken Billington Sunday in the Park with George
Howell Binkley In the Heights
Natasha Katz The Little Mermaid
2009
63rd Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Brian MacDevitt Joe Turner's Come and Gone
David Hersey Equus
David Lander 33 Variations
Hugh Vanstone Mary Stuart
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Rick Fisher Billy Elliot the Musical
Kevin Adams Hair
Next to Normal
Howell Binkley West Side Story

2010s edit

Year Award Type Designer Production
2010
64th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Neil Austin Red
Neil Austin Hamlet
Mark Henderson ENRON
Brian MacDevitt Fences
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Kevin Adams American Idiot
Donald Holder Ragtime
Nick Richings La Cage aux Folles
Robert Wierzel Fela!
2011
65th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Paule Constable War Horse
David Lander Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Kenneth Posner The Merchant of Venice
Mimi Jordan Sherin Jerusalem
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Brian MacDevitt The Book of Mormon
Ken Billington The Scottsboro Boys
Howell Binkley How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Peter Kaczorowski Anything Goes
2012
66th Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Jeff Croiter Peter and the Starcatcher
Peter Kaczorowski The Road to Mecca
Brian MacDevitt Death of a Salesman
Kenneth Posner Other Desert Cities
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Natasha Katz Once
Christopher Akerlind Porgy and Bess
Natasha Katz Follies
Hugh Vanstone Ghost the Musical
2013
67th Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Lucky Guy
Donald Holder Golden Boy
Jennifer Tipton The Testament of Mary
Japhy Weideman The Nance
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Hugh Vanstone Matilda the Musical
Kenneth Posner Kinky Boots
Pippin
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
2014
68th Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Natasha Katz The Glass Menagerie
Paule Constable The Cripple of Inishmaan
Jane Cox Machinal
Japhy Weideman Of Mice and Men
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Kevin Adams Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Christopher Akerlind Rocky the Musical
Howell Binkley After Midnight
Donald Holder The Bridges of Madison County
2015
69th Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Paule Constable The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Paule Constable and David Plater Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Natasha Katz Skylight
Japhy Weideman Airline Highway
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Natasha Katz An American in Paris
Donald Holder The King and I
Ben Stanton Fun Home
Japhy Weideman The Visit
2016
70th Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Natasha Katz Long Day's Journey into Night
Justin Townsend The Humans
Jan Versweyveld A View from the Bridge
The Crucible
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Howell Binkley Hamilton
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Shuffle Along
Ben Stanton Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend American Psycho
2017
71st Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Christopher Akerlind Indecent
Jane Cox Jitney
Donald Holder Oslo
Jennifer Tipton A Doll's House, Part 2
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Bradley King Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Howell Binkley Come from Away
Natasha Katz Hello, Dolly!
Japhy Weideman Dear Evan Hansen
2018
72nd Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Neil Austin Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Paule Constable Angels in America
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher The Iceman Cometh
Paul Russell Farinelli and the King
Ben Stanton Junk
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Tyler Micoleau The Band's Visit
Kevin Adams SpongeBob SquarePants
Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Once on This Island
Donald Holder My Fair Lady
Brian MacDevitt Carousel
2019
73rd Tony Awards
Lighting Design
for a Play
Neil Austin Ink
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Peter Mumford The Ferryman
Jennifer Tipton To Kill a Mockingbird
Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden Network
Lighting Design
for a Musical
Bradley King Hadestown
Kevin Adams The Cher Show
Howell Binkley Ain’t Too Proud
Peter Mumford King Kong
Kenneth Posner and Peter Nigrini Beetlejuice

2020s edit

Year Designer Production Award Type
2021
74th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Hugh Vanstone A Christmas Carol
Jiyoun Chang Slave Play
Jon Clark The Inheritance
Heather Gilbert The Sound Inside
Allen Lee Hughes A Soldier's Play
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Justin Townsend Moulin Rouge!
Bruno Poet Tina
Justin Townsend Jagged Little Pill
2022
75th Tony Awards
Best Lighting Design
for a Play
Jon Clark The Lehman Trilogy
Joshua Carr Hangmen
Jiyoun Chang For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf
Jane Cox Macbeth
Yi Zhao The Skin of Our Teeth
Best Lighting Design
for a Musical
Natasha Katz MJ the Musical
Neil Austin Company
Tim Deiling Six
Donald Holder Paradise Square
Bradley King Flying Over Sunset
Jen Schriever A Strange Loop

Award records edit

Multiple wins edit

9 Wins
8 Wins
5 Wins
4 Wins
3 Wins
2 Wins

Multiple nominations edit

24 Nominations
15 Nominations
14 Nominations
12 Nominations
11 Nominations
9 Nominations
8 Nominations
7 Nominations
6 Nominations
5 Nominations
4 Nominations
3 Nominations
2 Nominations

See also edit

External links edit