Pam Gien (far left) won a Drama Desk Award for her solo performance in The Syringa Tree (The Producers' Matthew Broderick, on the other hand, lost his Best Actor nod to co-star Nathan Lane). Meanwhile, Follies' Treat Williams and Blythe Danner enjoy the ceremony and party (neither was Drama Desk-nominated, although Danner is up for a Tony Award).

Best Musical went to the blockbuster Broadway musical, The Producers (which won awards in 11 categories) and the Best Play honor was given to Broadway's Proof. Gore Vidal's The Best Man won Best Revival (Play) and 42nd Street won Best Revival (Musical).

Among the other winners were Nathan Lane for Best Actor (Musical) for The Producers, Marla Schaffel for Best Actress (Musical) for Jane Eyre, Mary-Louise Parker for Best Actress (Play) for Proof, Richard Easton for Best Actor (Play) for The Invention of Love, Jack O'Brien for Best Director (Play) for The Invention of Love and Viola Davis and Charles Brown for Best Featured Actress and Featured Actor, respectively, for King Hedley II. Susan Stroman won in the categories of Best Director (Musical) and Best Choreography for The Producers.