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.

Winners and nominees

1970s Year Designer Production 1970 Jo Mielziner Child's Play Tharon Musser Applause Thomas R. Skelton Indians 1971 R.H. Poindexter Paul Sill's Story Theatre Robert Ornbo Company William Ritman Sleuth 1972 Tharon Musser Follies Martin Aronstein Ain't Supposed To Die a Natural Death John Bury Old Times Jules Fisher Jesus Christ Superstar 1973 Jules Fisher Pippin Martin Aronstein Much Ado About Nothing Ian Calderon That Championship Season Tharon Musser A Little Night Music 1974 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 Neil Peter Jampolis Sherlock Holmes Abe Feder Goodtime Charley Chip Monck The Rocky Horror Show Andy Phillips Equus Thomas R. Skelton All God's Chillun Got Wings James Tilton Seascape 1976 Tharon Musser A Chorus Line Ian Calderon Trelawny of the Wells Jules Fisher Chicago Tharon Musser Pacific Overtures 1977 Jennifer Tipton The Cherry Orchard John Bury No Man's Land Pat Collins Threepenny Opera Neil Peter Jampolis The Innocents 1978 Jules Fisher Dancin' Ken Billington Working Jules Fisher Beatlemania Tharon Musser The Act 1979 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 Year Designer Production 1980 David Hersey Evita Beverly Emmons A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine Craig Miller Barnum Dennis Parichy Talley's Folly 1981 John Bury Amadeus Tharon Musser 42nd Street Dennis Parichy Fifth of July Jennifer Tipton Sophisticated Ladies 1982 Tharon Musser Dreamgirls Martin Aronstein Medea David Hersey The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Marcia Madeira Nine 1983 David Hersey Cats Ken Billington Foxfire Robert Bryan All's Well That Ends Well Allen Lee Hughes K2 1984 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 Richard Riddell Big River Terry Hands Cyrano de Bergerac Much Ado About Nothing Allen Lee Hughes Strange Interlude 1986 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 David Hersey Les Misérables Martin Aronstein Wild Honey Beverly Emmons and Chris Parry Les Liaisons Dangereuses David Hersey Starlight Express 1988 Andrew Bridge The Phantom of the Opera Paul Gallo Anything Goes Richard Nelson Into the Woods Andy Phillips M. Butterfly 1989 Jennifer Tipton Jerome Robbins' Broadway Neil Peter Jampolis and Jane Reisman Black and Blue Brian Nason Metamorphoses Nancy Schertler Largely New York

1990s Year Designer Production 1990 Jules Fisher Grand Hotel Paul Gallo City of Angels Neil Peter Jampolis and Paul Pyant Orpheus Descending Kevin Rigdon The Grapes of Wrath 1991 Jules Fisher The Will Rogers Follies David Hersey Miss Saigon Allen Lee Hughes Once on This Island Jennifer Tipton La Bête 1992 Jules Fisher Jelly's Last Jam Paul Gallo Crazy for You Guys and Dolls Richard Pilbrow Four Baboons Adoring the Sun 1993 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 Rick Fisher An Inspector Calls Beverly Emmons Passion Jules Fisher Angels in America: Perestroika Natasha Katz Beauty and the Beast 1995 Andrew Bridge Sunset Boulevard Beverly Emmons The Heiress Mark Henderson Indiscretions Paul Pyant Arcadia 1996 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 Ken Billington Chicago Beverly Emmons Jekyll and Hyde Donald Holder Juan Darién Richard Pilbrow The Life 1998 Donald Holder The Lion King Paul Anderson The Chairs Mike Baldassari and Peggy Eisenhauer Cabaret Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Ragtime 1999 Andrew Bridge Fosse Mark Henderson The Iceman Cometh Natasha Katz Twelfth Night Chris Parry Not About Nightingales

2000s YearAward TypeDesignerProduction 2000 Best Lighting Design Natasha Katz Aida Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Marie Christine The Wild Party Peter Kaczorowski Kiss Me, Kate 2001 Best Lighting Design Peter Kaczorowski The Producers Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Jane EyrePaul Gallo 42nd Street Kenneth Posner The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 2002 Best Lighting Design Brian MacDevitt Into the Woods David Hersey Oklahoma! Natasha Katz Sweet Smell of Success Paul Gallo The Crucible 2003 Best Lighting Design Nigel Levings La bohème Donald Holder Movin' Out Brian MacDevitt Nine Kenneth Posner Hairspray 2004 Best Lighting Design Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher Assassins Brian MacDevitt Fiddler on the Roof Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2 Kenneth Posner Wicked2005 Best Lighting Design for a PlayBrian MacDevittThe PillowmanPat CollinsDoubt: A ParableDonald HolderA Streetcar Named DesireGem of the Ocean Best Lighting Design for a MusicalChristopher AkerlindThe Light in the PiazzaMark HendersonChitty Chitty Bang BangKenneth PosnerDirty Rotten ScoundrelsHugh VanstoneMonty Python's Spamalot2006 Best Lighting Design for a PlayMark HendersonThe History BoysChristopher AkerlindAwake and Sing!Paul GalloThree Days of RainMark HendersonFaith Healer Best Lighting Design for a MusicalHowell BinkleyJersey BoysKen Billington and Brian MonahanThe Drowsy ChaperoneNatasha KatzTarzanBrian MacDevittThe Color Purple2007 Best Lighting Design for a PlayNatasha Katz, Brian MacDevitt and Kenneth PosnerThe Coast of UtopiaPaule ConstableCoram BoyBrian MacDevittInherit the WindJason TaylorJourney's End Best Lighting Design for a MusicalKevin AdamsSpring AwakeningChristopher Akerlind110 in the ShadeHoward HarrisonMary PoppinsPeter KaczorowskiGrey Gardens2008 Best Lighting Design for a PlayKevin AdamsThe 39 StepsHoward HarrisonMacbethDonald HolderLes Liaisons DangereusesAnn G. WrightsonAugust: Osage County Best Lighting Design for a MusicalDonald HolderSouth PacificKen BillingtonSunday in the Park with GeorgeHowell BinkleyIn the HeightsNatasha KatzThe Little Mermaid2009 Best Lighting Design for a PlayBrian MacDevittJoe Turner's Come and GoneDavid HerseyEquusDavid Lander33 VariationsHugh VanstoneMary Stuart Best Lighting Design for a MusicalRick FisherBilly Elliot the MusicalKevin AdamsHairNext to NormalHowell BinkleyWest Side Story

2010s

YearAward TypeDesignerProduction2010 Best Lighting Design for a PlayNeil AustinRedNeil AustinHamletMark HendersonENRONBrian MacDevittFences Best Lighting Design for a MusicalKevin AdamsAmerican IdiotDonald HolderRagtimeNick RichingsLa Cage aux FollesRobert WierzelFela!2011 Best Lighting Design for a PlayPaule ConstableWar HorseDavid LanderBengal Tiger at the Baghdad ZooKenneth PosnerThe Merchant of VeniceMimi Jordan SherinJerusalemLighting Design for a MusicalBrian MacDevittThe Book of MormonKen BillingtonThe Scottsboro BoysHowell BinkleyHow to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingPeter KaczorowskiAnything Goes2012Lighting Design for a PlayJeff CroiterPeter and the StarcatcherPeter KaczorowskiThe Road to MeccaBrian MacDevittDeath of a SalesmanKenneth PosnerOther Desert CitiesLighting Design for a MusicalNatasha KatzOnceChristopher AkerlindPorgy and BessNatasha KatzFolliesHugh VanstoneGhost the Musical2013Lighting Design for a PlayPeggy Eisenhauer and Jules FisherLucky GuyDonald HolderGolden BoyJennifer TiptonThe Testament of MaryJaphy WeidemanThe NanceLighting Design for a MusicalHugh VanstoneMatilda the MusicalKenneth PosnerKinky BootsPippinRodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella2014Lighting Design for a PlayNatasha KatzThe Glass MenageriePaule ConstableThe Cripple of InishmaanJane CoxMachinalJaphy WeidemanOf Mice and MenLighting Design for a MusicalKevin AdamsHedwig and the Angry InchChristopher AkerlindRocky the MusicalHowell BinkleyAfter MidnightDonald HolderThe Bridges of Madison County2015Lighting Design for a PlayPaule ConstableThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimePaule Constable and David PlaterWolf Hall Parts One & TwoNatasha KatzSkylightJaphy WeidemanAirline HighwayLighting Design for a MusicalNatasha KatzAn American in ParisDonald HolderThe King and IBen StantonFun HomeJaphy WeidemanThe Visit2016Lighting Design for a PlayNatasha KatzLong Day's Journey into NightJustin TownsendThe HumansJan VersweyveldA View from the BridgeThe CrucibleLighting Design for a MusicalHowell BinkleyHamiltonPeggy Eisenhauer and Jules FisherShuffle AlongBen StantonSpring AwakeningJustin TownsendAmerican Psycho2017Lighting Design for a PlayChristopher AkerlindIndecentJane CoxJitneyDonald HolderOsloJennifer TiptonA Doll's House, Part 2Lighting Design for a MusicalBradley KingNatasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Howell BinkleyCome from AwayNatasha KatzHello, Dolly!Japhy WeidemanDear Evan Hansen2018Lighting Design for a PlayNeil AustinHarry Potter and the Cursed ChildPaule ConstableAngels in AmericaPeggy Eisenhauer and Jules FisherThe Iceman ComethPaul RussellFarinelli and the KingBen StantonJunkLighting Design for a MusicalTyler MicoleauThe Band's VisitKevin AdamsSpongeBob SquarePantsPeggy Eisenhauer and Jules FisherOnce on This IslandDonald HolderMy Fair LadyBrian MacDevittCarousel2019Lighting Design for a PlayNeil AustinInkJules Fisher and Peggy EisenhauerGary: A Sequel to Titus AndronicusPeter MumfordThe FerrymanJennifer TiptonTo Kill a MockingbirdJan Versweyveld and Tal YardenNetworkLighting Design for a MusicalBradley KingHadestownKevin AdamsThe Cher ShowHowell BinkleyAin’t Too ProudPeter MumfordKing KongKenneth Posner and Peter NigriniBeetlejuice

2020s