Joan Littlewood was the very first woman to be nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play. In 1961, she received the groundbreaking nomination for "The Hostage". Four years later, Joan would break ground again, as the very first woman to be nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. She received the second nomination for the 1965 musical "Oh, What a Lovely War". The show was also a nominee for Best Musical, for which Joan was a producer. Although she didn't win any of her Tony nominations, Joan Littlewood was able to break through as a pioneer in a field still dominated by men.
Renowned avant-garde English theatre director for many years.
She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Special Award in 1984 (1983 season) for her services and contribution to theatre.
Her musical, "Oh What a Lovely War!" performed at the Open Air Theatre in
2002 was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for
Outstanding Musical Production.