List of 2025-26 Carbonell Nominations And Awards: Something Old, Something New

By Bill Hirschman

For a program one year short of the half-century mark, the Carbonell Awards’ 2025-26 competitive nominations and special honors dependably reflect veterans’ triumphs. But this year’s nods also reaffirm the settling in of a new generation of local theater artists and companies in a time when people worry about the future of the art form.

The list of 120 nominations contained at the bottom of this story feature young local talents, newcomers to Florida stages, titles only a few seasons post-Broadway, world premiere scripts, plus a renewed commitment to diverse casting and diversity-grounded themes.

South Florida’s version of the Tony Awards brings together hundreds of theater artists and fans in a kind of reunion celebration, many of whom haven’t seen each other in at least a year. The gala is slated for Monday, Nov. 16, at Florida Atlantic University’s University Theatre in Boca Raton. Tickets on sale in mid-October.

Some observations:

Spanish language productions, often with English subtitles or audio translation:

— Todo Lo Que No Dije by Harley Elias, Miami New Drama for outstanding new work

—Arca Images’ world premiere of Kassandra written in broken English,

—Carlos Acosta Milian for outstanding lead actor in Muerta de un Viajante at Arca Images.

Similarly, as far as diversity, M Ensemble, arguably the oldest Black company in the state, produced Searching for Willie Lynch with four nominations.

And while Jewish-rooted productions have been part of seasons here for decades, this year included productions with multiple nominations:

—The Zionists, Miami New Drama’s co-production with the renowned Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts garnered seven nominations, a play, which is part of the company’s focus to develop Jewish cultural themes.

—Prayer for the French Republic, GableStage’s epic tale about identity with four nominations.

Seeing double, nominated titles were done in the same season:

—Eureka Day was produced to acclaim both at Island City Stage and GableStage. Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Actors’ Playhouse both presented Man of La Mancha with slightly different approaches.

The per-company statistics:

GableStage, 17; Actors’ Playhouse, 16; Miami New Drama, 15; Zoetic Stage, 13; Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 12; The Wick Theatre, 10; Slow Burn Theatre, 9; Palm Beach Dramaworks, 7; Island City Stage, 7; M Ensemble, 4; New City Players, 3; Arca Images, 2; Brévo Theater, 2; City Theatre, 1; Theatre Lab, 1; True Mirage Theater, 1.

While musicals usually dominate the nominated shows because the of the number of categories they are eligible for, this year straight plays Miami New Drama’s The Zionists and GableStage’s Left on Tenth had seven nominations each. Still, Actors’ Playhouse’s Man of La Mancha has 12, The Wick Theatre’s The Cher Show has 7.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s Man of La Mancha had 5; Here There Are Blueberries at Miami New Drama, 5; Harry Clarke at GableStage, 5; Merrily We Roll Along at Zoetic Stage, 5; and Come From Away at Zoetic Stage, 5; The Inheritance Part One at Zoetic, 4; Jagged Little Pill at Slow Burn Theatre, 3; Slow Burn Theatreand The Wick’s Camelot, 3.

There are five double finalists this year:

+ Rita Cole for Eureka Day (GableStage) and The Mountaintop (Palm Beach Dramaworks).

+ Lindsey Corey for Merrily We Roll Along (Zoetic Stage) and Ruthless (Island City Stage).

+ Henry Gainza for the Actors’ Playhouse production of Man of La Mancha for acting and choreography.

+ Stuart Meltzer  direction at Zoetic Stage Merrily We Roll Along and The Inheritance, Part One.

+ Laura Turnbull for Everything Beautiful Happens at Night (Island City Stage) as an actress and The Mother (Zoetic Stage) for costume design.

Anyone who has judged competitions often enough from the Tonys to PTA president knows this secret: Nominees are almost always deserving of the nod – almost always. But inevitably there are artists and their work that are notably missing. Even Carbonell insiders acknowledge that some genuinely worthy names and titles are not on this list.

The Carbonells voting system, under criticism over the past few decades, has strove repeatedly to overhaul or fine-tune year after year. Currently, it involves about 50 judges turning in points in approximately 100 professional productions at more than 30 theaters throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Details of the complex process as of 2023-24 are listed here (https://carbonellawards.org/about-2/the-award-process/)

Nine special awards, selected by the board of directors, have been announced previously with individual stories posted at floridatheateronstage.com:

— Zoetic Stage Founding Director Stuart Meltzer as recipient of prestigious George Abbott Award

—The Howard Kleinberg Award to Gary Cadwallader of Palm Beach Dramaworks, Jairo Ontiveros of the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and Lori Slade Sessions of the South Florida Cappies

—Maria Elena Garcia for the Bill Hindman Award

—Margaret M. Ledford for the Ruth Foreman Award

—Michelle F. Solomon for the Charlie Cinnamon Award

—Our Fund Foundation for the Vinnette Carroll Award

—Brévo Theatre for the Jan McArt Award

—Director Ali Tallman for the inaugural Christine Dolen Award

The Jack Zink & Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarships recognizing students’ commitment to theater or journalism went to Sofia Bornia, Palm Beach County; Avery Garfinkel, Broward County, and Matthew Aidan Sanchez, Miami-Dade County.

The competitive nominations for this past season are:

Outstanding New Work

+ English Only by Nicholas Griffin, Miami New Drama

+ How to Break in a Glove by Chris Anthony Ferrer, City Theatre Miami

+ The City in the City in the City by Matthew Capodicasa, Theatre Lab

+ The Zionists by S. Asher Gelman, Miami New Drama

+ Todo Lo Que No Dije by Harley Elias, Miami New Drama

+ With the Swallows by Ricky J. Martinez, True Mirage Theater

Outstanding Production, Play

+ Harry Clarke, GableStage

+ Here There are Blueberries, Miami New Drama

+ Kassandra, Arca Images

+ Prayer for the French Republic, GableStage

+ Searching for Willie Lynch, M Ensemble Company

+ The Inheritance, Part One, Zoetic Stage

Outstanding Direction, Play 

+ Julianne Boyd, Harry Clarke, GableStage

+ Layon Gray, Searching for Willie Lynch, M Ensemble Company

+ Moisés Kaufman, Here There are Blueberries, Miami New Drama

+ Stuart Meltzer, The Inheritance, Part One, Zoetic Stage

+ Bari Newport, Left on Tenth, GableStage

+ Chloe Treat, The Zionists, Miami New Drama

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Male Role, Play

+ Mark H. Dold, Harry Clarke, GableStage

+ Christopher Marquis Lindsay, The Mountaintop, Palm Beach Dramaworks

+ Christian McGaffney, Todo Lo Que No Dije, Miami New Drama

+ Carlos Acosta Milian, Muerta de un Viajante, Arca Images

+ Max Roll, Good Night Oscar, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Ray Anthony Thomas, Driving Miss Daisy, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Female Role, Play

+ Dalia Aleman, Left on Tenth, GableStage

+ Rita Cole, The Mountaintop, Palm Beach Dramaworks

+ Jeni Hacker, The Mother, Zoetic Stage

+ Nicole Hulett, Burst, New City Players

+ Barb Pitts McAdams, Here There are Blueberries, Miami New Drama

+ Laura Turnbull, Everything Beautiful Happens at Night, Island City Stage

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role, Play

+ Thaddeus Daniels, Searching for Willie Lynch, M Ensemble Company

+ Matthew W. Korinko, Driving Miss Daisy, Palm Beach Dramaworks

+ Michael McKeever, The Inheritance, Part One, Zoetic Stage

+ Aidan Paul, The Inheritance, Part One, Zoetic Stage

+ Jeremy Sevelovitz, Prayer for the French Republic, GableStage

+ Stephen Trovillion, Prayer for the French Republic, GableStage

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role, Play

+ Rita Cole, Eureka Day, GableStage

+ Mary Gundlach, Burst, New City Players

+ Julie Kleiner, The Crucible, Palm Beach Dramaworks

+ Margery Lowe, The Little Foxes, Island City Stage

+ Dayana Morales, Burst, New City Players

+ Sheena O. Murray, Searching for Willie Lynch, M Ensemble Company

Outstanding Production, Musical

+ Camelot, The Wick Theatre

+ Come from Away, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Merrily We Roll Along, Zoetic Stage

+ The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

Outstanding Direction, Musical 

+ David Arisco, Man of La Mancha, Actors Playhouse

+ Patrick Fitzwater, Catch Me If You Can, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ Stuart Meltzer, Merrily We Roll Along, Zoetic Stage

+ Andy Rogow, Ruthless, Island City Stage

+ Marcos Santana, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Jennifer Werner, Come from Away, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Male Role, Musical

+ Jarod Bakum, Catch Me If You Can, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ Logan Clinger, Dear Evan Hansen, Actors’ Playhouse

+ E.L. Losada, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Jesse Luttrell, Camelot, The Wick Theatre

+ Alex Martinez, Camelot, The Wick Theatre

+ Eddie Noel Rodríguez, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Female Role, Musical

+ Catherine Ariale, The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

+ Lindsey Corey, Ruthless, Island City Stage

+ Kristin Rose Kelleher, The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

+ Ariella Kvashny, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Ella Perez, The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

+ Monet Sabel, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role, Musical

+ Jim Ballard, The Spitfire Grill, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Kalen Edean, Frozen, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ Michael Focas, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Henry Gainza, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Paul Louis-Gonzalez, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Jose Luaces, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role, Musical

+ Aaron Bower, The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

+ Lindsey Corey, Merrily We Roll Along, Zoetic Stage

+ Dayna Jarae Dantzler, Come from Away, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Sydney Freihofer, Jagged Little Pill, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ Ashley Nicole Portis, The Color Purple, Brévo Theatre

+ Leah Sessa, Merrily We Roll Along, Zoetic Stage

Outstanding Music Direction

+ Eric Alsford, Come from Away, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Bruce Barnes, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Nick Guerrero, The Spitfire Grill, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Donya Lane, The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

+ Paul Tine, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Gio Tio, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Outstanding Choreography

+ Madeline Dunn, Jagged Little Pill, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ Henry Gainza, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Lauren Danielle Horgan, Merrily We Roll Along, Zoetic Stage

+ Sabrina Gail Lobner, The Cher Show, The Wick Theatre

+ Cat Pagano, Catch Me If You Can, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ TM Pride & Ajia Northern, The Color Purple, Brévo Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design

+ Jacob Brown, The Mother, Zoetic Stage

+ Adam Koch, The Zionists, Miami New Drama

+ Ardean Landhuis, The Little Foxes, Island City Stage

+ Anne Mundell, Misery, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ Frank J. Oliva, Left on Tenth, GableStage

+ K. April Soroko, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

Outstanding Lighting Design

+ Paul Black, Vineland Place, Palm Beach Dramaworks

+ Kirk Bookman & Dalton Hamilton, Come from Away, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

+ David Lander, Harry Clarke, GableStage

+ Rebecca Montero, The Mother, Zoetic Stage

+ Solomon Weisbard, The Zionists, Miami New Drama

+ Jessica Winward, Prayer for the French Republic, GableStage

Outstanding Sound Design

+ Andy Cohen & Saloman Lerner, The Zionists, Miami New Drama

+ David Hart, Ruthless, Island City Stage

+ Dan Mayer, Left on Tenth, GableStage

+ Bobby McElver, Here There are Blueberries, Miami New Drama

+ Reidar Sorensen, Man of La Mancha, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Alexander Sovronsky, Harry Clarke, GableStage

Outstanding Costume Design

+ Anya Klepikov, The Zionists, Miami New Drama

+ Lorena Lopez, Left on Tenth, GableStage

+ Brian O’Keefe, Driving Miss Daisy, Palm Beach Dramaworks

+ Rick Peña, Jagged Little Pill, Slow Burn Theatre Company

+ Ellis Tillman, Man of La Mancha, Actors Playhouse

+ Laura Turnbull, The Mother, Zoetic Stage

Outstanding Achievement of an Artistic Specialty

+ David Bengali for projection design, Here There are Blueberries, Miami New Drama

+ Bryce Cutler for projection video design, The Zionists, Miami New Drama

+ Jamie Godwin for projection design, Left on Tenth, GableStage

+ Josieu Jean for multimedia design, Dear Evan Hansen, Actors’ Playhouse

+ Bong Redila for illustration, Everything Beautiful Happens at Night, Island City Stage

+ Jenny Wake for dressing/props, Left on Tenth, GableStage