GableStage Earns 17 Nominations, Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Grabs 16, Miami New Drama Nets 15, Zoetic Stage Picks Up 13, Maltz Jupiter Theatre Earns 12, The Wick Theater Wins 10, and Slow Burn Theatre Company Has 9
120 Finalists in 20 Competitive Categories from 16 Professional Theatres Across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties
Awards will be Presented at Glittery Ceremony on November 16 at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton
Carbonell Award Finalists 2026
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 & Tectonic Theatre Project
+ Kassandra, Arca Images
+ Prayer for the French Republic, GableStage
+ Searching for Willie Lynch, M Ensemble Company
+ The Inheritance, Part 1, 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 & Tectonic Theatre Project
+ Stuart Meltzer, The Inheritance, Part 1, 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 & Tectonic TheatreProject
+ 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 1, Zoetic Stage
+ Aidan Paul, The Inheritance, Part 1, 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 & Tectonic Theatre Project
+ 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 & Tectonic Theatre Project
+ Bryce Cutler for projection video design, The Zionists, Miami New Drama
+ Jamie Godwin for projection design, Left on Tenth, GableStage
+ Josieu Jean & Kacey Koploff 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
There are five double finalists this year:
+ Rita Cole is up for both Eureka Day (GableStage) and The Mountaintop (Palm Beach Dramaworks).
+ Lindsey Corey is nominated for Merrily We Roll Along (Zoetic Stage) and Ruthless (Island City Stage).
+ Henry Gainza is twice nominated for the Actors’ Playhouse production of Man of La Mancha.
+ Stuart Meltzer is a finalist for two shows he directed at Zoetic Stage Merrily We Roll Along and The Inheritance, Part 1.
+ Laura Turnbull is recognized for both Everything Beautiful Happens at Night (Island City Stage) and The Mother (Zoetic Stage).
In addition to the 20 competitive award categories, the 49th annual Carbonell Awards will also present nine eight Special Awards selected by the nonprofit organization’s board of directors, including:
+ The George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts to Stuart Meltzer, Founding Artistic Director of Zoetic Stage.
+ The Vinnette Carroll Award for outstanding achievement in advancing diversity, equality, and inclusion in South Florida Theater to Our Fund Foundation.
+ The Charlie Cinnamon Award for outstanding support of South Florida Theatre and the Carbonell Awards to Michelle F. Solomon, editor and theatre critic for ArtBurstmiami and miamiartzine.com.
+ The Christine Dolen Award for outstanding debut to Ali Tallman, director of The 39 Steps for New City Players.
+ Ruth Foreman Award for outstanding contribution to the development of South Florida Theatre to Margaret M. Ledford, Artistic Director of City Theatre in Miami.
+ The Bill Hindman Award for onstage career achievement by performing artists based in South Florida to actor, playwright and educator Elena Maria Garcia.
+ The Howard Kleinberg Award for outstanding contribution to the health and development of the arts in South Florida to educators inspiring the next generation: Gary Cadwallader (Palm Beach Dramaworks), Jairo Ontiveros (Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County), and Lori Slade Sessions (South Florida Cappies).
+ The Jan McArt Award recognizing significant achievement by a small theatre to Brévo Theatre.
+ The Bill von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence honoring a theater company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming: productions, educational outreach, developmental programs, and audiences served to Island City Stage.
As part of the 2026 Carbonell Awards, $2,000 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships will be presented to Sofia Bornia (Palm Beach County), Avery Garfinkel (Broward County), and Matthew Aidan Sanchez (Miami Dade County. They will also each receive a bonus $1,000 scholarship from the new Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarship, named after the longtime theater reviewer and Carbonell judge.
In addition, for the first time, the three talented runners-up this year will each receive a $500 Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarship: Maya Beaufort (Miami-Dade County), Jay Hendrix Boegem (Broward County), and SkyLynn Silver (Palm Beach County).
This season’s Carbonell Awards will be presented at a glittery ceremony on Monday, November 16, at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton. Hundreds of actors, musicians, performers, writers, directors, back-stage technicians, producers, reviewers, designers, specialty artists, and diehard theater fans are expected to attend South Florida’s version of Broadway’s Tony Awards® under the leadership of Executive Producer and Director Andrew Kato, Producer Eloisa Ferrer, and Associate Producer and Musical Director Caryl Fantel.Tickets for the ceremony and after party are only $45 and will go on public sale in mid-October.
Sponsors of the 49th Annual Carbonell Awards ceremony and after party include the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; Aventura Arts & Cultural Center; BroadwayWorld; Broward Center for the Performing Arts; Broward Cultural Division; Carbonell Sculptures Ltd.; Cultural Council for Palm Beach County; Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival presented by MorseLife Health System; Florida Atlantic University Department of Theatre & Dance; Greenspoon Marder LLP; Kravis Center for the Performing Arts; Legends Radio; Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel – Florida Injury Lawyers; Miami-Dade County Auditorium, The Dennis C. Moss Center, OutClique Magazine, South Florida Cultural Consortium; South Florida Theatre League, Mark Traverso & Conor Walton, Donald R. Walters, P.A., and The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum.
About The Carbonell Awards: The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the excellence and diversity of our theater artists, providing scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. More than 30 professional theater companies in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties participate in the awards process every year. The Carbonell Awards also celebrate the accomplishments of local artistic leaders by presenting various Special Awards.
Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s oldest regional arts awards and predate others, including Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after the internationally renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell, who designed the signature solid bronze and marble award given annually to Carbonell Award winners. For nearly half a century, the Carbonell family has donated more than $250,000 in awards. For more information, please visit www.carbonellawards.org.
