Theater / Film
Miami-Dade Theaters, Productions Top List of Carbonell Award Nominees
The production receiving the most Carbonell Award nominations was Actors’ Playhouse’s “Man of La Mancha” with 12 nominations. Awards will be announced at the 49th annual ceremonies on Monday, Nov. 16. (Photo courtesy of Actors’ Playhouse)
Miami Dade County regional theaters earned some of the top nominations for the 2025-26 Carbonell Awards with awards announced at the 49th annual ceremonies, which will be presented Monday, Nov. 16, at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton.
GableStage, based at the Hotel Biltmore in Coral Gables, earned 17 nominations along with Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre netting 16. Miami Beach-based Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre received 15 nominations, Miami’s Zoetic Stage based at the Adrienne Arsht Center earned 13, Liberty City’s M Ensemble picked up four nominations, with Spanish-language company Arca Images, performing out of the Westchester Cultural Arts Center received two. City Theatre Miami and True Mirage Theater each receive a single nomination.
The production, which received the most nominations was Actors’ Playhouse’s “Man of La Mancha” with 12 nominations. GableStage’s “Left on Tenth” and Miami New Drama’s “The Zionists received seven nominations, while “Here There Are Blueberries” at Miami New Drama, “Harry Clarke” at GableStage, and “Merrily We Roll Along” at Zoetic Stage earned five.
Mark H. Dold inhabits Philip Brugglestein and Harry Clarke in a scene from the play “Harry Clarke” at GableStage. (Photo by Magnus Stark, courtesy of GableStage)
In other counties, Palm Beach County’s Maltz Jupiter Theater had 12 nominations while, the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton received 10 and Palm Beach Dramaworks received seven. Theatre Lab at FAU earned a single nomination. In Broward County, Fort Lauderdale’s Slow Burn Theatre had nine finalists, New City Players picked up three, and Pompano Beach-based Brévo Theatre received two nominations.
More than 100 professional productions at 33 theatres were evaluated by a group of nearly 50 judges representing all three participating counties: Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach.
In addition to the 20 competitive award categories, the Carbonell Awards will present nine Special Awards selected by the nonprofit organization’s board of directors.
The late Christine Dolen and Artburst Miami editor and theater critic Michelle F. Solomon at the 2023 Silver Palm Awards. Solomon will receive The Charlie Cinnamon Award at this year’s Carbonell Awards, while the inaugural Christine Dolen Award for Outstanding Debut will be presented in honor of the legendary Miami Herald theater critic. (Photo courtesy of Artburst Miami)
- Stuart Meltzer, founding artistic director of Zoetic Stage will receive The George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts
- ArtburstMiami editor and theater writer Michelle F. Solomon will be awarded The Charlie Cinnamon Award for outstanding support of South Florida theater and the Carbonell Awards.
- Ali Tallman, director of “The 39 Steps” for New City Players will receive The Christine Dolen Award for outstanding debut. The award is named after Miami Herald and ArtburstMiami theater critic.
- The Ruth Foreman Award for outstanding contribution to the development of South Florida theater to Margaret M. Ledford, artistic director of City Theatre in Miami.
- 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 theater 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 Broward County’s Island City Stage.
- The Bill Hindman Award for onstage career achievement by performing artists based in South Florida to actor, playwright and educator Elena Maria Garcia.
Elena María García, seen in her solo show “¡FUÁCATA!,” will receive The Bill Hindman Award for onstage career achievement by performing artists based in South Florida at this year’s Carbonell Awards. (Photo by Justin Namon)
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
• “Kassandra,” Arca Images
• “Prayer for the French Republic,” GableStage
• “Searching for Willie Lynch,” M Ensemble Company
• “The Inheritance, Part 1,” Zoetic Stage
Layon Gray is nominated for Outstanding Direction for his play “Searching for Willie Lynch” at M Ensemble Company. (Photo courtesy of M Ensemble)
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 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
Barbara Pitts McAdams as Judy Cohen is another researcher caught up in an album that the U.S. Holocaust Museum receives. (Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography)
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 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
Michael McKeever as Walter Poole talks about his past while Eric Glass (Alex Weisman) listens in Zoetic Stage’s “The Inheritance, Part 1.” (Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography, courtesy of the Adrienne Arsht Center)
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
Stuart Meltzer was nominated for Outstanding Direction for a Musical” for “Merrily We Roll Along” at Zoetic Stage and the play was nominated for Outstanding Production, Musical. (Photo by Justin Namon)
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
Donya Layne received a nomination for The Wick Theatre’s musical direction of “The Cher Show.” From left, Catherine Ariale, Kristin Rose Kelleher, and Ella Perez, were nominated for their performances in the musical. (Photo courtesy of The Wick 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
Michael Focas and Henry Gainza in “Man of La Mancha” at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. (Photo by Alberto Romeu)
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 and 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
Adam Koch’s sleek, modern, island villa set for Miami New Drama’s “The Zionist” is jaw-dropping in its detail, design, and scope. (Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography)
Outstanding Lighting Design
• Paul Black, “Vineland Place,” Palm Beach Dramaworks
• Kirk Bookman and 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 and 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
Delia (Dalia Aleman) and Peter (Stephen Schnetzer) watch an eclipse in “Left on Tenth” in the GableStage production of “Left on Tenth.” (Photo by Magnus Stark/courtesy of GableStage)
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
As part of the 2026 Carbonell Awards, $2,000 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships will be presented to Matthew Aidan Sanchez (Miami-Dade County), Sofia Bornia (Palm Beach County) and Avery Garfinkel. 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, three 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).
For the Carbonell Awards ceremony, Andrew Kato is executive producer and director, producer is Eloisa Ferrer, and Caryl Fantel is associate producer and musical director.
Tickets for the ceremony and after-party are $45 and go on public sale in mid-October.
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 more information, go to www.carbonellawards.org.
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