FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wilmington, NC – January 29, 2026
Nominees for 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards Announced
Public Voting Ends February 11, 2026
The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County has announced the nominees for the 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards, recognizing excellence across the Wilmington area’s dynamic stage community. This year’s nominations span 17 theater companies from across the region, highlighting the depth of talent, collaboration, and creativity on local stages over the past season.
The musical “Cabaret” from Opera House Theatre Company leads all productions with 11 nominations. Big Dawg Productions’ “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” is the most-nominated play, earning eight nods. Opera House led all organizations with 31 total nominations, followed closely by Thalian Association Community Theatre with 28 nominations. Thalian Association’s total includes seven shared nominations with the arts councils of Pender and New Hanover counties for their collaborative production of “Home.”
Several individual artists are recognized multiple times. Brian Whitted earned three nominations in the Music Direction category for his work on Opera House’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Cabaret,” and “Hairspray.” Logan Hayes also received three nominations, recognized for directing and co-choreographing “Legally Blonde” and for his lighting design of “The Rocky Horror Show,” all with Thalian Association.
Winners will be announced at the 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards ceremony on March 25, 2026, at Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, where the community will gather to celebrate the artists and technicians who brought live theater to life throughout the year. Tickets are available through the Thalian Hall box office and website.
Winners will be selected by a combination of votes from the public, theater companies and the nominating committee.
Full list of 2026 Wilmington Theater Award Nominations
MUSICAL
“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
“Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
“Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
“Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
“Mary Poppins,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
PLAY
“Blithe Spirit,” UNCW Department of Theatre
“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
“Home,” Thalian Association Community Theatre, Pender County Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
“The Play That Goes Wrong,” UNCW Department of Theatre
“Red,” Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
ACTOR (MUSICAL)
Phillip Clyde Bernier as Bert in “Mary Poppins,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Casey Burton as the Emcee in “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Mark Deese as Edward Bloom in “Big Fish,” Rebelle Productions
Brent Schraff as Franklin Hart Jr. in “9 to 5,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Nick Steigerwald as Orpheus in “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Panache Theatrical Productions
ACTOR (PLAY)
Kaleb Edley as Cephus in “Home,” Thalian Association Community Theatre, Pender County Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
Keon Joel as Dracula in “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
Jeff Phillips as Jeremy in “Mercury,” Big Dawg Productions
Justin Smith as Mark Rothko in “Red,” Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
Cole Warren as Charles in “Blithe Spirit,” UNCW Department of Theatre
ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
Mary Mattison as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Meghan McDonald as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Gabriella Seebode as Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Heather Setzler as Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Heather Setzler as Violet Newstead in “9 to 5,” Opera House Theatre Co.
ACTRESS (PLAY)
Gina Gambony as various roles in “Parallel Lives,” Big Dawg Productions
Sierra Fiskin as Isabella in “Measure for Measure,” UNCW Department of Theatre
Tamica Katzmann as Judith in “William and Judith,” AutenNotDoIt Productions
Cathy Street as Heidi in “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Big Dawg Productions
Maria-Luisa Winslow as Annette Raleigh in “God of Carnage,” Big Dawg Productions
CHOREOGRAPHY
Tracy Byrd, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Carson Hobbs, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Natalie Hopson Feinberg, “Mary Poppins,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Logan Hayes and Sydney Smith Martin, “Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Melissa VanPelt and Rhon Saunders, “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
COSTUME DESIGN
Maria L. Chandler, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Mirla Criste, “William and Judith,” AutenNotDoIt Productions
Melanie Hodge, “Ebenezer,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Debbie Scheu and Stephanie Aman, “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Isabel Zermani, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
DIRECTOR (MUSICAL)
Jason Aycock, “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Shane Fernando, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Emily Graham, “Mary Poppins,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Logan Hayes, “Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Suellen Yates, “9 to 5,” Opera House Theatre Co.
DIRECTOR (PLAY)
Mirla Criste, “William and Judith,” AutenNotDoIt Productions
Fracaswell Hyman, “Home,” Thalian Association Community Theatre, Pender County Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
Cathy Street, “A Few Good Men,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Benjamin Thomas-Reid, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
Ed Wagenseller, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” UNCW Department of Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
Trey Brazeal, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Logan Hayes, “The Rocky Horror Show,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Dallas LaFon, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Delaney McLaughlin, “Blithe Spirit,” UNCW Department of Theatre
Joshua Zieseniss, “Home,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Amanda Clawges, “Big Fish,” Rebelle Productions
Katie Deese, “Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Brian Whitted, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Brian Whitted, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Brian Whitted, “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
NEWCOMER
Nelly Holdford, “Ebenezer,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Blair Houtz, “Macbeth” (Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green) and “Mercury” (Big Dawg Productions)
Keon Joel, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
Benjamin Lusk, “Macbeth,” Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green
Ralph Parker Jr., “Red Velvet,” Brunswick Little Theatre
Noah Rosenblatt, “A Few Good Men,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Lily Rowan, “The Rocky Horror Show,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION
“Flashlights: Short Plays to Light Your Way,” Mouths of Babes Theatre Co.
“The First Day of Spring,” Theatre for All
“Mercury” by Lee Lowrimore, Big Dawg Productions
“Orion’s Choice” by Rose-Mary Harrington, Harrington Repertory
“A Ride Through the Country” by Ray Kennedy, Big Dawg Productions
“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” by Sullivan Hamilton, Big Dawg Productions
“Ten-Minute Miscellany,” Port City Playwrights
SET DESIGN
Terry Collins, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Terry Collins, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Jenna Houck, “Measure for Measure,” UNCW Department of Theatre
Jenna Houck, “The Play that Goes Wrong,” UNCW Department of Theatre
Troy Rudeseal and Karahann Kiser (projection design), “Home,” Thalian Association, Pender County Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover Co.
SOUND DESIGN
Christopher Dean, “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Ethan Golden, “Red,” Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
Jonathan Graves, “A Few Good Men,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Max Lydy, “Blithe Spirit,” UNCW Department of Theatre
Steve Vernon, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
SUPPORTING ACTOR (MUSICAL)
Kellen Hanson as Will Bloom in “Big Fish,” Rebelle Productions
Larry Darnell Penn as Ken in “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Robin Dale Robertson as Herr Schultz in “Cabaret,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Khori Talley as Emmett Forrest in “Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Justin Allen Tate as Andre in “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SUPPORTING ACTOR (PLAY)
Glauco Araujo as Ken in “Red,” Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
Casey Burton as various roles in “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
Brendan Carter as Jessup in “A Few Good Men,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Randy Davis as various roles in “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
Cole Warren as Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet,” UNCW Department of Theatre
SUPPORTING ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
Kim Pacheco Beatty as Motormouth Maybelle in “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Georgie Davis as Paulette in “Legally Blonde,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Joy Ducree Gregory as Nell in “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Aimee Henderson as Ms. Andrews in “Mary Poppins,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Erin Sullivan as Velma Von Tussle in “Hairspray,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS (PLAY)
Truu Danns as various roles in “Home,” Thalian Association Community Theatre, Pender County Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
Anna Gamel as various roles in “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Big Dawg Productions
Bela Gonzalez as Madame Arcati in “Blithe Spirit,” UNCW Department of Theatre
Addison Hamlet as various roles in “Home,” Thalian Association Community Theatre, Pender County Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
NaSwana Moon as the Lady in Purple in “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
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Wilmington Theater Awards to Announce 2026 Nominees
Terry Collins Named Lela Thompson Award Honoree
The Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County invites the community to celebrate local theater excellence at the 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards Nomination Party, where nominees in all award categories will be officially announced.
The Nomination Party will take place at 7:00 p.m. on January 28, 2026, at The Eagle’s Dare, 420 N. Third Street in Wilmington. Theater artists, supporters, and fans are encouraged to attend as the spotlight turns to the performers, designers, directors, and technicians who made the past year on Wilmington stages exceptional.
In addition to announcing nominees, the Arts Council is proud to reveal that Terry Collins has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Lela Thompson Award for Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater. Each year, the Lela Thompson Award honors one individual whose positive and lasting impact has helped shape the local theater scene. The award is named in honor of Lela Thompson, the late co-founder of The Willis Richardson Players and a foundational figure in Wilmington theater.
For more than 25 years, Collins, founder of The Scenic Asylum, has been the Wilmington theater community’s go-to set designer. His work spans large-scale, multi-piece productions on Thalian Hall’s main stage as well as visually compelling designs for more intimate venues. Over the course of his career, Collins has designed dozens—if not hundreds—of productions in Wilmington alone.
Beyond the local stage, Collins’ résumé includes extensive work on Broadway national tours, both as a touring professional earlier in his career and through The Scenic Asylum, where he has prepared sets for productions traveling across the country. A multi-time Wilmington Theater Award winner, Collins most recently received top honors for set design for Opera House Theatre Company’s Death of a Salesman in 2025.
Collins’ selection for the Lela Thompson Award comes during a deeply challenging time, as he recently suffered a life-altering injury. His enduring influence, generosity, and commitment to the craft of theater have left a permanent and indelible mark on Wilmington’s artistic community.
Following the Nomination Party, public voting will open on the Arts Council website. The season will culminate at the 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards ceremony on March 25, 2026, at Thalian Hall, where winners in all categories will be announced live.
For more information, visit www.artswilmington.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wilmington, NC – Nov 3, 2025
Save the date: 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards Set for March 25 at Thalian Hall
The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County is proud to announce the 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards, returning to Thalian Hall on March 25, 2026, for another unforgettable evening celebrating the region’s vibrant performing arts community.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Erin Sullivan, an accomplished actor, singer, dancer, educator, producer, and published author whose distinguished career spans more than 30 years on stages across the country and around the world. A multi-time Wilmington Theater Award nominee, Sullivan brings her signature blend of artistry, charisma, and deep love for the craft to this year’s celebration.
Sullivan has performed in four major Broadway National Tours and countless regional productions and is the author of Theatrical Baggage: A Manual, Workbook and Bible on How to Survive a National Tour and Other Gigs. Her work as a producer and director includes creating and starring in her award-winning one-woman show, With Love, Marilyn.
The Wilmington Theater Awards honor outstanding achievements across the local theater community, recognizing excellence among actors, directors, designers, and technicians who bring live performance to life in and around the Port City.
Before the big night, the excitement kicks off at the Nomination Party in January 2026 (date and location to be announced), where nominees in more than 20 categories will be revealed. Once nominations are announced, public voting will open on the Arts Council’s website.
Tickets for the March 25, 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards ceremony will be available through the Thalian Hall box office and website in early 2026.
For more information, visit https://www.artswilmington.org/2026-wilmington-theater-awards/ or follow the Wilmington Theater Awards on Facebook or Instagram.
