2026 Wilmington Theater Awards Voting

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The Wilmington Theater Awards will be presented March 25 at Thalian Hall, presented by the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County in association with Thalian Hall. This year's event will be hosted by Erin Sullivan. To vote for your favorites, select one nominee in each category below. Voting ends Feb. 11, 2026.

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Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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 Asso.

Heather Setzler as Violet Newstead in “9 to 5,” Opera House Theatre Co.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding 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 Co.

NaSwana Moon as the Lady in Purple in “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

Clear selection

Outstanding 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

Clear selection

Outstanding Newcomer

Nelly Holdford, “Ebenezer,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

Blair Houtz, “Macbeth” (Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green) & “Mercury” (Big Dawg)

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

Clear selection

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