Here Are the Nominees for the 2025-2026 Austin Theatre Critics Awards

Austin, we’ve got it good.

There’s incredible theatre in this town! Do we even know how lucky we are? From classic venues presenting well-loved musicals and touchstone productions, to underground punk companies stretching the boundaries with new playwrights and experimental material, every weekend promises a fresh array of mind-expanding or heartwarming works.

It’s impossible to see everything. This year I had acute FOMO month after month, knowing there were stellar productions I missed.

Thankfully, there’s a cavalcade of talented critics in this town.

Under the guidance of community collective ATX Theatre, we’ve gathered our critical braintrust to hash out some of the brightest theatre offerings 2025-2026 had to offer. 

Whether you’re a fan or among the nominees, join us at the Paramount’s historic State Theatre June 8. We’ll celebrate illustrious institutions from ZACH to the VORTEX, and as much as we could find in between. 

Outstanding Original Script

A Doctor’s Visit by Annika Lekven, Broad Theatre

Anton Chekhov Is a Tasty Snack by Jenny Connell Davis, Penfold Theatre

Apprehension by L.B. Deyo, Holi Shamoli Productions

Take Care of My Friend by Kathleen Fletcher, the Filigree Theatre

The Last Séance of Harry Houdini by Cynthia Reifsteck and Trace Turner, Bottle Alley Theatre Company

the wolf you feed by Darcy Parker Bruce, the VORTEX 

Outstsanding Costume Design

Susan Branch Towne for The Wizard of Oz, ZACH Theatre

Teresa Carson for Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

Aaron Flynn for the wolf you feed, the VORTEX

Kelsey Oliver for Nora, Trinity Street Players

Glenda Wolfe for The Toxic Avenger, Doctuh Mistuh Productions

Jana Zek for Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

Patrick Anthony for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Austin Rainbow Theatre

Natalie George for Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Ollie Sofield for The Fire Raisers, the Hidden Room

Callum Thomas for Pillar of Fire, the Spark

Donna Yancey for ’night, Mother, the Alchemy Theatre

Marie Yokoyama for Waitress, ZACH Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design

Cody R. Arn for Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra, Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Theada Haining for Urinetown, Mary Moody Northen Theatre

Izzy Poehlmann for Proof, Georgetown Palace

Michael Stuart for The Game’s Afoot, the Stage Austin

Robin Vest for Waitress, ZACH Theatre

Steve Williams for Nora, Trinity Street Players

Outstanding Sound Design

Robert S. Fisher for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Austin Playhouse

LEVO Audio Visual for Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

Luka McConnell for Pillar of Fire, the Spark

Joshua Millican for Waitress, ZACH Theatre

Luis & Evan Sandoval for Venus in Fur, Dirty Gold Theatre

Rodd Simonsen for Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Parade Credit: Lens of Athena Photography Outstanding Movement Direction

Barrett Davis and Noah Wood for Mary Poppins, Summer Stock Austin

Matthew Kennedy for The SpongeBob Musical, Magnolia Musical Theatre

Rose Mitchell for Pretty Filthy, Doctuh Mistuh Productions

Ginger Morris, Sara Burke and Noah Wood for Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

Andrew Solis for Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra, Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Noah Wood for Grand Hotel, the Alchemy Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction

Carrie Culver for Little Shop of Horrors at City Theatre

Ellie Jarrett Shattles for Grand Hotel, the Alchemy Theatre

Josh Kavanaugh for Much Ado About Nothing, the Baron’s Men

Adam Roberts for Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

Adam Roberts and Ellie Jarrett Shattles for Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Allen Robertson for Dear Evan Hansen, ZACH Theatre

Outstanding Visiting Tour

As You Like It, Actors from the London Stage

Kimberley Akimbo, Broadway in Austin (Texas Performing Arts)

Mamma Mia, Broadway in Austin (Texas Performing Arts)

Moulin Rouge! Broadway in Austin (Texas Performing Arts)

The Great Gatsby, Broadway in Austin (Texas Performing Arts)

The Outsiders, Broadway in Austin (Texas Performing Arts)

Outstanding Ensemble

Beehive, TexArts

Cabaret, UT Department of Theatre & Dance

The Fire Raisers, The Hidden Room

I Wanna Be a F*cking Princess, Ground Floor Theatre

Reefer Madness, ACC Drama

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Penfold Theatre

Supporting Actor in a Play

Diego Arroyo Aceves in Anton Chekhov Is a Tasty Snack, Penfold Theatre

Suzanne Balling in The Game’s Afoot, the Stage Austin

Jessica Brynn Cohen in Apprehension, Holi Shamoli Productions

Joseph Garlock in The Fire Raisers, the Hidden Room

Gina Houston in Fat Ham, Austin Playhouse

Amara Johnson in Witch, Hyde Park Theatre

Pablo Muñoz-Evers in Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra, Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Marc A. Pouhé in Fat Ham, Austin Playhouse

Justin Scalise in The Fire Raisers, the Hidden Room

Phoenix Shaw in the wolf you feed, the VORTEX

Gabrielle Smith in Anton Chekhov Is a Tasty Snack, Penfold Theatre

Shelby Surdam in A Doctor’s Visit, Broad Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Micaiah Armstrong in Little Shop of Horrors, City Theatre

John Christopher in Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Eugenia De La Garza in Dear Evan Hansen, Zach Theatre

Leslie Heathcox in Grand Hotel, The Alchemy Theatre

Leslie Hollingsworth in The Toxic Avenger, Doctuh Mistuh Productions

Nicholas Hunter in Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Leslie McDonel in Dear Evan Hansen, Zach Theatre

Dominic Pecikonis in Dear Evan Hansen, Zach Theatre

Scott Shipman in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Austin Playhouse

TaTyana Smith in Little Shop of Horrors, City Theatre

Sebastian Vitale in Pretty Filthy, Doctuh Mistuh Productions

Sarah Zeringue in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Austin Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Julia Bennett in Venus in Fur, Dirty Gold Theatre

Sarah-Marie Curry in ’night, Mother, The Alchemy Theatre

Laura D’Eramo in Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra, Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Rick Felkins in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Different Stages

Steve Guntli in Betrayal, Hyde Park Theatre

Albert Igbinigie in Fat Ham, Austin Playhouse

Helen Merino in Macbeth, Austin Shakespeare

Tobie Minor in The Fire Raisers, the Hidden Room

Brennan Patrick in Betrayal, Hyde Park Theatre

Juliet Robb in Betrayal, Hyde Park Theatre

Brent Werzner in Apprehension, Holi Shamoli Productions

Johanna Whitmore in ’night, Mother, the Alchemy Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

Joey Banks in The Toxic Avenger, Doctuh Mistuh Productions

Coy Branscum in Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

Evah Destruction in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Austin Rainbow Theatre

CB Feller in Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Lucero Garcia in Zapata, ZACH Theatre

Evan Jennings in Dear Evan Hansen, ZACH Theatre

Cameron La Brie in Grand Hotel, the Alchemy Theatre

Leslie McDonel in Waitress, ZACH Theatre

Ava Moak in Mary Poppins, Summer Stock Austin

Moira Poh in The Wizard of Oz, ZACH Theatre

Jacob Rosenbaum in Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Donelvan Thigpen in Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

The Fire Raisers Credit: Kimberley Mead Outstanding Director of a Play

Adam Adolfo for Sagittarius Ponderosa, Austin Rainbow Theatre

Stephanie Crugnola for Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra, Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Jenny Larson-Quiñones for Nora, Trinity Street Players

Roy Lazorwitz for Venus in Fur, Dirty Gold Theatre

Ken Webster for Betrayal, Hyde Park Theatre

Ben Wolfe for Fat Ham, Austin Playhouse

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Cassie Abate for Waitress, ZACH Theatre

Andy Berkovsky for Little Shop of Horrors, City Theatre

Michael Cooper for Grand Hotel, the Alchemy Theatre

Lisa Scheps for Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

Scott Shipman for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Penfold Theatre

Deonté Warren for Mary Poppins, Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Production of a Play

Apprehension, Holi Shamoli Productions

Betrayal, Hyde Park Theatre

Fat Ham, Austin Playhouse

The Fire Raisers, the Hidden Room

’night, Mother, the Alchemy Theatre

Venus in Fur, Dirty Gold Theatre

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Grand Hotel, the Alchemy Theatre

Jesus Christ Superstar, Summer Stock Austin

Parade, Ground Floor Theatre

The Fantasticks, Entre’Acte

The SpongeBob Musical, Magnolia Musical Theatre

Waitress, ZACH Theatre

The Austin Theatre Critics Awards take place at the State Theatre on Monday, June 8. 

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