The Winners of the 2025-2026 Austin Theatre Critics Awards 

One night after the Tony Awards, Austin’s own theatre scene celebrated critical darlings. In Monday’s ceremony, emcees and local performers Matt Kennedy and Kyra Jackson guided the community through awards celebrating stagecraft. 

The musical awards mostly split between Summer Stock Austin’s Jesus Christ Superstar and Ground Floor Theatre’s Parade. The play categories spread out a bit more, with multiple honors going to Austin Playhouse’s Fat Ham and Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project’s Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra.

Critics awarded the following:

Outstanding Costume Design

Aaron Flynn

the wolf you feed

The VORTEX

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Michael Cooper

Grand Hotel

The Alchemy Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Play

Stephanie Crugnola

Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra

Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Outstanding Ensemble

I Wanna Be A F*cking Princess

Ground Floor Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

Callum Thomas

Pillar of Fire

The Spark/La Fenice

Outstanding Movement Direction

Noah Wood, Choreographer

Grand Hotel

The Alchemy Theatre

Outstanding Musical Production

Jesus Christ Superstar

Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Musical Direction

Adam Roberts & Ellie Jarrett Shattles

Parade

Ground Floor Theatre

Outstanding Original Script

Apprehension by L.B. Deyo

Holi Shamoli Productions

Outstanding Production of a Play

The Fire Raisers

The Hidden Room

Outstanding Scenic Design

Cody Arn

Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra

Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Outstanding Sound Design

Robert S. Fisher

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Austin Playhouse

Fat Ham Credit: Steve Rogers Photography Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

Marc Pouhé as Rev & Pap

Fat Ham

Austin Playhouse

and

Gabrielle Smith as Stage Manager (Natalie)

Anton Chekhov Is a Tasty Snack

Penfold Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Play

Albert Igbinigie as Juicy

Fat Ham

Austin Playhouse

and

Sarah-Marie Curry as Jessie

’night, Mother

The Alchemy Theatre

and

Johanna Whitmore as Mama

’night, Mother

The Alchemy Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Leslie Hollingsworth as Mayor & Ma Ferb

The Toxic Avenger

Doctuh Mistuh Productions

and

Nicholas Hunter as Jim Conley

Parade

Ground Floor Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Coy Branscum as Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus Christ Superstar

Summer Stock Austin

and

CB Feller as Lucile Frank

Parade

Ground Floor Theatre

Parade Credit: Lens of Athena Photography Outstanding Touring Show

The Outsiders

Texas Performing Arts, Broadway in Austin

Special Citation for Shimmying Sparkles & Exporting Local Theatre

Sims Holland’s Learning to Human

Special Citation for 18 Fab Years of Blending Theatricality & Creativity With Education 

The Paramount Story Wranglers

Special Citation for Breaking the Mold with Fiddler on the Roof

Austin Opera

Special Citation for 20 years of Tenacious Community Theatre

City Theatre

Special Citation for Spotlighting Theatremakers Living With Disabilities

TUBU Fest

Special Citation for 11 years of Insightful, Right-Sized Productions Reflecting Our Times

Jarrott Productions

Unsung Hero Awards

Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers Photography

Jose Lozano, Magic Spoon Productions

Minerva Villa, Lens of Athena Photography

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