From immersive outdoor theater to epic dramas on traditional stages, the nominees for the 48th annual Carbonell Awards highlight the breadth of South Florida theater over the past year.

Carbonell Awards Board President Gary Schweikhart announced 129 finalists in 20 competitive categories, representing 19 professional theater companies across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. A panel of judges from all three counties evaluated more than 100 professional productions staged at 33 theaters.

Winners will be revealed on Nov. 17 during a 7:30 p.m. ceremony at Florida Atlantic University’s University Theatre in Boca Raton. Tickets, priced at $45 for both the ceremony and after-party, go on sale to the public in mid-October. This year marks the first time in years that the Carbonell Awards return to Palm Beach County. A pre-party for nominees and judges will take place Oct. 20 at the Wick Theatre.

Leading Companies

Among theater companies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre led the field with 24 nominations, followed closely by Slow Burn Theatre Company with 23. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and GableStage earned 11 each, while Miami New Drama collected nine and Arca Images eight.

Broadway at LPAC, New City Players, and Theatre Lab each earned seven nominations. Zoetic Stage received five, while Island City Stage, Palm Beach Dramaworks, and Ronnie Larsen Presents/Plays of Wilton picked up three each. Area Stage, ArtBuzz Theatrics, and The Wick Theatre earned two apiece. Brévo Theatre, Loxen Entertainment, and the Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center received one each.

Standout Productions

At the production level, GableStage’s staging of Appropriate led with 10 nominations. Miami New Drama’s Lincoln Road Hustle followed with nine, while Slow Burn Theatre Company’s Anastasia, Actors’ Playhouse’s Jersey Boys, and Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s The Lehman Trilogy each collected eight.

Four shows earned seven nominations apiece: All My Sons (New City Players), Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company), and Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images). Frozen at Maltz Jupiter Theatre earned six, and Zoetic Stage’s The Pillowman received five. Three artists — Michael McKeever, Carlos Silva, and Laura Turnbull — each earned double nominations this year.

Full List of Nominees

Outstanding New Work

• Dangerous Instruments by Gina Montet (Palm Beach Dramaworks)
• Lincoln Road Hustle by Billy Corben & Harley Elias (Miami New Drama)
• PrEP’d by Ronnie Larsen (Ronnie Larsen Presents/Plays of Wilton)
• The Impossible Task of Today by Jeff Bower (Theatre Lab)
• The Last Yiddish Speaker by Deborah Zoe Laufer (Theatre Lab)
• Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz by Nilo Cruz (Arca Images)

Outstanding Production, Play

• Appropriate (GableStage)
• Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• The Pillowman (Zoetic Stage)
• Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images)
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)

Outstanding Direction, Play

• Nilo Cruz, Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images)
• Peter Flynn, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Michel Hausmann, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• Ronnie Larsen, An Evening with Divine (Ronnie Larsen Presents/Plays of Wilton)
• Stuart Meltzer, The Pillowman (Zoetic Stage)
• Bari Newport, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Jason Peck, All My Sons (New City Players)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Male Role, Play

• Iain Batchelor, The Impossible Task of Today (Theatre Lab)
• Mark H. Dold, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Michael Gioia, All My Sons (New City Players)
• Jean Hyppolite, Jesus Hopped the A Train (Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center)
• Tony Larkin, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Colin McPhillamy, The Dresser (Palm Beach Dramaworks)
• Jeremy Rishe, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Female Role, Play

• Dalia Alemán, Steel Magnolias (ArtBuzz Theatrics)
• Rachel Burttram, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Elba Escobar, La Travesia/The Passage (Arca Images)
• Andrea Ferro, Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images)
• Vaishnavi Sharma, The Impossible Task of Today (Theatre Lab)
• Caroline Tarantolo, All My Sons (New City Players)
• Laura Turnbull, All My Sons (New City Players)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role, Play

• Brandon Campbell, All My Sons (New City Players)
• Jovon Jacobs, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• Michael McKeever, The Pillowman (Zoetic Stage)
• Carlos Fabian Medina, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• Seth Trucks, The Pillowman (Zoetic Stage)
• Gregg Weiner, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role, Play

• Irene Adjan, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• Denise Cormier, The Dresser (Palm Beach Dramaworks)
• Patti Gardner, The Last Yiddish Speaker (Theatre Lab)
• Elli Katz Murray, Steel Magnolias (ArtBuzz Theatrics)
• Lourelene Snedeker, Torch Song (Ronnie Larsen Presents/Plays of Wilton)
• Betty Ann Hunt Strain, A Delicate Balance (Island City Stage)

Outstanding Production, Musical

• Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Legally Blonde (Broadway at LPAC)
• Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Parade (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Direction, Musical

• David Arisco, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Patrick Fitzwater, Parade (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Mark Martino, Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Giancarlo Rodaz, Tarzan (Area Stage)
• John Tartaglia, Frozen (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Michael Ursua, Legally Blonde (Broadway at LPAC)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Male Role, Musical

• Justin Albinder, Parade (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Jarod Bakum, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Jack Wesley Gerhard, Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Wayne LeGette, Legally Blonde (Broadway at LPAC)
• Gabriell Salgado, The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Joshua Charles Skurnik, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Wesley Slade, Frozen (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Female Role, Musical

• Tristen Buettel, Frozen (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Mikayla Cohen, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Lindsey Corey, Waitress (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Mallory Newbrough, Guys & Dolls (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Casey Sacco, South Pacific (Broadway at LPAC)
• Erica Swindell, Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Ta-Tynisa Wilson, The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role, Musical

• Nick Cearley, Waitress (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Nathan Cockroft, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Quinn Corcoran, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Sean Williams Davis, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Aaron DeJesus, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Ralph Meitzler, Something Rotten (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role, Musical

• Gail Bennett, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Kareema Khouri, Waitress (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Marisol Morales-Dow, South Pacific (Broadway at LPAC)
• Samara Shavrick, Legally Blonde (Broadway at LPAC)
• Lillie Eliza Thomas, The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Laura Turnbull, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Music Direction

• Eric Alsford, Frozen (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Ryan Crout, The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Katie Duerr, Tarzan (Area Stage)
• Maggie Hollinbeck, Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Clay Ostwald, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Carlos Silva, Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images)
• Travis Smith, Parade (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Choreography

• Jeremy Benton, No, No, Nanette (The Wick Theatre)
• Sarah Crane, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Alex Jorth, Legally Blonde (Broadway at LPAC)
• Kristyn Pope, Frozen (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Nicolette Quintero, Something Rotten (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Reynel Reynaldo, The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Trent Soyster, The Witches of Eastwick (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Scenic Design, Play or Musical

• Pedro Balmaseda & Jorge Noa, The Play That Goes Wrong (Loxen Entertainment)
• Milagros Ponce De Leon, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Michael McClain, All My Sons (New City Players)
• Anne Mundell, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Frank J. Oliva, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Rob Wolin, A Delicate Balance (Island City Stage)

Outstanding Lighting Design, Play or Musical

• Kirk Bookman, Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Tony Galaska, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Eric Norbury, Anastasia (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Ernesto Pinto, Tebas Land (Arca Images)
• Alberto Segarra, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Thomas Shorrock, The Last Yiddish Speaker (Theatre Lab)
• Clifford Spulock, The Witches of Eastwick (Slow Burn Theatre Company)

Outstanding Sound Design, Play or Musical

• Alex Brock, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Matt Corey, The Last Yiddish Speaker (Theatre Lab)
• Tyler Kieffer, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• Sean McGinley, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Carlos Silva, Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images)
• Scott Stauffer, Once (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)

Outstanding Costume Design, Play or Musical

• Siena Zoë Allen, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Lorena Lopez, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Rick Peña, The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre Company)
• Michiko Kitayama Skinner, Lincoln Road Hustle (Miami New Drama)
• Ellis Tillman, Jersey Boys (Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre)
• Gema Valdés, Tres Veces Cruz/Three Times Cruz (Arca Images)

Outstanding Achievement of an Artistic Specialty

• Jameela Bailey, Props/Set Dressing, All My Sons (New City Players)
• Shawn Duan, Projection Design, The Lehman Trilogy (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
• Jamie Godwin, Projection Design, Appropriate (GableStage)
• Michael McKeever, Illustration/Animation, The Pillowman (Zoetic Stage)
• Evan Northrup, Illusion Design, Fat Ham (Brévo Theatre, GableStage, Island City Stage)
• Mark Rabe, Musical Direction/Accompanist, Groucho (The Wick Theatre)
• Eric Wright, Puppet Design, Frozen (Maltz Jupiter Theatre)

Special Awards

In addition to the 20 competitive categories, the 48th annual Carbonell Awards will present eight special honors selected by the nonprofit organization’s board of directors:

• The George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts to William Hayes and Sue Ellen Beryl, co-founders of Palm Beach Dramaworks, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
• The Vinnette Carroll Award for advancing diversity, equality, and inclusion to Michel Hausmann, co-founder and artistic director of Miami New Drama, the largest bilingual theater company in the country.
• The Charlie Cinnamon Award honoring an individual who significantly supports the arts and the Carbonell Awards program to veteran entertainment writer Mary Damiano.
• The Ruth Foreman Award recognizing contributions to South Florida theater development to Alexa Kuve, executive producer and artistic director of Arca Images.
• The Bill Hindman Award for long-term contributions to the region’s cultural life and onstage career achievement to Beverly Blanchette, longtime dean of theatre at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts.
• The Howard Kleinberg Award for contributions to the health and development of the arts to Harvey J. Burstein and miamiartzine.
• The Jan McArt Award for significant achievement by a small theater to New City Players.
• The Bill von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence to GableStage, honoring the company’s overall programming, outreach, and audience impact.

Scholarships

As part of this year’s ceremony, $2,000 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships will be presented to DeJaya Hardy (Miami-Dade County), Alexa Isabel Lasanta (Palm Beach County), and Jack Bear Ryan (Broward County). Each will also receive an additional $1,000 through the new Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarship, named for the longtime theater reviewer and Carbonell judge.