WILMINGTON — The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County announced the nominees Wednesday for the 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards.
Twenty categories recognize five to seven nominees in each, with Opera House Theatre Company carrying the most nominations at 31, followed by Thalian Association Community Theatre at 28.
READ MORE: 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards has a date, host
Opera House’s musical “Cabaret” brought in the most recognition, including for Outstanding Musical, followed by the jukebox musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” “Legally Blonde” and “Mary Poppins” both brought in seven nods for Thalian Association, including for Outstanding Musical.
Big Dawg Theater Company led the way with eight nominations for the play — not a musical — “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.”
As announced last year, the awards ceremony takes place March 25 at Thalian Hall and is hosted by local theater veteran and Broadway touring performer Erin Sullivan. Sullivan also is nominated in 2026 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Velma Von Tussle in “Hairspray.”
The 13th annual awards ceremony will feature performances by the nominees and includes the Lela Thompson Award for Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater. The award — named after the late co-founder of The Willis Richardson Players — honors people who have helped shape the local theater scene.
This year it will be given to Terry Collins of The Scenic Asylum. Collins has constructed set designs for hundreds of stage shows in town for more than 25 years and worked on national Broadway tours. He also has also won a Wilmington Theater Award multiple times throughout the years, and is nominated this year for his set designs for “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Cabaret.”
The public can vote on the nominees here through Feb. 11 and purchase tickets to the show here.
All nominations include:
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
Outstanding Musical Direction
- 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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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