WILMINGTON — In its 12th year, the Wilmington Theater Awards is slated to take place in March and has announced more than 100 nominees this year.
The awards are presented by the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County and will take place at Thalian Hall on March 26, 7 p.m. Hosting this year are Chad and Teri Hsu, with performances from nominees. Attendees can walk the red carpet at 6 p.m.
Carrying the most nominees this year in the musical category is Opera House Theatre Co.’s “Beautiful,” with 10 nominations, while the most nominated play was Big Dawg Productions’ “Death of a Salesman.” Thalian Association Community Theater led with 27 total nominations out of all 14 theater companies securing recognition.
Also part of the 2025 celebrations is the annual Lela Thompson Award for Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater Award. It will be presented to Steve Vernon, artistic director of Big Dawg Productions. Vernon also has received an outstanding actor in a play for his role in “The Real Inspector Hound.”
Many nominees in the theater community received multiple nominations this year, such as Heather Setlzer, who received both supporting actress in a play and a musical, Christopher Dean for sound design, Debbie Scheu for costume design, and Logan Hayes for director of a musical and choreography.
Tickets can be purchased through Thalian Hall. All the nominees are below and voting is open here through Feb. 13.
Outstanding Musical
- “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Outstanding Play
- “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
- “Shining City,” Sihr Theatre
- “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
- “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
Outstanding Original Production
- “Laughing in the Dark,” Pineapple-Shaped Lamps
- “Night of the Living Dead” by Chase Harrison, Big Dawg Productions
- “Ten-Minute Miscellany,” Port City Playwrights
- “Shakers Revised” by Rose-Mary Harrington, Harrington Repertory
- “Wherefore Art Thou,” Theatre for All
Outstanding Director (Musical)
- Chandler Davis, “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Logan Hayes, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Anthony Lawson, “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Justin Smith, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Suellen Yates, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Outstanding Director (Play)
- Tony-Elias Choufani, “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
- Randy Davis, “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
- Terri Hsu and Steve Vernon, “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
- Stoney B. Mootoo, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Elizabeth Wellman, “Everybody,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
Outstanding Musical Direction
- Amanda Clawges, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Bettsy Curtis, “Head Over Heels,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
- Sherome Amoire Clay, “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
- Denice Hopper and Linda Carlisle Markas, “Godspell,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Brian Whitted, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Outstanding Choreography
- Kevin Lee-Y Green and Luc Pages, “Mean Girls,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Logan Hayes, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Carson Hobbs, “Annie,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Samantha Ray Mifsud, “White Christmas,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Timothy Mills, “Godspell,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Outstanding Set Design
- Michael Allen, “Rumors,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
- Terry Collins, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Randall Enlow, “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Benedict Fancy, “Steel Magnolias,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Ashley Flowers, “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design
- David Casteneda, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Andrew Fisher, “Godspell,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Hannah Funderburke, “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Cole Marquis, “Night of the Living Dead,” Big Dawg Productions
- Joshua Zieseniss, “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
- Stephanie Aman and Debbie Scheu, “White Christmas,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Melanie Hodge, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Debbie Scheu, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Mark Sorenson, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
- Terrill Williams, “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
Outstanding Sound Design
- Jason Aycock (Foley) and Ethan Golden, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Christopher Dean, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Christopher Dean, “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Ethan Golden, “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Max Lydy, “Everybody,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
Outstanding Actress (Musical)
- Sydney Smith Martin as Lizzie Borden in “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Meghan McDonald as Inga in “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Holli Saperstein as Golde in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Lyndsey Schroeder as Carole King in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Hallie-Claire Weems as Sandy Cheeks in “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Outstanding Actor (Musical)
- Kaleb Edley as The Beast in “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Kellen Hanson as Phil Davis in “White Christmas,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Connor Perry as SpongeBob in “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Jamey Stone as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Mathis Turner as Gerry Goffin in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Musical)
- Rayana D. Briggs as Penny in “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
- Coleman Cox as Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Kendra Goehring as Cynthia Weil in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Heather Setzler as Emma Borden in “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Lily Zukerman as Maggie in “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Outstanding Supporting Actor (Musical)
- Jon Berry as Barry Mann in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Gregory Devon Brown as Lester in “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
- Luc Pages as Damian in “Mean Girls,” Panache Theatrical Productions
- Mathis Turner as Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Cole Warren as Igor in “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Outstanding Actress (Play)
- Madisyn Fleming as Shelby in “Steel Magnolias,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Tamica Katzmann as Logan in “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
- Elizabeth Montgomery as Chris Gorman in “Rumors,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
- Ricki Nelson as Daughter in “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery,” Cleod Nine Productions
- Natasha Yvette Williams as Linda Loman in “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Outstanding Actor (Play)
- Brendan Carter as John in “Shining City,” Sihr Theatre
- Chad Hsu as Richard Hannay in “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
- Fracaswell Hyman as Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Luke Robbins as Isaac in “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
- Steve Vernon as Birdboot in “The Real Inspector Hound,” Big Dawg Productions
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Play)
- Anna Gamel Huber as multiple characters in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Big Dawg Productions
- Elizabeth Michaels as Clairee in “Steel Magnolias,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Maya Noor as Neasa in “Shining City,” Sihr Theatre
- Alaina Olsen as Alicia in “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
- Heather Setzler as Clown 2 in “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
Outstanding Supporting Actor (Play)
- Dontonio Demarco as Biff in “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Devin DiMattia as Simon Gascoyne in “The Real Inspector Hound,” Big Dawg Productions
- Louie Johnson as Max in “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
- Victor Rodriguez as George Zimmerman in “The Ballad of George Zimmerman” from “Scotopia: Short Plays to Help You See in the Dark,” Mouths of Babes Theatre
- Brett Sicola as multiple characters in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Big Dawg Productions
Outstanding Newcomer
- Josh Avery, “Night of the Living Dead,” Big Dawg Productions
- Jennifer Frankel, “Annie,” Opera House Theatre Co.
- Madisyn Fleming, “Steel Magnolias” (Thalian Association), “Beautiful” (Opera House), “Scotopia” (MOB)
- Stephanie Hall, “Mama Won’t Fly” and “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas,” Brunswick Little Theatre
- Ricki Nelson, “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery,” Cleod Nine Productions
- Calvin Rowell, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.Deven Ruane, “Fireflies” and “Proof,” Brunswick Little Theatre
- Marlon Weems, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
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