Austin Theatre Critics Awards Announces 2026 Nominees, Ceremony Move, by Michael Barnes, Austin Statesman

Austin Theatre Critics Awards announces 2026 nominees, ceremony move

Nominations honor Zach, Alchemy, Summer Stock, Ground Floor, Hyde Park, other theaters

By Michael Barnes, Austin Statesman

May 14, 2026

 

 

While earlier this month, the 2026 Heller Awards for Young Artists shuttled from the Long Center to Bass Concert, the 2026 Austin Theatre Critics Awards will move from the 04 Center to the historic State Theatre at 7 p.m. on June 8, the night after the Tony Awards ceremony. 

 

Launched last season by ATX Theatre, a nonprofit group that links together the Austin area’s theatrical producers, artists and audiences, the critics’ nominations were shared by dozens of companies. Leaders among those were Ground Floor Theatre, Zach Theatre, The Alchemy Theatre, Hyde Park Theatre, Summer Stock Austin, Austin Playhouse, The Hidden Room, Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project, The Vortex and Penfold Theatre.

 

Zach led the nominations with 14. Ground Floor earned 11; Alchemy and Summer Stock Austin had 10; Hyde Park Theatre and Hidden Room had six.

 

This year, the voting critics combined nominations for performers in leading and supporting roles, without reducing the number of winners.

 

The move to the State Theatre was facilitated by Austin Theatre Alliance, which in June will close the Paramount Theatre for renovations that include the addition of new seats. When that project is done, the group will turn its attention next door to the art-deco State, which will be completely transformed into a livelier venue. 

 

 

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

 

Outstanding 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 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 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 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

 

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 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 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 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

“Fire Raisers,” The Hidden Room

“I Wanna Be a (Expletive) Princess,” Ground Floor Theatre

“Reefer Madness,” ACC Drama

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Penfold Theatre

 

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

 

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

 

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 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 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