Boston's Elliot Norton Awards Set for June 2

More than 140 nominations in over two dozen categories of outstanding actors, directors, designers, choreographers, musicians, and productions and 5 awards for visiting productions were announced today by the Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) for The 42nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards. The awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 7 PM, at The Huntington Theatre in Boston. Tickets are now on sale. For further information, visit ElliotNortonawards.com

This year's recipient of the 2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence is Kathy St. George, an acclaimed actress based in Boston, whose work has been seen in Boston, New York, nationally, and throughout New England. Special Citations will be awarded to the historic Boch Center Wang Theatre in honor of its 100th Anniversary, Apollinaire Theatre Company in honor of its 30th Anniversary, Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25th Anniversary, and Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10th Anniversary. The 2025 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award will be presented to Rehearsal for Life– and their flagship programs Urban Improv and the Freelance Players – which supports students' social-emotional growth through transformative performing arts programming that sparks joy, emphasizes community, and encourages creative expression.

Joyce Kulhawik, president of the Boston Theater Critics Association, stated, "We are now even more fiercely committed to championing our theater artists who dramatize, vocalize, visualize, synthesize, act out, dance up a storm, and speak the unspoken about what it is to be human in this world in all of its glorious DIVERSITY. This is what happens on stages every night all around Greater Boston. This is what we celebrate. This is what we need now more than ever."

The Elliot Norton Awards are presented annually by the Boston Theater Critics Association (Don Aucoin, Jules Becker, Jared Bowen, Christopher Ehlers, Joyce Kulhawik, Charles Munitz, R. Scott Reedy, Jacquinn Sinclair, Bob Verini, and Lynne Weiss; new member as of 4/1/25, Shelley Sackett) to honor the outstanding productions, directors, choreographers, designers, and performers whose work audiences have seen on Greater Boston stages throughout the season.

The Elliot Norton Awards are named for the eminent Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who remained an active supporter of drama, both locally and nationally, until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. The greater Boston theater community carries on that legacy, proud of its relentless commitment to the arts, more crucial now in the public forum than ever before.

Special and honored guests at the awards in past years comprise a Who's Who of distinguished artists whose work has appeared on Boston's stages, including: Al Pacino, Chita Rivera, Olympia Dukakis, Faye Dunaway, August Wilson, Melinda Lopez, Randy Rainbow, Cherry Jones, Lea DeLaria, Tommy Tune, Edward Albee, Brian Dennehy, Julie Harris, Sir Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, and Jason Robards Jr.

This year's recipient of The Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence is Kathy St. George. Acting professionally since 1981, she made her Broadway debut in "Fiddler on the Roof" starring Herschel Bernardi at the New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center. She also played two roles in the Tony-Award winning 1991 revival of "Fiddler" at the Gershwin Theatre, starring Topol, and directed by the legendary Jerome Robbins. Kathy made her Off-Broadway debut in "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" at the Westside Theatre. A veteran of five national tours and many regional productions, she has toured throughout the USA, Canada, Russia and Japan. In the Boston area this past year, she appeared in "A Man of No Importance" at SpeakEasy Stage, Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at the Majestic Theatre with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, "Urinetown" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" at the Lyric Stage, "Fiddler on the Roof " at North Shore Music Theatre and a New Year's Eve concert at Greater Boston Stage Company with the Firebird Pops Orchestra. In addition to the theatres listed above, she has appeared at the Charles Playhouse, Reagle Music Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Barter Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Wilbur Theatre, Actors' Playhouse, Shubert Theatre, Hanover Theatre, Publick Theatre, Rochester Opera House and the late great Stuart Street Playhouse and Copley Theatres. At the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, FL she has performed in over a dozen musicals and cabaret shows. Favorite roles/shows include Berthe in "Pippin," Peter in "Peter Pan," Judy Garland in "Dear Miss Garland," "Once," "The Full Monty," "Ruthless!," "Showboat," and "Violet." Kathy was the recipient of an Elliot Norton Award for her performance in "The Divine Sister" at SpeakEasy Stage, and two IRNE Awards for "Das Barbecu" (New Rep) and "And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Judy Garland." Member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. A Stoneham native and former second-grade teacher, she holds a B.S. and M.Ed. in Education from Salem State University.

Tickets are on sale at the Boston Theatre Scene Box Office, at Bostontheatrescene.com or by calling (617) 933-8600. For further information, visit ElliotNortonawards.com

Boston Theater Critics Association 42nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards

2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence
Kathy St. George

Special Citations
The Boch Center Wang Theatre in honor of its 100th Anniversary

Apollinaire Theatre Company in honor of its 30th Anniversary

Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25th Anniversary

Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10th Anniversary

2025 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award
Rehearsal for Life- and their flagship programs Urban Improv and the Freelance Players - which supports students' social-emotional growth through transformative performing arts programming that sparks joy, emphasizes community, and encourages creative expression.

Visiting Awardees

Outstanding Visiting Play
"Life & Times of Michael K," A Baxter Theatre Centre and Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus Production, presented by ArtsEmerson

Outstanding Visiting Musical
"Parade," presented by Emerson Colonial Theatre

Outstanding Visiting Lead Performance in a Musical
Kristin Chenoweth, "The Queen of Versailles," presented by Emerson Colonial Theatre

Outstanding Visiting Featured Performance in a Musical
Melissa Manchester, "Funny Girl," presented by Broadway In Boston

Outstanding Visiting Solo Performance
Gordon Clapp, "Robert Frost: This Verse Business," presented by Spring Pool Arts

Nominations
Outstanding Play, Large
"The Grove," The Huntington
"Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
"Sojourners," The Huntington
"Toni Stone," The Huntington
"The Winter's Tale," Commonwealth Shakespeare Company

Outstanding Play, Midsize
"Ain't No Mo'," SpeakEasy Stage and Front Porch Arts Collective
"Her Portmanteau," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
"The Hombres," Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea
"The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project
"Romeo and Juliet," Actors' Shakespeare Project

Outstanding Play, Small
"Did You Eat? (밥먹었니?)," CHUANG Stage and Seoulful Productions
"The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre
"My Dinner With André," Harbor Stage Company
"Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston
"Touching the Void," Apollinaire Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical
"Diary of a Tap Dancer," American Repertory Theater
"Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
"A Little Night Music," Sullivan Rep
"A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage
"Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Large
Jennifer Mogbock, "Toni Stone," The Huntington
Nael Nacer, "Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Joshua Olumide, "The Grove," The Huntington
Abigail C. Onwunali, "The Grove," The Huntington
Abigail C. Onwunali, "Sojourners," The Huntington

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Midsize
Jade Guerra, "Her Portmanteau," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Ricardo "Ricky" Holguin, "The Hombres," Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea
Karen MacDonald, "Pru Payne," SpeakEasy Stage
Bill Mootos, "Network," The Umbrella Stage Company
Omar Robinson, "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small
Andrey Burkovskiy, "The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre
Sehnaz Dirik, "The Lion in Winter," Theater UnCorked
Parker Jennings, "Hedda Gabler," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Robert Kropf, "My Dinner With André," Harbor Stage Company
Patrick O'Konis, "Touching the Void," Apollinaire Theatre Company

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Large
Asha Basha Duniani, "Sojourners," The Huntington
Kate Hamill, "The Odyssey," American Repertory Theater
Patrice Johnson Chevannes, "The Grove," The Huntington
Joshua Olumide, "Sojourners," The Huntington
Valyn Lyric Turner, "The Grove," The Huntington

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Midsize
Grant Evan, "Ain't No Mo'," SpeakEasy Stage and Front Porch Arts Collective
Arthur Gomez, "The Hombres," Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea
Anthony T Goss, "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project
Jade Guerra, "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project
"ranney," "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small
Lauren Elias, "Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Kody Grassett, "Touching the Void," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Deb Martin, "The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre
Brooks Reeves, "Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Laura Rocklyn, "Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Ayodele Casel, "Diary of a Tap Dancer," American Repertory Theater
Sherée Marcelle, "Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Paul Melendy, "The Drowsy Chaperone," Lyric Stage Boston
Jeremy Radin, "Fiddler on the Roof," North Shore Music Theatre
Eddie Shields, "A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Cortlandt Barrett, "Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Diego Cintrón, "Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Aimee Doherty, "A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage
Alaina Mills, "Fiddler on the Roof," North Shore Music Theatre
Solea Pfeiffer, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater

Outstanding Musical Direction
KB Bickford, "Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Wiley DeWeese and Kimberly Grigsby, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
Milton Granger, "Titanic," North Shore Music Theatre
Paul S. Katz, "A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage
Jenny Tsai, "A Little Night Music," Sullivan Rep

Outstanding Choreography
Rachel Bertone, "An American in Paris," Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Ayodele Casel, "Diary of a Tap Dancer," American Repertory Theater
Larry Sousa, "The Drowsy Chaperone," Lyric Stage Boston
Sonya Tayeh, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
Ebony Williams, "Toni Stone," The Huntington

Outstanding Director, Large
Rachel Chavkin, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
Kevin P. Hill, "Titanic," North Shore Music Theatre
Carey Perloff, "Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Dawn M. Simmons, "Sojourners," The Huntington
Awoye Timpo, "The Grove," The Huntington

Outstanding Director, Midsize
Paul Daigneault, "A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage
Christopher V. Edwards, "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project
Pascale Florestal, "Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Armando Rivera, "The Hombres," Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea
Dawn M. Simmons, "Ain't No Mo'," SpeakEasy Stage and Front Porch Arts Collective

Outstanding Director, Small
Bryn Boice, "Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Danielle Fauteux Jacques, "Hedda Gabler," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Danielle Fauteux Jacques, "Touching the Void," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Igor Golyak, "The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre
Kiki Samko, "Rosemary's Baby Jesus," Gold Dust Orphans

Outstanding Scenic Design, Large
Jason Ardizzone-West, "Sojourners," The Huntington
Jason Ardizzone-West, "The Grove," The Huntington
Yuki Izumihara and Ken MacDonald, "Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Junghyun Georgia Lee, "The Triumph of Love," The Huntington
Mimi Lien, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater

Outstanding Scenic Design, Midsize or Small
Justin Lahue, "Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Joseph Lark-Riley, "Touching the Void," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Saskia Martinez, "The SpongeBob Musical," Wheelock Family Theatre
Afsoon Pajoufar, "Network," The Umbrella Stage Company
Jon Savage, "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project

Outstanding Lighting Design, Large
Reza Behjat, "The Grove," The Huntington
Alan C. Edwards, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
Maximo Grano De Oro, "The Winter's Tale," Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, "The Odyssey," American Repertory Theater
Robert Wierzel, "Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design, Midsize or Small
Jeff Adelberg, "The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre
Isaak Olson, "The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project
Karen Perlow, "A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage
Deb Sullivan, "Romeo and Juliet," Actors' Shakespeare Project
Lawrence A. Ware, "The SpongeBob Musical," Wheelock Family Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design, Large
Alex Berg, "Titanic," North Shore Music Theatre
Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn, "The Grove," The Huntington
Lucas Clopton and Aubrey Dube, "Toni Stone," The Huntington
Tony Gayle, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
Sharath Patel, "Diary of a Tap Dancer," American Repertory Theater

Outstanding Sound Design, Midsize or Small
Gage Baker and Peter DiMaggio, "The SpongeBob Musical," Wheelock Family Theatre
Arshan Gailus, "The Fig Tree, and the Phoenix, and the Desire to Be Reborn," Boston Playwrights' Theatre
Jesse Hinson, "Romeo and Juliet," Actors' Shakespeare Project
Joseph Lark-Riley, "Touching the Void," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Fedor Zhuravlev, "The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design, Large
Fabian Fidel Aguilar, "A Christmas Carol," Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Alex Jaeger, "Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Junghyun Georgia Lee, "The Triumph of Love," The Huntington
Rachel Padula-Shufelt, "The Winter's Tale," Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Sandy Powell, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater

Outstanding Costume Design, Midsize or Small
Sasha Ageeva, "The Dybbuk," Arlekin Players Theatre
Seth Bodie, "The Drowsy Chaperone," Lyric Stage Boston
Johnny Cagno and Brian Simons, "South Pacific," Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Chloe Moore, "The SpongeBob Musical," Wheelock Family Theatre
Rachel Padula-Shufelt, "A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage

Outstanding Solo Performance
GiGi Buddie, "Where We Belong," The Umbrella Stage Company
Parker Jennings, "Every Brilliant Thing," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Zoë Kim, "Did You Eat? (밥먹었니?)," CHUANG Stage and Seoulful Productions
Cristhian Mancinas-García, "Cada Cosa Maravillosa," Apollinaire Theatre Company
Jenece Upton, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Kathryn Van Meter, "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," Merrimack Repertory Theatre

Outstanding New Script
Ayodele Casel, "Diary of a Tap Dancer," American Repertory Theater
Kate Hamill, "The Odyssey," American Repertory Theater
Zoë Kim, "Did You Eat? (밥먹었니?)," CHUANG Stage and Seoulful Productions
Martyna Majok, "Gatsby," American Repertory Theater
Mfoniso Udofia, "The Grove," The Huntington

Outstanding Ensemble
"Ain't No Mo'," SpeakEasy Stage and Front Porch Arts Collective
"Diary of a Tap Dancer," American Repertory Theater
"Fiddler on the Roof," North Shore Music Theatre
"Leopoldstadt," The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
"A Man of No Importance," SpeakEasy Stage
"Next to Normal," Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
"The Piano Lesson," Actors' Shakespeare Project
"Tartuffe," Hub Theatre Company of Boston
"Titanic," North Shore Music Theatre
"Toni Stone," The Huntington