OCTG Theatre Awards Unveils List of Nominees

Productions of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Spring Awakening,” “Such Small Hands,” “Sweat” and “Tick, Tick...BOOM!” Among This Year’s Standouts

Katie Perry Page in 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad.

Feb. 23, 2026 – Anaheim, California

On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during the OC Theatre Guild’s membership meeting, nominees for the fifth annual OCTG Theatre Awards were officially announced. Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. This year's event continues the tradition of celebrating the vibrant and diverse achievements of the theater community. 

Tickets for the 2026 OCTG Theatre Awards will go on sale March 2, 2026, at www.octheatreguild.org. A limited-time early-bird discount will be available for those who purchase tickets during the initial sales period. Nominees will receive information regarding their complimentary tickets and discounted ticket options. If nominees have not been contacted by OCTG after March 2, they are encouraged to reach out for assistance.

Awards Coordinator and Guild Vice President Kristin Campbell Coyne said, “The OCTG Theatre Awards program continues to grow in incredible ways. This year, we’ve seen 128 nominations across 22 categories, with 46 productions submitted for adjudication. The gender-neutral performance categories maintain double the nominees and multiple winners each.” Twenty-one organizations participated, with 75 voters from various theater disciplines determining the results. All votes were audited by one of our media partners, CultureOC, to ensure accuracy.

This year’s nominees reflect an exciting and competitive season across Orange County, with Chance Theater leading the charge with major recognition for “Such Small Hands,” “The Chinese Lady,” “What the Constitution Means to Me,” “Spring Awakening” and “Tick, Tick...BOOM!” Close behind, Curtis Theatre earned multiple nominations for its collaborations on “August: Osage County,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Macbeth,”and “These Shining Lives.” While Costa Mesa Playhouse made a strong showing with “Boeing Boeing,” “How I Learned to Drive,” “Sweat” and “Uncle Vanya.” Companies including Alchemy Theatre Company, American Coast Theater Company, JStage Irvine, The Larking House, Southgate Productions and STAGEStheatre also garnered significant recognition, highlighting a season marked by bold productions, standout performances and exceptional design work throughout the region.

A detailed list of nominees appears below and is also available at www.octheatreguild.org.

The OC Theatre Guild launched its awards program in 2020 to celebrate excellence in Orange County theater. “Each year, voters dedicate countless hours attending performances across the region every month throughout the season. With a diverse mix of backgrounds and disciplines, this group of theater professionals provides a rich perspective on our incredible theater scene,” said Awards Coordinator and Guild Board Member Katie Chidester. “This program is sustained by their work and commitment."

From left, Philip Brickey, Stacy Castiglione and Rob Downs in 'August: Osage County', Curtis Theatre and STAGEStheatre. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad.

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To submit a show for adjudication or apply to become a voter for next year’s OCTG Theatre Awards, visit www.octheatreguild.org/octg-awards.

OC Theatre Guild was founded in 2015 and officially organized in 2019 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) to serve Orange County’s vital artistic community with a mission to nurture, support and promote live theater in greater Orange County. That stated goal is supported by the long-held beliefs of the guild’s founders and leaders that theater and the performing arts are an essential part of what creates a healthy, passionate and multicultural society that enriches communities while providing opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment. Over the last several years, the Guild has committed to answering the question, “What can we do together that we can’t do on our own?”

Since OCTG’s inception, the following individuals and organizations have provided support: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Amanda DeMaio, Capital Group Foundation, CA Relief Program, Charitable Ventures of OC, Craig Tyrl, Tod White, Matthew Takahashi, NumbersSW, Zaradich Law, Matt Takahashi, Facebook Foundation, The Walt Disney Company Foundation, Andrea G. La Vela, Michelle Miller-Day, Jordan R. Young, Wade Williamson, Orange County Department of Education, Laura Hathaway, Andrea Freeman, Kristin Campbell Coyne, Nicolas Thiery, Richard Stein, The Blackbaud Giving Fund, April Skinner, Patrick Mannion, Aja Bell, Debra Wondercheck, Tim Hume, Nicholas Thurkettle, Rose London, Gene Rogers, Rob Greenfield, Amanda Zarr, Barney Evans, Christopher Reilly, Elizabeth Jouvenat, Michael Hornyak, Sara M. Guerrero, Stephen Peeler, Tommie Kozlov, Eric Eberwein, Jocelyn Buckner, Chris Sumpter, Crystal Phillips, Emily Brauer Rogers, Howard Bernstein, Virginia Featherstone, Wendy Colon, D. Hammer, Candyce Marto-Maedel, Cindy O’Dell, Desiree Nguyen, Jill Cary Martin, Patricia Zantos, Amber Scott, Sharyn Case, Katherine Chidester, Scott A. Keister, Amazon Foundation, David Zelhart, Glenn Griffin, Maddi Deckard, Neil Middleton, Frances Riggs, Patrick Chavis, Aleksandr Iakovlev and Cheryl Prevor.

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2025 Season Nominees

Outstanding Production of a Play

• “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

• “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Chance Theater

Outstanding Production of a Musical

• “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• “The Slow Drag,” Ophelia's Jump Productions

• “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

• “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

From left, Elijah Munck, Scott Roberts, Dyan Hobday-Smith, Rachel Williams and Kristin Cortines in 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' American Coast Theater Company. Photo courtesy of Bella Chrastina and Amanda Fagan.

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play

• “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” The Larking House

• “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• “These Shining Lives,” Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre

• “Uncle Vanya,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical

• “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• “Bye Bye Birdie,” No Square Theatre

• “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

• “She Loves Me,” Yorba Linda Spotlight Players

• “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play

• Amberlin Morse (Cynthia), “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Aubrey Saverino (Heidi), “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Chance Theater

• Bryce Johnson (Chris), “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Coleman Blue Summers (Brutus), “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” The Larking House

• Jason Cook (Mr. Jack Manningham), “Angel Street,” Westminster Community Playhouse

• Kelly Franett (Pastor Paul), “The Christians,” The Wayward Artist

• Michelle Krusiec (Afong Moy), “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

• Rose London (Violet Weston), “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• Stacy Castiglione (Barbara Fordham), “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• Stacy Castiglione (Tracey), “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical

• Brandon Sanchez (Barry Mann), “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Caitlin Lopez (Johnny Christmas), “The Slow Drag,” Ophelia's Jump Productions

• Corydon Melgoza (Melchior), “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Danielle Heaton (Cynthia Weil), “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Grace Buzzini (June Wedding), “The Slow Drag,” Ophelia's Jump Productions

• Isabella Feeney (Cinderella), “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company

• Katie Perry Page (Carole King), “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Kristin Cortines (Cecily Cardew), “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

• Luc Clopton (Jon), “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Scott Roberts (Algernon Moncrieff), “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play

• Albert Park (Atung), “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

• Bruce Goodrich (Paul), “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• Darri Kristin (Jessie), “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Frank Bishop (Brucie), “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Genevieve Kauper (Charlotte), “These Shining Lives,” Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre

• Jeff Lowe (Long John Silver), “Treasure Island,” Alchemy Theatre Company

• Juliet Fischer (Marie), “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• Micah Munck (Biff Loman), “Death of a Salesman,” American Coast Theater Company

• Neil Switzer (Stan), “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Robert Foran (Legionnaire), “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Chance Theater

From left, Juliet Fischer and Bruce Goodrich in 'Such Small Hands,' Chance Theater. Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller.

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical

• Andrew Hong (Arpad), “She Loves Me,” Yorba Linda Spotlight Players

• Dyan Hobday-Smith (Lady Bracknell), “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

• Erica Farnsworth (Adult Woman), “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• James Michael McHale (Adult Man), “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Jaylen Baham (Otto), “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Jeff Lowe (Narrator/Mysterious Man), “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company

• Lena Ceja (Susan), “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Mario Houle (Michael), “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Reese Chavez (Ilona), “She Loves Me,” Yorba Linda Spotlight Players

• Sammy Spiegler (Natalie), “Next to Normal,” Cabrillo Playhouse

Outstanding Direction of a Play

• Amanda DeMaio, “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• Katie Chidester, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Chance Theater

• Matthew McCray, “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• Peter Kreder, “How I Learned to Drive,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Shinshin Yuder Tsai, “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

• H. Adam Harris, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Jocelyn A. Brown, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Jonathan Infante and Tara Pitt, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Karen Rymar, “Bye Bye Birdie,” No Square Theatre

• Susan K. Berkompas, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

Outstanding Choreography

• Anthony Tuason, “Rent,” Z Playhouse

• Kelsie Blackwell, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Mo Goodfellow, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Niko Montelibano, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Sabrina Harper, “Bye Bye Birdie,” No Square Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction

• Gabrielle Maldonado, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Gabrielle Maldonado, “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company

• Jared Scott, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” American Coast Theater Company

• Lex Leigh, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Robyn Manion, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

From left, Luc Clopton and Mario Houle in 'Tick, Tick... BOOM!' at Chance Theater. Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller.

Outstanding Costume Design

• Bradley Allen Lock, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Bruce Goodrich, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Haven Hanson, “Cinderella,” JStage Irvine

• Loralee Barlow Boyes, “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company

• Nicholas Hirata, “Boeing Boeing,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

Outstanding Lighting Design

• Azra King-Abadi, “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• Jacqueline Malenke, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Jacqueline Malenke, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Kara Ramlow, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Chance Theater

• Masako Tobaru, “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

Outstanding Scenic Design

• Christopher Scott Murillo, “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

• Fred Kinney and Mio Okada, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Ganymede Projects, “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• Jon Gaw, “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• Michael Serna, “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

Outstanding Sound Design

• Darryl B. Hovis, “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

• Hunter Moody, “Tick,Tick...BOOM!,” Chance Theater

• Jesse Mandapat, “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

• Kris Kataoka, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Chance Theater

• Lia Weed, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

Outstanding Projection Design

• Francis Gacad, “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• James Tran, “Bye Bye Birdie,” No Square Theatre

• Jonathan Infante, “These Shining Lives,” Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre

• Mark Tillman, “How I Learned to Drive,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

• Matthew McCray, “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater

Outstanding Prop Design

• Amanda DeMaio, “August: Osage County,” STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre

• Amanda Hallman and Colin Lawrence, “These Shining Lives,” Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre

• Bebe Herrera, “The Chinese Lady,” Chance Theater

• Kerri Hellmuth, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions

• Michael Cohen, “Sweat,” Costa Mesa Playhouse

From left, Darri Kristin, Amberlin Morse and Stacy Castiglione in 'Sweat,' at Costa Mesa Playhouse. Photo courtesy of Michael Serna.

Outstanding Fight Direction

• David Rodriguez, “Macbeth,” The Larking House and Curtis Theatre

• Martin Noyes, “Spring Awakening,” Chance Theater

• Matthew M. Hayashi, “Sentences,” The Larking House

Outstanding Wig/Hair Design

• Cynthia Wilson, “Cinderella,” JStage Irvine

• Haven Hanson, “The Sound of Music,” JStage Irvine

• Jeff Weeks, “Little Women: The Musical,” Yorba Linda Spotlight Players

• Jeff Weeks, “She Loves Me,” Yorba Linda Spotlight Players

• Sean Arnold, “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company

Outstanding Makeup Design

• Genevieve Kauper, “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” The Larking House

• Genevieve Kauper, “Sentences,” The Larking House

• Haven Hanson, “The Sound of Music,” JStage Irvine

• Jiana-Marie Perez, “Cinderella,” JStage Irvine

• Sean Arnold, “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company

Notable Outstanding Achievement

• Adam Szymkowicz, “Such Small Hands,” Chance Theater, playwright

• Josh Causley, “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” The Larking House, composer

• Matthew M. Hayashi, “Sentences,” The Larking House, playwright

• Roxanna Ward, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” No Square Theatre, composer

• Sean Arnold, “Into the Woods,” Alchemy Theatre Company, puppet designer