\ud83c\udfad NEW! Los Angeles Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during the OC Theatre Guild<\/a>\u2019s membership meeting, nominees for the fifth annual OCTG Theatre Awards were officially announced.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfad NEW! Los Angeles Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Awards Coordinator and Guild Vice President Kristin Campbell Coyne said, \u201cThe OCTG Theatre Awards program continues to grow in incredible ways. This year, we\u2019ve 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.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n OCTG Theatre Awards 2026: Full List of Nominees<\/p>\n Outstanding Production of a Play Outstanding Production of a Musical Outstanding Ensemble in a Play Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical Outstanding Supporting\u00a0Performance in a Play Outstanding Supporting\u00a0Performance in a Musical Outstanding\u00a0Direction of a\u00a0Play Outstanding\u00a0Direction of a Musical Outstanding Choreography Outstanding Music Direction Outstanding Costume Design Outstanding Lighting\u00a0Design Outstanding Scenic\u00a0Design Outstanding Sound\u00a0Design Outstanding Projection\u00a0Design Outstanding Prop\u00a0Design
\nAugust: Osage County, STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nThe Chinese Lady, Chance Theater
\nSuch Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nSweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nWhat the Constitution Means to Me, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nBeautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical, Curtis Theatre\u00a0and Southgate Productions
\nThe Slow Drag, Ophelia’s Jump Productions
\nThe Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company
\nSpring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nTick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nAugust: Osage County, STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nThe Tragedy of Julius Caesar, The Larking House
\nSweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nThese Shining Lives,\u00a0Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre
\nUncle Vanya, Costa Mesa Playhouse<\/p>\n
\nBeautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical,\u00a0Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nBye Bye Birdie, No Square Theatre
\nThe Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company
\nShe Loves Me, Yorba Linda Spotlight Players
\nSpring Awakening, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nAmberlin Morse (Cynthia) | Sweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nAubrey Saverino (Heidi) | What the Constitution Means to Me, Chance Theater
\nBryce Johnson (Chris) | Sweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nColeman Blue Summers (Brutus) | The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, The Larking House
\nJason Cook<\/a> (Mr. Jack Manningham) | Angel Street, Westminster Community Playhouse
\nKelly Franett (Pastor Paul) | The Christians, The Wayward Artist
\nMichelle Krusiec<\/a> (Afong Moy) | The Chinese Lady, Chance Theater
\nRose London (Violet Weston) | August: Osage County, STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nStacy Castiglione (Barbara Fordham<\/a>) | August: Osage County, STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nStacy Castiglione\u00a0(Tracey) | Sweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse<\/p>\n
\nBrandon Sanchez<\/a>\u00a0(Barry Mann<\/a>) | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical, Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nCaitlin Lopez (Johnny Christmas) | The Slow Drag, Ophelia’s Jump Productions
\nCorydon Melgoza (Melchior) | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nDanielle Heaton (Cynthia Weil<\/a>) | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical, Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nGrace Buzzini (June Wedding) | The Slow Drag,\u00a0Ophelia’s Jump Productions
\nIsabella Feeney (Cinderella) | Into the Woods, Alchemy Theatre Company
\nKatie Perry<\/a> Page (Carole King<\/a>) | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical, Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nKristin Cortines (Cecily Cardew) | The Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company
\nLuc Clopton (Jon) | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nScott Roberts<\/a>\u00a0(Algernon Moncrieff) | The Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company<\/p>\n
\nAlbert Park (Atung) | The Chinese Lady, Chance Theater
\nBruce Goodrich<\/a> (Paul) | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nDarri Kristin<\/a> (Jessie) | Sweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nFrank Bishop (Brucie) | Sweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nGenevieve Kauper (Charlotte) |\u00a0These Shining Lives, Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre
\nJeff Lowe<\/a> (Long John Silver) | Treasure Island, Alchemy Theatre Company
\nJuliet Fischer<\/a> (Marie) | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nMicah Munck (Biff Loman) | Death of a Salesman, American Coast Theater Company
\nNeil Switzer (Stan) | Sweat, Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nRobert Foran<\/a> (Legionnaire) | What the Constitution Means to Me, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nAndrew Hong (Arpad) | She Loves Me, Yorba Linda Spotlight Players
\nDyan Hobday-Smith (Lady Bracknell) | The Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company
\nErica Farnsworth (Adult Woman) | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nJames Michael McHale (Adult Man) | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nJaylen Baham\u00a0(Otto) |\u00a0Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nJeff Lowe<\/a> (Narrator\/Mysterious Man) | Into the Woods, Alchemy Theatre Company
\nLena Ceja (Susan) | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nMario Houle (Michael) | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nReese Chavez (Ilona) | She Loves Me, Yorba Linda Spotlight Players
\nSammi Spiegler\u00a0(Natalie) | Next to Normal, Cabrillo Playhouse<\/p>\n
\nAmanda DeMaio | August: Osage County, STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nKatie Chidester | What the Constitution Means to Me, Chance Theater
\nMatthew McCray<\/a> | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nPeter Kreder | How I Learned to Drive,\u00a0Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nShinshin Yuder Tsai\u00a0| The Chinese Lady, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nH. Adam Harris\u00a0| Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nJocelyn A. Brown\u00a0| Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nJonathan Infante<\/a> and Tara Pitt | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical,\u00a0Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nKaren Rymar | Bye Bye Birdie,\u00a0No Square Theatre
\nSusan K. Berkompas | The Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company<\/p>\n
\nAnthony Tuason | Rent, Z Playhouse
\nKelsie Blackwell | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical,\u00a0Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nMo Goodfellow | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nNiko Montelibano | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nSabrina Harper<\/a>\u00a0| Bye Bye Birdie,\u00a0No Square Theatre<\/p>\n
\nGabrielle Maldonado | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical,\u00a0Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nGabrielle Maldonado | Into the Woods,\u00a0Alchemy Theatre Company
\nJared Scott<\/a> | The Importance of Being Earnest, American Coast Theater Company
\nLex Leigh | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nRobyn\u00a0Manion\u00a0| Spring Awakening,\u00a0Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nBradley Allen Lock | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nBruce Goodrich<\/a> | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nHaven Hanson | Cinderella, JStage Irvine
\nLoralee Barlow Boyes | Into the Woods,\u00a0Alchemy Theatre Company
\nNicholas Hirata | Boeing Boeing,\u00a0Costa Mesa Playhouse<\/p>\n
\nAzra King-Abadi<\/a> | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nJacqueline Malenke | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nJacqueline Malenke | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater
\nKara Ramlow | What the Constitution Means to Me,\u00a0Chance Theater
\nMasako Tobaru | The Chinese Lady,\u00a0Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nChristopher Scott<\/a> Murillo\u00a0| The Chinese Lady,\u00a0Chance Theater
\nFred Kinney<\/a> and Mio Okada | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nGanymede Projects | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nJon Gaw | August: Osage County,\u00a0STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nMichael Serna | Sweat,\u00a0Costa Mesa Playhouse<\/p>\n
\nDarryl B. Hovis | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater
\nHunter Moody | Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Chance Theater
\nJesse Mandapat<\/a> | The Chinese Lady,\u00a0Chance Theater
\nKris Kataoka | What the Constitution Means to Me,\u00a0Chance Theater
\nLia Weed | Spring Awakening, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nFrancis Gacad | Sweat,\u00a0Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nJames Tran | Bye Bye Birdie, No Square Theatre
\nJonathan Infante<\/a> | These Shining Lives,\u00a0Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre
\nMark Tillman | How I Learned to Drive,\u00a0Costa Mesa Playhouse
\nMatthew McCray<\/a> | Such Small Hands, Chance Theater<\/p>\n
\nAmanda\u00a0DeMaio\u00a0| August: Osage County,\u00a0STAGEStheatre and Curtis Theatre
\nAmanda Hallman and Colin Lawrence | These Shining Lives,\u00a0Begins and Ends with ‘A’ Productions and Curtis Theatre
\nBebe Herrera | The Chinese Lady,\u00a0Chance Theater
\nKerri Hellmuth | Beautiful: The Carole King<\/a> Musical,\u00a0Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions
\nMichael Cohen<\/a> | Sweat,\u00a0Costa Mesa Playhouse<\/p>\n