2026 ARTIE AWARD NOMINATIONS

35^th Annual Artie Awards

The Artie Awards, honoring excellence in Western New York theater, are scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2026 at Asbury Hall at 341 Delaware Avenue – that’s Babeville. The doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. Maria Pedro, Jake Hayes, and Anthony Chase are the hosts.  Joe Isgar is the music director. Tickets are $30 and will become available on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Proceeds go to local AIDS charities.

The 2026 Artie Award Nominations

Outstanding Production of a Play

• The Book of Will – Road Less Traveled Productions

• The Cottage – Alleyway Theatre

• Hedda Gabler – D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre

• On A First Name Basis – Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre

• Sheltered – Jewish Repertory Theatre

• A Skull in Connemara – Irish Classical Theatre Company

Outstanding Production of a Musical

• Come from Away – MusicalFare

• Crazy For You – Lancaster Opera House

• Dreamgirls – Ansari/Saxon Productions

• Ghost Brothers of Darkland County – Road Less Traveled Productions

• Islander – Irish Classical Theatre Company

• Mamma Mia! – Second Generation Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Play

• Mike Doben – The Girl in the Washroom (BUA / First Look Buffalo Theatre Company)

• Lara D. Haberberger – Gidion’s Knot (Brazen-Faced Varlets)

• John Hurley – The Book of Will (RLTP)

• Matthew LaChiusa – Irish Play (ART)

• Kyle LoConti – Sheltered (JRT)

• Steve Vaughan – Conscience (JRT)

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

• Chris Kelly – White Christmas (MusicalFare)

• Randall Kramer – Come from Away (MusicalFare)

• Daniel F. Lendzian – Shrek (O’Connell & Co)

• Lisa Ludwig – Mamma Mia! (Second Generation Theatre)

• Jessica Hillman McCord – Islander (ICTC)

• Doug Weyand – Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (RLTP)

Outstanding Music Direction

• Matt Caputy – Ghost Brothers of Darkland County

• Joe Isgar – Penelope

• Allen Paglia – Urinetown

• Theresa Quinn – Come from Away

• Karen Saxon – Dreamgirls

• Stephen Schapero – Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Outstanding Choreography

• Joey Bucheker – Curtains (O’Connell & Co)

• Naila Ansari Carbonell Catilo – Dreamgirls (Ansari/Saxon Productions)

• Kristy Cavanagh – Urinetown (Second Generation Theatre)

• Michael Deeb Weaver – Mamma Mia! (Second Generation Theatre)

• Eric Deeb Weaver – Hairspray (MusicalFare)

• Michael Oliver Walline – Jesus Christ Superstar (MusicalFare)

Outstanding Ensemble of a Play

• The Book of Will – Road Less Traveled Productions

• The Brothers Size – Ujima Theatre Company

• Conscience.– Jewish Repertory Theatre

• The Cottage – Alleyway Theatre

• Exit Strategy – Road Less Traveled Productions

• Sheltered – Jewish Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble of a Musical

• Between the Lines, Bellissima

• Godspell – Ujima Theatre Company

• Shrek – O’Connell & Company

• String – D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre

• Urinetown – Second Generation Theatre

• White Christmas – MusicalFare Theatre

 Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play

• Chris Avery – Richard III

• Robert Creighton – A Skull in Connemara

• Rick Lattimer – Preservation

• Jordan Levin – Just for Us

• Cory McCants – The Brothers Size

• Peter Palmisano – On a First Name Basis

Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play

• Paige Cummings – The Girl in the Washroom

• Josie DiVincenzo – Conscience

• Rebecca Elkin – Sheltered

• Sabrina Kahwaty Garcia – The Laughing Troll Café

• Kate LoConti‑Alcocer – Hedda Gabler

• Aleks Malejs – Thirst

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

• Brendan Didio – A Skull in Connemara

• Peter Johnson – Thirst

• Stan Klimecko – Things with Friends

• Dave Spychalski – The Game of Love and Chance

• Michael Starzynski – Irish Play

• Nick Stevens – Conscience

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

• Kristin Bentley – Mr. Wolf

• Diane DiBernardo – Exit Strategy

• VerNia Sharisse Garvin – Twelfth Night

• Pamela Rose Mangus – A Skull in Connemara

• Shanntina Moore – Things with Friends

• Maria Pedro – Sheltered

Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical

• Tiger Brown – Jesus Christ Superstar

• George L. Brown – Dreamgirls

• Louis Colaiacovo – Hairspray

• Nicholas Lama – Curtains

• Quinn McGillion – Jesus Christ Superstar

• Marc Sacco – Urinetown

Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical

• Dasia Cervi – Dreamgirls

• Kelly Copps – Mamma Mia!

• Amy Jakiel – Penelope

• Kayla McSorley – Islander

• Michele Marie Roberts – Come from Away

• Audrianna Yates – Shrek

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Bobby Cooke – Crazy for You

• Augustus Donaldson – Dreamgirls

• Phil Farugia – Mamma Mia!

• Jake Hayes – Shrek

• Austin Marshall – Hairspray

• Matt Witten – Ghost Brothers of Darkland County

  
  

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Arin Lee Dandes – Urinetown

• Anna Fernandez – Crazy for You

• Mary Coppola Gjurich – White Christmas

• Bethany Moore – Mamma Mia!

• Debbie Pappas Sham – Come from Away

• Alexandria Watts – Come from Away

Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role

• Michael Blasdell – Pure Glitter

• Joey Bucheker – Shrek

• Nicole Cimato – Lucky Stiff

• Kevin Craig – Twelfth Night

• Jeremy Kreuzer – The Book of Will

• Kate Olena – Precious Little

Outstanding Costume Design

• Ann R. Emo – A Christmas Carol

• Phylicia Robinson Dove – Dreamgirls

• Kari Drozd – Sheltered

• Collin Ranney – Game of Love and Chance 

• Ken Shaw – Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas

• Todd Warfield – The Book of Will

Emanuel Fried Award for New Play

• Ian Downes – Retail Horror

• Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola – The Laughing Troll Café

• Daniel F. Lendzian – A Christmas Carol

• Bella Poynton – The Girl in the Washroom 

• John Snodgrass – Ready, Set, Rerun 

Outstanding Set Design

• Primo Thomas – Crocodile Fever

• Collin Ranney – A Skull in Connemara

• J. Marc Quattlebaum – The Game of Love and Chance

• Dyan Burlingame – The Book of Will

• Hyla Stellhorn – Islander

• Chris Cavanagh – Mamma Mia!

Outstanding Technical Element

• Chris Cavanagh – Projections, Conscience

• Diane Almeter Jones – Props, A Skull in Connemara

• J. Marc Quattlebaum – Puppet, Crocodile Fever

• Nicholas Quinn – Sound, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County

• John Rickus – Lighting, Mr. Wolf

• Emma Schimminger – Lighting/Sound, A Christmas Carol

2026 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE – Brian Cavanagh

TICKETS BECOME AVAILABLE ON TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026