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 42^nd 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.

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 100^th Anniversary
Apollinaire Theatre Company in honor of its 30^th Anniversary
Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25^th Anniversary
Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10^th 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

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 100^th Anniversary, Apollinaire Theatre Company in honor of its 30^th Anniversary, Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25^th Anniversary, and Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10^th 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.