The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle is pleased to announce the nominees for their 49th Excellence in Theatre Awards for 2025.

 

 

The awards will be presented on March 30, 2026 at the Victoria Theatre in San Francisco.

 

Every effort has been made to ensure proper spelling of names and correct production attribution.

Please email any requests for edits to mrhjduke@gmail.com.

  Choreography  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Jenny Boynton & Katie Wickes Cabaret Marin Musical Theatre Company
Katherine Cooper Catch Me If You Can: The Musical Masquers Playhouse
Marilyn Izdebski Matilda the Musical Novato Theater Company
Erika Chong Shuch Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
Latanya d. Tigner Les Blancs Oakland Theater Project
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Reba Gilbert Chicago Teen Edition 142 Throckmorton
Nicole Helfer My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Juel D. Lane Co-Founders American Conservatory Theater
Bridgette Loriaux The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time San Francisco Playhouse
Shelley McDowell Grease Altarena Playhouse
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Kevin Gruwell Jesus Christ Superstar Berkeley Playhouse
Christina Lazo 9 to 5: the Musical Ray of Light Theatre
Bridgette Loriaux A Midsummer Night's Dream Marin Shakespeare Company
Steph Paul Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Michael Saenz Gypsy Palo Alto Players
     
     
  Costume Design  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Tammy Berlin Dada Teen Musical: The Play Central Works
Callie Floor Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word for Word
Fiona Nichols Mrs. Krishnan's Party Marin Theatre
Ashley Renee Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
Pamela Rodriguez- Montero It’s True, It’s True, It’s True Marin Theatre
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Madeline Berger Sunday in the Park with George Shotgun Players
Abra Berman My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Lee Garber-Patel Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Pamela Rodriguez-Montero Sally & Tom Marin Theatre
Maggie Whitaker Waste Marin Theatre
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Alina Bokovikova Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Jill C. Bowers Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley/CenterREP
Sarita P Fellows Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Donnie Frank Into the Woods Spreckels Theatre Company
Jenny Garcia Jersey Boys Palo Alto Players
     
     
  Lighting Design  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Chris Beer The Art of Murder Pear Theatre
Jim Cave Annunciation Word for Word
Jim Cave Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word for Word
Gary Graves Push/Pull Central Works
Ashley Munday Other Desert Cities Masquers Playhouse
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Kate Boyd Waste Marin Theatre
Stephanie Anne Johnson Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Christian V. Mejia The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time San Francisco Playhouse
Gabriel Rodriguez Art Shotgun Players
Jeff Rowlings Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Russell H. Champa Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Lap Chi Chu The Thing About Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Kurt Landisman Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Kurt Landisman Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley/CenterREP
Christian V. Mejia Next to Normal Ray of Light Theatre
     
     
  Set Design  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Suzanne Daniel Other Desert Cities Masquers Playhouse
Bruce Lackovic Bad Seed 6th Street Playhouse
Joseph Nemeth Push/Pull Central Works
Jacqueline Scott Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word for Word
John Veryyt Mrs. Krishnan's Party Marin Theatre
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Nina Ball Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Nina Ball My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Richard Olmsted Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
Arnel Sandianco Waste Marin Theatre
Randy Wong-Westbrooke Art Shotgun Players
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Jason Ardizzone-West Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Nina Ball Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Nina Ball The Tempest Marin Shakespeare Company
Robert Brill Uncle Vanya Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Derek McLane The Thing About Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
     
     
  Sound Design  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Lia Kelly Mrs. Krishnan’s Party Marin Theatre
Gregory Scharpen Dada Teen Musical: The Play Central Works
Gregory Scharpen The Last Goat Central Works
Tina Vo The Art of Murder Pear Theatre
Drew Yerys Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word for Word
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Ray Archie Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
James Ard Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play San Francisco Playhouse
James Ard The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time San Francisco Playhouse
Dan Holland Into the Woods San Francisco Playhouse
Jeff Mockus Plaza Suite Hillbarn Theatre
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Cliff Caruthers Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Jessica Johnson Into the Woods Spreckels Theatre Company
Daniel Kluger The Thing About Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Jessica Paz Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Jake Rodriguez Mother of Exiles Berkeley Repertory Theatre
     
     
  Projection Design  
     
Frédéric O. Boulay Co-Founders American Conservatory Theater
Teddy Hulsker Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
Lucy Mackinnon The Thing About Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Michael O'Brien Other Desert Cities Masquers Playhouse
Sarah Phykitt The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time San Francisco Playhouse
     
     
  Specialties  
     
Christine Adaire, Dialect Coach Waste Marin Theatre
Karen S. Leonard, Props Design The Cake City Lights Theater Company
Renee Mannequin, Props Design Les Blancs Oakland Theater Project
Y. Sharon Peng, Wig & Hair Design Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
David Richardson, Video Content Designer Co-Founders American Conservatory Theater
     
     
  Original Script  
     
Harry Davis Push/Pull Central Works
Gary Graves The Last Goat Central Works
Ron Rash Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word for Word
Ashley Robinson Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Maury Zeff Dada Teen Musical: The Play Central Works
     
     
  Original Music  
     
Gaby Alter Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Paul Finocchiaro Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word for Word
Min Kahng Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley/CenterREP
Dan Gillespie Sells (music), Shakina (lyrics) Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Victoria Theodore Co-Founders American Conservatory Theater
     
     
  Music Direction  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Ray Archer, Werd Pace Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
Camden Daly Catch Me If You Can: The Musical Masquers Playhouse
Debra Lambert Twelfth Night Los Altos Stage Company
Daniel Savio Cabaret Marin Musical Theatre Company
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Dave Dobrusky Into the Woods San Francisco Playhouse
Dave Dobrusky My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Aja Gianola A Night with Janis Joplin Sonoma Arts Live
Diana Lee Fly By Night Hillbarn Theatre
David Möschler Sunday in the Park with George Shotgun Players
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Jad Bernardo Next to Normal Ray of Light Theatre
Jad Bernardo 9 to 5: the Musical Ray of Light Theatre
Jane Cardona Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Lucas Sherman Into the Woods Spreckels Theatre Company
Jacob Yates Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
     
     
  Stage Direction  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Gary Graves Push/Pull Central Works
Gary Graves The Last Goat Central Works
Amy Kossow and Jim Cave Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash Word For Word
Joel Mullennix Annunciation Word for Word
Gabriel A. Ross Big, Scary Animals Masquers Playhouse
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Josh Costello Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
Susi Damilano The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NIght-Time San Francisco Playhouse
Bill English My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Margo Hall Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Russell Kaltschmidt Good People Altarena Playhouse
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Christina Lazo 9 to 5: the Musical Ray of Light Theatre
Pam MacKinnon Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Weyni Mengesha Kim's Convenience American Conservatory Theater
Tyne Rafaeli The Thing About Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Giovanna Sardelli Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
     
     
  Solo  
     
Hend Ayoub Home? A Palestinian Woman's Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness San Francisco Playhouse
John Fisher Doodler: The Unsolved Castro Murders The Marsh
Marga Gomez The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Aurora Theatre Company
Dan Hoyle Takes All Kinds The Marsh
Renee Mannequin I Am My Own Wife Oakland Theater Project
     
     
  Ensemble  
     
  Comedy  
     
Art   Shotgun Players
Eureka Day   Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play   San Francisco Playhouse
Fat Ham   San Francisco Playhouse
Noises Off   San Francisco Playhouse
     
  Drama  
     
Crumbs from the Table of Joy   Aurora Theatre Company
Good People   Altarena Playhouse
Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash   Word for Word
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time   San Francisco Playhouse
Waste   Marin Theatre
     
  Musical  
     
Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical   TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Into the Woods   San Francisco Playhouse
My Fair Lady   San Francisco Playhouse
Nobody Loves You   American Conservatory Theater
Sunday in the Park with George   Shotgun Players
     
     
  Featured Performance - Comedy  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Tamar Cohn Tartuffe Ross Valley Players
Ricardo Cortes Simple Mexican Pleasures New Conservatory Theatre Center
Natalie Ford Big, Scary Animals Masquers Playhouse
Tristan Rodriguez Big, Scary Animals Masquers Playhouse
Tina Traboulsi Present Laughter Novato Theater Company
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Samuel Ademola Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Jordan Covington Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Charisse Loriaux Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
James Arthur M Wild with Happy New Conservatory Theatre Center
Edric Young Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play San Francisco Playhouse
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Ryan Jinn Kim's Convenience American Conservatory Theater
Brandon McKnight Kim's Convenience American Conservatory Theater
Steve Price A Midsummer Night's Dream Marin Shakespeare Company
Elena Wright A Midsummer Night's Dream Marin Shakespeare Company
     
     
  Featured Performance - Drama  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Tyler Aguallo Other Desert Cities Masquers Playhouse
Brennan Pickman-Thoon Annunciation Word for Word
Steve Rhyne The Book of Will Ross Valley Players
Doria Silin Wait Until Dark Ross Valley Players
Monica Rose Slater Annunciation Word for Word
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Anthony Fusco Waste Marin Theatre
Leontyne Mbele-Mbong Waste Marin Theatre
Carrie Paff Crumbs from the Table of Joy Aurora Theatre Company
Michael Phillis Sally & Tom Marin Theatre
Marsha van Broek Good People Altarena Playhouse
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Andy Grotelueschen The Thing About Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Tannis Hanson Sweat Palo Alto Players
George Psarras Little Women TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Craig Wallace Uncle Vanya Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Brenda Withers The Reservoir Berkeley Repertory Theatre
     
     
  Featured Performance - Musical  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Daniela Innocenti Beem Cabaret Marin Musical Theatre Company
Natalie Buck-Bauer Pet Lingerie Ross Valley Players
Joshua Pollock Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
Megan Schoenbohm Cabaret Marin Musical Theatre Company
Beth Wilmurt Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Sarah Jebian Fly By Night Hillbarn Theatre
Heather Orth My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Keith Pinto Co-Founders American Conservatory Theater
Alex Rodriguez Sunday in the Park with George Shotgun Players
Jomar Tagatac My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Jacqueline De Muro Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Mystery Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley/CenterREP
Mary Kalita 9 to 5: the Musical Ray of Light Theatre
Ashley D. Kelley Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Hayley Lovgren Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Ana Yi Puig Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
     
     
  Principal Performance - Comedy  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Dave Abrams Present Laughter Novato Theater Company
Kevin Bordi The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Mercury Theater
Jen Cuevas The Art of Murder Pear Theatre
Jacob Henrie-Naffaa Dada Teen Musical: The Play Central Works
Kim Saunders Big, Scary Animals Masquers Playhouse
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Ana Ming Bostwick-Singer Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play San Francisco Playhouse
Devin A. Cunningham Fat Ham San Francisco Playhouse
Carla BaNu DeJesus Wild with Happy New Conservatory Theatre Center
Woody Harper Art Shotgun Players
Lisa Anne Porter Eureka Day Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Ins Choi Kim's Convenience American Conservatory Theater
Adriana Hokk Noises Off Palo Alto Players
Charisse Loriaux A Midsummer Night's Dream Marin Shakespeare Company
Kelly Seo Kim's Convenience American Conservatory Theater
Brandon Silberstein Noises Off Palo Alto Players
     
     
  Principal Performance - Drama  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Andre Amarotico The Last Goat Central Works
Arwen Anderson Shameless Hussy The Marsh
Rosie Hallett Annunciation Word for Word
Matthew Kropschot Push/Pull Central Works
Tina Traboulsi Wait Until Dark Ross Valley Players
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Lance Gardner Waste Marin Theatre
Brendan Looney The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time San Francisco Playhouse
Emily Newsome Sally & Tom Marin Theatre
Alicia Rydman Good People Altarena Playhouse
Anna Marie Sharpe Crumbs from the Table of Joy Aurora Theatre Company
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Hugh Bonneville Uncle Vanya Berkeley Repertory Theatre
John Benjamin Hickey Uncle Vanya Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Matilda Lawler The Thing about Jellyfish Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Pamela Reed The Reservoir Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Elissa Beth Stebbins Little Women TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
     
     
  Principal Performance - Musical  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Danila Burshteyn Catch Me If You Can: The Musical Masquers Playhouse
Evvy Carlstrom-March Cabaret Marin Musical Theatre Company
Jane Harrington Matilda the Musical Novato Theater Company
Deanalís Arocho Resto Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
Sharon Shao Cabaret Oakland Theater Project
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Ruby Day Into the Woods San Francisco Playhouse
Aneesa Folds Co-Founders American Conservatory Theater
Adam Magill My Fair Lady San Francisco Playhouse
Libby Oberlin A Night with Janis Joplin Sonoma Arts Live
Kevin Singer Sunday in the Park with George Shotgun Players
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Anne Elizabeth Clark Next to Normal Ray of Light Theatre
Stephanie Gibson Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
A. J. Holmes Nobody Loves You American Conservatory Theater
Lauren Marcus Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Sophie Oda Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical TheatreWorks Silicon Valley/CenterREP
     
     
  Entire Production - EB  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Big, Scary Animals   Masquers Playhouse
Cabaret   Oakland Theater Project
Dada Teen Musical: The Play   Central Works
Push/Pull   Central Works
The Last Goat   Central Works
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Art   Shotgun Players
Crumbs from the Table of Joy   Aurora Theatre Company
Good People   Altarena Playhouse
Sunday in the Park with George   Shotgun Players
The Heart Sellers   Aurora Theatre Company
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Here There Are Blueberries   Berkeley Repertory Theatre
The Thing about Jellyfish   Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Uncle Vanya   Berkeley Repertory Theatre
     
     
  Entire Production - NB  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Cabaret   Marin Musical Theatre Company
Featherbaby   Spreckels Theatre Company
Mrs. Krishnan's Party   Marin Theatre
Other Desert Cities   Lucky Penny Productions
The Book of Will   Ross Valley Players
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
A Night with Janis Joplin   Sonoma Arts Live
Eureka Day   Marin Theatre/Aurora Theatre
Hadestown: Teen Edition   142 Throckmorton
Sally & Tom   Marin Theatre
The Pirates of Penzance   6th Street Playhouse
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
A Midsummer Night's Dream   Marin Shakespeare Company
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical   Transcendence Theatre Company
Into the Woods   Spreckels Theatre Company
The Tempest   Marin Shakespeare Company
     
     
  Entire Production - SF  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Annunciation   Word for Word
Doodler: The Unsolved Castro Murders   The Marsh
Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash   Word for Word
Shameless Hussy   The Marsh
Simple Mexican Pleasures   New Conservatory Theatre Center
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
Co-Founders   American Conservatory Theater
Fat Ham   San Francisco Playhouse
My Fair Lady   San Francisco Playhouse
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time   San Francisco Playhouse
Wild with Happy   New Conservatory Theatre Center
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Kim's Convenience   American Conservatory Theater
Next to Normal   Ray of Light Theatre
9 to 5: the Musical   Ray of Light Theatre
Nobody Loves You   American Conservatory Theater
     
     
  Entire Production - SP  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
Constellations   Pear Theatre
The Art of Murder   Pear Theatre
The Prom   Pacifica Spindrift Players
     
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
An Enemy of the People   San Jose Stage Company
Plaza Suite   Hillbarn Theatre
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella   Hillbarn Theatre
The Cake   City Lights Theater Company
Writing Fragments Home   Hillbarn Theatre
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical   TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical   TheatreWorks Silicon Valley/CenterREP
Jersey Boys   Palo Alto Players
Noises Off   Palo Alto Players
Sweat   Palo Alto Players
     
     
  Entire Production - Bay Area  
     
  in a house with fewer than 100 seats  
     
     
     
  in a house with 100 to 300 seats  
     
     
     
  in a house with more than 300 seats  
     
     
     
     
     
   
     
     
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Administered by SFBATCC CIO Harry Duke / Updated 02/28/26