2026 NOMINEES

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Best Production-Comedy/Drama-Youth Theatre

Alice in Wonderland - Palm Desert High School 

George Orwell's "1984" - La Quinta High School 

Hope Springs - Palm Springs High School

Puffs - Indio High School

Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School Triangle - Shadow Hills High School

Best Production-Musical-Youth Theatre

Anastasia - Palm Desert High School

Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals 

Hadestown: Teen Edition - Shadow Hills High School

Once Upon A Mattress - Rancho Mirage High School

The Music Man - La Quinta High School

Best Director-Comedy/Drama-Youth Theatre

Jonathan Epstein-Brenner - George Orwell's "1984" - La Quinta High School 

Thomas McMahon - Triangle - Shadow Hills High School

Kelly Newhouse - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School 

Britt Pannell - Puffs - Indio High School

Susannah Vera - Alice in Wonderland - Palm Desert High School

Best Director-Musical-Youth Theatre

Jonathan Epstein-Brenner - The Music Man - La Quinta High School 

Ray Limon - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals

Thomas McMahon - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Shadow Hills High School 

Kelly Newhouse - Once Upon A Mattress - Rancho Mirage High School

Susannah Vera – Anastasia - Palm Desert High School

Best Musical Director-Youth Theatre

Kurt Kelley - Disney’s Newsies- Desert Hot Springs High School

Grace Huscher/William Lacro - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Shadow Hills High School 

Jeffrey Lesser - Once Upon A Mattress - Rancho Mirage High School 

Nina McGuane - The Music Man - La Quinta High School

Robert Rutt - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals 

RJ Parsons McCrackin - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School

Best Choreographer-Youth Theatre

Alora Druyon/Britt Pannell - Mean Girls - Indio High School 

Audrey IsBell - The Music Man - La Quinta High School

Kurt Kelley - Disney's Newsies - Desert Hot Springs High School 

Joanne Mulrooney Moser - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals 

Ava Roberts - Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. - Theatre 29

Cristina McKeever Chaney - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School

Best Lead Actor-Comedy/Drama-Youth Theatre

Clark Adkins - Puffs - Indio High School

Christopher Lewis - Halloween Screams - Cathedral City High School 

Derrick "Zayn" Sanchez - Puffs - Indio High School

Jason Sanudo - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School 

Atticus Wilde - Alice in Wonderland - Palm Desert High School

Best Lead Actor-Musical-Youth Theatre

Cameron Keener - The Music Man - La Quinta High School 

Aiden Lizada - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals

David Lopez - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Shadow Hills High School 

Miles Reckard - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School

Tyler Zwicker-Bateman - Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. - Theatre 29

Best Lead Actress-Comedy/Drama-Youth Theatre

Naira Abaza - Alice in Wonderland - Palm Desert High School 

Zoe "Saturn" Fitch - Triangle - Shadow Hills High School

Mia Guzman - George Orwell's "1984" - La Quinta High School 

Grace Lawrence - Hope Springs - Palm Springs High School 

Rose Whaley - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School

Best Lead Actress-Musical-Youth Theatre

Parisa Azody - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School 

Natalie Koedyker - The Music Man - La Quinta High School

Verina Ramirez - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Shadow Hills High School 

Ava Roberts - Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. - Theatre 29

Tayla SanFilippo - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals 

Charlotte Upp - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals

Rose Whaley - Once Upon A Mattress - Rancho Mirage High School

Best Supporting Actor-Comedy/Drama-Youth Theatre

Angel Baragas - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School 

Bryan Gonzalez-Vargas – Puffs - Indio High School

Dominick Jauregui - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School 

Cameron Keener - George Orwell's "1984" - La Quinta High School 

Lucas McPhee - Puffs - Indio High School

Seth Miles - Alice in Wonderland - Palm Desert High School 

Dominick Rizo - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School

Best Supporting Actor-Musical-Youth Theatre

Emil Ciric - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals 

Charles Humphrey - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals

Thomas Nelson - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School 

Nevan Owlsey - Disney’s Frozen JR. - Desert Theatricals 

Touré Williams - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School

Best Supporting Actress-Comedy/Drama-Youth Theatre

Alora Druyon - Puffs - Indio High School

Katelyn Fonua - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School

Jordan Hughes - Radium Girls - Rancho Mirage High School 

Harper Price - George Orwell's "1984" - La Quinta High School 

June Riebsomer - Alice in Wonderland - Palm Desert High School

Best Supporting Actress-Musical-Youth Theatre

Isabella Bringas - Anastasia - Palm Desert High School 

Hayley Moreno - Disney's Newsies - Desert Hot Springs High School 

Sydney Park - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Cathedral City High School 

Alexa Sanchez - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Shadow Hills High School

Olivia Sohn - The Music Man - La Quinta High School

Best Production-Comedy

Como Te Gusta / As You Like It - Green Room Theatre Co.

Dog Sees God - The Bent 

Fortressed - Theatre 29

Knife to the Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

The Roommate - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Director of a Comedy

Susan Adler - Social Security - Sun City Palm Desert 

Sharianne Greer - Fortressed - Theatre 29 

Suzy Voss – Sylvia - Sun City Shadow Hills

Kudra Wagner - The Roommate - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Director of a Comedy - Professional

Shawn Abramowitz - The Sea Horse - Desert Ensemble Theatre

David Catanzarite - Como Te Gusta / As You Like It - Green Room Theatre Co.

Larry LaFond - Dog Sees God - The Bent Michael Shaw - Eureka Day - Dezart Performs

Stan Zimmerman - Knife to the Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Bedjou Jean - Como Te Gusta / As You Like It - Green Room Theatre Co.

Henry McLaughlin - Dog Sees God - The Bent

Willie Farrad Mullins - Como Te Gusta / As You Like It - Green Room Theatre Co.

Miguel Olivas - Dog Sees God - The Bent 

Douglas Wilson - Social Security - Sun City Palm Desert

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy - Professional

Jonathan Brett - Knife to the Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Ron Coronado - The Ritz - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Donald Kelley - The Ritz - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Richard Perloff - Eureka Day - Dezart Performs

David Youse - Meteor Shower - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy

Laurie De Gonzalez - Sylvia - Sun City Shadow Hills 

Jessica Lenz - Knife to the Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Olga Morales - The Ritz - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Rebecca Osier - Fortressed - Theatre 29

Sonia Reavis - The Roommate - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy - Professional

Jenne Carey - Como Te Gusta / As You Like It - Green Room Theatre Co.

Theresa Jewett - Meteor Shower - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Michelle Miller-Day - Eureka Day - Dezart Performs

Tammy Taylor - The Roommate - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Alexana Thomas - The Sea Horse - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Jason Ayestas - Dog Sees God - The Bent

J.T. Eberhard - Fortressed - Theatre 29 

Kevin Hayles - Fortressed - Theatre 29

Ricky Luna - Knife to the Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Larry Martin - The Ritz - Palm Canyon Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy - Professional

Skylar Gaines - Eureka Day - Dezart Performs 

Skylar Gaines - Meteor Shower - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Terry Ray - Dog Sees God - The Bent

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Anna Lacazio – Fortressed - Theatre 29

Carol Levenson - Social Security - Sun City Palm Desert 

Christine Tringali Nunes - The Ritz - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Cecilia Orosco - Dog Sees God - The Bent

Alicia Wilson - Como Te Gusta / As You Like It - Green Room Theatre Co.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy – Professional

Joslynn Cortes - Eureka Day - Dezart Performs

Bonnie Gilgallon - Knife to the Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Tamarra Graham - Eureka Day - Dezart Performs

Stormie Ingram - Fortressed - Theatre 29

Lizzie Sosa - Meteor Shower - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Production of a Drama

Dial M For Murder - Sun City Shadow Hills Dispersion of Light - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

In the Wake - The Bent

Majorie Prime - Theatre 29 

Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29

Best Production of a Drama - Professional

Destroying David - Dezart Performs FEAR - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

The Inheritance, Part Two - The Bent Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs

The Michael Cruickshank Award for Best Director of a Drama

Kathryn Ervin - American Moor - Green Room Theatre Co.

Michael Goldman/Shirley Price-McGrew - Dial M For Murder - Sun City Shadow Hills 

Lisa Hodgson - Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29

Eddie A. Tucker - Majorie Prime - Theatre 29

The Michael Cruickshank Award for Best Director of a Drama - Professional

Keith Hoffman - FEAR - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Denis McCourt - The Glass Menagerie - College of the Desert

Phillip Wm. McKinley - Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs 

Steve Rosenbaum - The Inheritance, Part Two - The Bent

Laura Stearns - In the Wake - The Bent

Patricia West-Del Ruth - ICED - Frozen Borders, Burning Hope - Creative Heart Productions

Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Ethan Avalos - A Christmas Carol - College of the Desert 

Alex Price - The Inheritance, Part Two - The Bent

Kurt Schauppner - Majorie Prime - Theatre 29

Eddie L. Stephens, Jr. - American Moor - Green Room Theatre Co.

Earl Warner - Dial M For Murder - Sun City Shadow Hills

Best Lead Actor in a Drama – Professional

 J.Stephen Brantley - Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs 

Michael Shaw - Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs 

Thomas Dodge Wheatley - The Inheritance, Part Two - The Bent 

Chuck Yates - FEAR - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

David Youse - FEAR - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Melanie Blue - Dispersion of Light - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Wendy Cohen - Majorie Prime - Theatre 29

Jo Beth Henry - Dial M For Murder - Sun City Shadow Hills 

Amy Miranda - Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29 

Sabrina Olsen - Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

Ronald Douglass - American Moor - Green Room Theatre Co.

Kevin Hayles - Majorie Prime - Theatre 29 

Brian Newkirk - The Inheritance, Part Two - The Bent 

Mikey Ragusa - The Inheritance, Part Two - The Bent

Sabastian Reda - A Christmas Carol - College of the Desert

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama - Professional

Chris Carranza - Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs 

Oscar Fabela - Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs 

Miguel Olivas – FEAR - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Jamie Pierce - Love! Valour! Compassion! - Dezart Performs 

Ashley Robinson - In the Wake - The Bent

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

Judith Bennoch - Dial M For Murder - Sun City Shadow Hills 

Heather Clisby - Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29

Laura Harwood - Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29 

Virginia Sulick - Steel Magnolias - Theatre 29

Sarah Elizabeth Woolsey - Dispersion of Light - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Production - Musical

Chicago - Desert Theatricals 

Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre

The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals

Best Director of a Musical

David Brooks - Kiss of the Spider Woman - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Gary Daigneault - Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella - Theatre 29

Nena Jimenez - Nuncrackers-The Nunsense Christmas Musical - Theatre 29 

Luke Rainey - Hair - Palm Canyon Theatre

Derik Shopinski - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre

Best Director of a Musical - Professional

Se Layne - Annie - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Ray Limon - Chicago - Desert Theatricals

Ray Limon - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals 

Janet Miller - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert 

Steve Rosenbaum - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent

Best Musical Director of a Musical - Professional

Julie Adams - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert Linda 

Mack Berven - Annie - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Robert Ollis - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent 

Steven Smith - Hair - Palm Canyon Theatre

Steven Smith - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Scott Smith - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals

The Michele Gaines Award for Best Choreographer of a Musical

Makasi Boykin - Nuncrackers-The Nunsense Christmas Musical - Theatre 29 

Karen Gladis - Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella - Theatre 29

Derik Shopinski - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre

The Michele Gaines Award for Best Choreographer of a Musical - Professional

Se Layne - Annie - Palm Canyon Theatre

 Ray Limon - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals 

Ray Limon - Chicago - Desert Theatricals

Janet Miller/Rebecca Schroeder - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert 

Nathan Wilson - Kiss of the Spider Woman - Palm Canyon Theatre

Best Lead Actor in a Musical

Scott Clinkscales - Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Isaac Gaeta-Tollette - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert

Jason Mannino - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent 

Christian Quevedo - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Jacob Samples - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals 

Noah Wahlberg - Hair - Palm Canyon Theatre

Best Lead Actor in a Musical - Professional

Ron Coronado - Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Paul Grant - Annie - Palm Canyon Theatre

Charles Herrera - Chicago - Desert Theatricals 

Charles Herrera - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals

Jeffrey Scott Parsons - Cabaret - Desert Theatricals

Best Lead Actress in a Musical

Catt Christine - Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella - Theatre 29 

Linda Ceniceros Gonzalez - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent 

Christina Marie Harrell - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert

Sonia Reavis - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent 

Georgia Smith - Falsettos - Palm Canyon Theatre

Christine Tringali Nunes - I Do! I Do! - Palm Canyon Theatre

Best Lead Actress in a Musical - Professional

Tomasina Abate - Chicago - Desert Theatricals

Se Layne - Kiss of the Spider Woman - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Se Layne - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Lizzie Sosa - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

John Corr - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals 

Anthony Nannini - Annie - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Julian Perez - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert

Noah Wahlberg - Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Nathan Wilson - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Professional

Jeffery Scott Adair - A Man Of No Importance - The Bent 

Mark Almy - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Jonathan Brett - Falsettos - Palm Canyon Theatre

Paul Grant - Kiss of the Spider Woman - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Tod Macofsky - Cabaret - Desert Theatricals

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

Tara Howard - Sunset Boulevard - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Nicole Kennedy - Hair - Palm Canyon Theatre 

Kelly McDaniel - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals 

Valerie Monroe - Chicago - Desert Theatricals

Samantha Simonds - Kiss Me, Kate - College of the Desert

The Bill Groves Award for Best Juvenile

Aiden Lizada - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals 

Desmond McLeod - Falsettos - Palm Canyon Theatre

Desmond McLeod - Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Palm Canyon Theatre Sierra Petrilla - Merry and Bright - Palm Canyon Theatre

Charlotte Upp - The Addams Family - Desert Theatricals

Best Production - Staged Reading

Execution of Justice - The Bent

Interactive Stage Reading of "1984" - Green Room Theatre Co.

Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Sherlock Holmes True Detective - Desert Ensemble Theatre

The Author Behind The Happily Ever After - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Best Production-Staged Reading - Professional

Look at Me, I Exist - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre

The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Best Director of a Staged Reading

Anne Etue - The Mermaid - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Jerome Joseph Gentes - Interactive Stage Reading of "1984" - Green Room Theatre Co.

Jerome Joseph Gentes - Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Kudra Wagner - The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life In The Universe - The Bent

Best Director of a Staged Reading - Professional

Shawn Abramowitz - Sherlock Holmes True Detective - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Deborah Harmon - Look at Me, I Exist - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Keith Hoffman - The Author Behind The Happily Ever After - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Jerome Elliott Moskowitz - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Chuck Yates - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Best Lead Actor in a Staged Reading

Jason Mannino - Execution of Justice - The Bent

Willie Farrad Mullins - Interactive Stage Reading of "1984" - Green Room Theatre Co.

Alex Price - Sherlock Holmes True Detective - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Jason Reale - Execution of Justice - The Bent

Best Lead Actor in a Staged Reading - Professional

Shawn Abramowitz - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Jonathan Brett - Interactive Stage Reading of "1984" - Green Room Theatre Co.

Jonathan Brett - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Billy L'Amour - The Green Room - The Bent

Daniel DiMaggio - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Best Lead Actress in a Staged Reading

Sierra Barrick - The Author Behind The Happily Ever After - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Xuan-Ahn Ly Biggs - The Mermaid - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Rosemary Flaherty - The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe - The Bent Isabella Madrigal - Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Kayla McCarty - The Mermaid - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Lin Phillippi - Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Lead Actress in a Staged Reading - Professional

Jenne Carey - Interactive Stage Reading of "1984" - Green Room Theatre Co. 

Barbara Kerr - Sherlock Holmes True Detective - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Angela Landis - The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe - The Bent 

Kim Schroeder Long - Look at Me, I Exist - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Lizzie Sosa - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Staged Reading

Sean Timothy Brown - The Author Behind The Happily Ever After - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

John Corr - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Ronald Douglass - Sherlock Holmes True Detective - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Bedjou Jean - Interactive Stage Reading of "1984" - Green Room Theatre Co.

Stan Jenson - The Green Room - The Bent Alex Price - Execution of Justice - The Bent

Best Supporting Actor in a Staged Reading - Professional

Paul Crane - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Lou DiMaggio - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Keith Hoffman - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Steve Rosenbaum - Execution of Justice - The Bent

Doug Sorenson - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Best Supporting Actress in a Staged Reading

Melanie Blue - The Author Behind The Happily Ever After - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Melanie Blue - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Tessa Gregory - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Renda Madrigal - Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Rain Aurora Reaza - Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Staged Reading - Professional

Lorreta Fox - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Theresa Jewett - Look at Me, I Exist - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Barbara Kerr - The Author Behind The Happily Ever After - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival 

Barbara Kerr - Execution of Justice - The Bent

The Bill Groves Award for Best Original Writing

Jason Bulanek - The Rats of Broadway - Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival

Jason Hull - Another Op’ning, Another Show!- The Number You Have Reached - Sun City Palm Desert 

Isabella Madrigal - Menil and Her Heart - Desert Ensemble Theatre

Jerome Elliott Moskowitz - Snake Baby - Desert Ensemble Theatre 

Michael Reno - Golden Girls, Lost Musical Episode - Friends of Musical Theatre