Friends of AUDELCO
NOMINEES FOR THE 53rd ANNUAL VIVIAN ROBINSON AUDELCO RECOGNITION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BLACK THEATRE | Celebrating 53 Years of AUDELCO Excellence
BEST LIGHTING
Amina Alexander | Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
Jiyoun Chang | The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
Stacey Derosier | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Victor En Yu Tan | The Wash | New Federal Theatre
Bradley King | Goddess | The Public Theater
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Antoinette Tynes | Day of Absence/Remaining Absent | Negro Ensemble Company
BEST SET DESIGN
Jason Ardizzone-West | The Wash | New Federal Theatre
Harry Feiner | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, Negro Ensemble Company and Eric Falkenstein
Arnulfo Maldonado | Goddess | The Public Theater
Arnulfo Maldonado | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Harlan Penn, Donald Taylor & Mike Turner | Wednesday Woman | Black Spectrum Theatre Co., Inc.
Clint Ramos | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Adam Rigg | The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Dede Ayite | Goddess | The Public Theater
Dede Ayite | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Montana Levi Blanco | The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
Oana Botez | Twelfth Night | The Public Theater
Gail Cooper-Hecht | The Wash | New Federal Theatre
Katie O’Neill | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Kathy Roberson | Day of Absence/Remaining Absent | Negro Ensemble Company
Isabel Rubio | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Palmer Hefferan | The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
Curtis Craig & Jimmy Keys | Bad Kreyol | Signature Theatre Company
Alex Hawthorn & Drew Levy | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Fan Nzhang | Good Bones | The Public Theater
Bill Toles | The Wash | New Federal Theatre
Bill Toles | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Taylor J. Williams | Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
Nevin Steinberg | Goddess | The Public Theater
BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Warren Adams | Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
Lileana Blain-Cruz | The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
Clinton Turner Davis | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
Layon Gray | Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
Tiffany Nicholas Greene | Bad Kreyol | Signature Theatre Company
LaChanze | Wine in the Wilderness | Classic Stage Company
Awoye Timpo | The Wash | New Federal Theatre
Patricia R. Floyd | Day of Absence/Remaining Absent | Negro Ensemble Company
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Saheem Ali | Goddess | The Public Theater
Shayok Misha Chowdhury | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Lawrence Floyd | Black Spurs | Black Spectrum Theatre Co., Inc.
Kenny Ingram | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
Tyler Dobrowky & Taibi Magar | Macbeth In Stride | BAM in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Yale Repertory Theatre
Patricia McGregor | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER
Raja Feather-Kelly | Macbeth In Stride | BAM in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Yale Repertory Theatre
Edgar Godineaux | Lights Out: Nat ”King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Jared Grimes (tap) | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Kenny Ingram | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
Darrell Grand Moultrie | Goddess | The Public Theater
Tiffany Rea-Fisher | Memnon | Classical Theatre of Harlem
Jill M. Vallery | A Freeky Introduction | Atlantic Theater Company
BEST PLAYWRIGHT
Patricia McGregor & Colman Domingo | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Workshop Theatre
Layon Gray | Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
Katori Hall | The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
James Ijames | Good Bones | The Public Theater
Dominique Morisseau | Bad Kreyol | Signature Theatre Company
Kelundra Smith | The Wash | New Federal Theatre
Charles Randolph Wright | Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Khris Davis | Good Bones | The Public Theater
Isaiah Joseph | Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
Milton Craig Nealy | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Junior Nyong’o | Twelfth Night | The Public Theater
Sean Phillips | Day of Absence/Remaining Absent | Negro Ensemble Company
Moses Sumney | Twelfth Night | The Public Theater
Calvin M. Thompson | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
Bryce Michael Wood | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Felicia Boswell | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
Noma Dumezweni | Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
Morgan Siobhan Green | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
Fedna Jacquet | Bad Kreyol | Signature Theatre & Manhattan Theatre Club
Sandra Oh | Twelfth Night | The Public Theater
Sara Jane Beneke | Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
Amber Reauchean Williams | Amerikin | Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Paul Byssainthe Jr. | Goddess | The Public Theater
Dionne McClain-Freeney & James Hall | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
John McDaniel | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Gary Mitchell Jr. | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
Nygel D. Robinson | Macbeth in Stride | BAM in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Yale Repertory Theatre
FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Jason Bowen | Goddess | The Public Theater
Nick Rashad Burroughs | Goddess The Public Theater
Tyson Jennette | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
Brandon Michael Nase | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Jon-Michael Reese | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Daniel J. Watts | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theater Workshop
FEATURED ACTRESSS IN A MUSICAL
Krystal Joy Brown | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Kim Burrell | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Arica Jackson | Goddess | The Public Theater
Ayana George Jackson | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Kenita Miller | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theater Workshop
Destinee Rea | Goddess | The Public Theater
Nicole Powell | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
Virginia Woodruff | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
- CHIAROSCURO | Sidney DuPont, Paige Gilbert, Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Abenaa Quiin, Gayle Samuels, TL Thompson, Lance Coadie Williams | National Black Theatre and The Flea
- RITA IS THE GOAT | Danielle Aziza, Valerie Donaldson,
- Jonathan Duran, Melanie Maria Goodreaux, India Stachyra, Tiffany Renelle | Theater for the New City
- WHEN GOLD TURNS BLACK | Leon Alexander, Dimitri Dewes Jr., Sania Hyatt, Brian Patterson, Jeffrey Roth, Kelechi Udenkwo, Jes Washington | Theater for the New City
- THE BLOOD QUILT | Lauren E. Banks, Crystal Dickinson, Mirirtai, Adrienne C. Moore, Susan Kelechi Watson | Lincoln Center Theater
- THE PRYOR 55 | Michael Anthony Green, Martine Fleurisma | Theater for the New City & Fulton Arts Foundation
- THE WASH | Rebecca Haden, Bianca LaVerne Jones, Margaret Odette, Alicia Pilgrim, Kerry Warren, Eunice Woods | New Federal Theatre
- WEDNESDAY WOMAN | Talli Basile, Valerie Donaldson, Mary Linda Greene, Michael Anthony Green, Arlene McGruder, Aaron Watkins | Black Spectrum Theatre
OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Kwaku Fortune | The Black Wolfe Tone | Irish Repertory Theatre and Fishamble: The New Play Company
DeVon Franklin | Be True | Audible Theater
NSangou Njikam | A Freeky Introduction | Atlantic Theater Company
Bill Posley | The Day I Accidentally Went To War | Soho Playhouse
LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Dulé Hill | Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Austin Scott | Goddess | The Public Theater
Frank Senior | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Davóne Tines | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Timothy Ware-Hill | Purlie | Hamilton Stage
LEAD ACTRESSS IN A MUSICAL
Stephanie Berry | The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Amber Iman | Goddess | The Public Theater
Whitney White | Macbeth in Stride | BAM, in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Yale Repertory Theatre
LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Eric Berryman | Memnon | Classical Theatre of Harlem
Grantham Coleman | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Khris Davis | Twelfth Night | The Public Theater
Jay Ellis | Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
Norm Lewis | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC and Eric Falkenstein
Benjamin Rowe | Day of Absence/Remaining Absent | Negro Ensemble Company
Thaddeus Daniels | Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Pascale Armand | Bad Kreyol | Signature Theatre Company, and Manhattan Theatre Club
Raven Jeanette | Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
Lupita Nyong’o | Twelfth Night | Public Theater
Andrea Patterson | Memnon | Classical Theatre of Harlem
Olivia Washington | Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
Susan Kelechi Watson | Good Bones | The Public Theater
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
The Gospel at Colonus | Little Island
Purlie | Hamilton Stage
BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Peccadillo Theater Company, NEC, Eric Falkenstein
Day of Absence | Negro Ensemble Company
The Swamp Dwellers | Theatre for a New Audience
Twelfth Night | The Public Theater
Wine in the Wilderness | Classical Stage Company
BEST MUSICAL
Black Spurs | Black Spectrum Theatre Co., Inc.
Goddess | The Public Theater
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole | New York Theatre Workshop
Macbeth in Stride | BAM, in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Yale Repertory Theatre
BEST PLAY
Chiaroscuro | National Black Theatre and The Flea
Duke and Roya | Lucille Lortel Theatre
Good Bones | The Public Theater
Searching for Willie Lynch | Layon Gray Productions
The Blood Quilt | Lincoln Center Theater
The Wash | New Federal Theatre
53rd ANNUAL VIVIAN ROBINSON
AUDELCO RECOGNITION AWARDS
“THE VIV” for Excellence in Black Theatre
“Celebrate 53 years of AUDELCO Excellence”
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025
LIVE PRESENTATION
7:00 PM EDT