“Cabaret” Dominates 2026 Wilmington Theater Awards
A classic musical about Berlin’s heady nightlife scene—set to the dark backdrop of the Nazis’ rise to power—was the massive winner at the 13th annual Wilmington Theater Awards on Wednesday, March 25, at historic Thalian Hall downtown, with Opera House Theatre Co.’s production of “Cabaret” taking home eight “Stars,” including Outstanding Musical.
“Cabaret” also won awards for director of a musical (Shane Fernando), actress in a musical (Mary Mattison), actor in a musical (Casey Burton), supporting actor in a musical (Robin Dale Robertson), music direction (Brian Whitted), choreography (Carson Hobbs) and set design (Terry Collins).
Opera House Theatre Company Leads in Nominations and Wins
Opera House Theatre Company led all shows with 11 nominations and ultimately secured the most wins, demonstrating their strong presence in the Wilmington theater scene. Opera House Theatre Company’s production of “Cabaret” earned eight awards, solidifying its position as a standout production of the year.
The company also received a total of 31 nominations surpassing Thalian Association Community Theatre with 28 nominations, including seven shared nominations for their collaborative production of “Home.” WWAY News reported these nomination totals.
Awards Ceremony and Recognition
The annual awards, organized by the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, recognize achievements across the region’s stage community. The ceremony, hosted by Erin Sullivan, was held at Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Thalian Hall highlighted that the show featured performances from the shows nominated for Best Play and Best Musical.
Organizers determined the awards through a combination of public voting, input from theater companies, and a nominating committee. Public voting closed in February.
Other Notable Mentions
Big Dawg Productions’ “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” received eight nominations as the most-nominated play. Brian Whitted earned three nominations in the music direction category for his work on “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Cabaret,” and “Hairspray.” Logan Hayes also received three nominations for directing and co-choreographing “Legally Blonde,” as well as for lighting design on “The Rocky Horror Show.”
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