Inaugural Broadway Ensemble Awards to Celebrate Unsung Heroes of the Stage

New York City will soon recognize the vital contributions of Broadway ensemble performers with the first-ever Broadway Ensemble Awards. Nominations were announced on March 9, 2026, at the Museum of Broadway, honoring talent often referred to as “just a chorus member.”

A New Initiative for Broadway Recognition

The Broadway Ensemble Awards were created to acknowledge the energy, storytelling, and discipline of the performers who power Broadway musicals from within the ensemble BroadwayWorld. The initiative aims to ensure these performers are seen, celebrated, and centered during awards season.

Nomination Highlights

Leading the nominations are Mamma Mia! with ten nods, followed closely by Chess and Ragtime, each receiving nine nominations DC Theater Arts. The Queen of Versailles received one nomination.

Award Categories and Nominees

The nominations were announced in eight categories by Bradley Dean (currently appearing in Chess), Kurt Csolak (swing and dance captain in The Great Gatsby), radio host Seth Rudetsky, and Tony winner Lillias White BroadwayWorld.

• Most Outstanding Male Performer: Sean McLaughlin (Chess); Jacob Keith Watson (Ragtime); Shavey Brown (Chess); George Vickers (Mamma Mia!); Xari Soto Burgos (Mamma Mia!)
• Most Outstanding Female Performer: Allison Blackwell (Ragtime); Anne Fraser Thomas (The Queen of Versailles); Sarah Meahl (Chess); Jasmine Overbaugh (Mamma Mia!); Samantha Pollino (Chess)
• Most Outstanding Featured Dance Group: “Lay All Your Love on Me” (Mamma Mia!); “One Night in Bangkok” (Chess); “Gettin’ Ready Rag” (Ragtime); “What a Game” / “Baseball” (Ragtime); “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” (Mamma Mia!)
• Most Outstanding Featured Vocal Group: “Nobody’s Side” (Chess); “Voulez-Vous” (Mamma Mia!); “New Music” (Ragtime); “’Til We Reach That Day” (Ragtime); “Money, Money, Money” (Mamma Mia!)
• Most Outstanding Musical Direction: Ian Weinberger (Chess); Wendy Bobbitt Cavett (Mamma Mia!); James Moore (Ragtime)
• Most Outstanding Choreography: Ellenore Scott (Ragtime); Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia!); Lorin Latarro (Chess)
• Most Outstanding Broadway Ensemble: Chess; Mamma Mia!; Ragtime
• The Legendary Broadway Ensemble Award: The original 1975 ensemble of A Chorus Line

Awards Ceremony Details

The inaugural awards ceremony will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. At the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, with a red carpet event beginning at 5:00 p.m. DC Theater Arts. Thayne Jasperson, from the original cast of Hamilton, will host the event. Winners will receive a golden trophy, co-designed and constructed by R.S. Owens of Chicago – the company that as well makes the Oscar, Emmy, and MTV Awards.

Tickets for the event are priced between $134.25 and $266.75, including fees, and are available online.