The Boston Theatre Critics Association has announced the nominees and honorees for this year’s Elliot Norton Awards. Along with the 12 Elliot Norton Award Nominations received for productions featured in our 2025 Season, North Shore Music Theatre’s owner and producer, Bill Hanney, will be awarded the 2026 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence at a ceremony held on Monday, June 1, at The Huntington Theatre in Boston.
The 2026 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence has been awarded to owner and producer Bill Hanney for his continued work and leadership after the re-opening of North Shore Music Theatre and R.I.’s Theatre By The Sea, and whose work as a producer has also been seen in New England, on Broadway, and in London’s West End.
North Shore Music Theater’s 2025 production of “Rent” received nominations for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical – Didi Romero as Mimi, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical – Aaron Arnell Harrington as Tom Collins, Outstanding Choreography – Marcos Santana, Outstanding Director – Marcos Santana, Outstanding Music Direction – Robert L. Rucinski, Outstanding Costume Design – Rebecca Glick, Outstanding Sound Design – Alex Berg, and Outstanding Ensemble.
North Shore Music Theater’s 2025 production of “The Wizard of Oz” received nominations for Outstanding Choreography – Briana Fallon, Outstanding Scenic Design – Ryan M. Howell, and Outstanding Lighting Design – Jack Mehler.
The Elliot Norton Awards are named for the eminent Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who remained an active supporter of drama, both locally and nationally, until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. Despite shrinking governmental support for the arts, The Boston Theater Critics Association carries on Mr. Norton’s legacy in championing our outstanding theater community.
Special and honored guests at the awards in past years comprise a who’s who of distinguished artists whose work has appeared on Boston’s stages, including: Al Pacino, Chita Rivera, Olympia Dukakis, Faye Dunaway, August Wilson, Melinda Lopez, Randy Rainbow, Cherry Jones, Lea DeLaria, Tommy Tune, Edward Albee, Brian Dennehy, Julie Harris, Sir Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, and Jason Robards Jr.
The 2026 Elliot Norton Awards ceremony will be Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m. at The Huntington Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. Tickets are on sale at the Boston Theatre Scene Box Office, at Bostontheatrescene.com, or by calling (617) 933-8600. For further information, visit ElliotNortonawards.com.
