2024-2025 Colorado Henry Awards Nominations Announced

New this year: No more ‘actor’ and ‘actress’ categories – just ‘performer’

The Colorado Theatre Guild has announced nominees for its 19th Annual Henry Awards, recognizing excellence in Colorado theatre during the 2024-2025 season. The Denver Center Theatre Company, per usual, had the most nominations with 29, but a suprising second this year was the 23 nominations for the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Grand Lake. Rounding out the top five were the Arvada Center with 17, Performance Now with 14 and Firehouse Theater with 11.

The awards ceremony will take place on Monday, July 28, 2025, at the Lone Tree Arts Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. Kenny Moten and Lee Ann Scherlong will co-direct the event, with musical direction by Jordan Ortman.

This year’s judging covered 170 productions from 57 different theatre companies across Colorado from May 16, 2024 to May 15, 2025.

Major Category Nominees

Outstanding Production of a Play:

Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding Production of a Musical:

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Play:

Laura Alcalá Baker, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
Rick Barbour, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Timothy Douglas, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
Christy Montour-Larson, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
Elise Santora, Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

Outstanding Director of a Musical:

Chris Coleman, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Lynne Collins, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Jeff Duke, Come from Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Jeff Duke, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Sally Scott, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Top shows by number of nominations:

Little Shop of Horrors (DCPA Theatre Company) – 11 nominations
The Music Man (Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre) – 10 nominations
Waitress (Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities) – 10 nominations
Come From Away (Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre) – 8 nominations
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Arvada Center) – 7 nominations
Cabaret (multiple companies) – 7 nominations
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Performance Now) – 7 nominations
Downstate (Curious Theatre Company) – 6 nominations
Eyes Up, Mouth Agape (Buntport Theater Company) – 6 nominations
National Bohemians (Miners Alley Performing Arts Center) – 6 nominations

The awards also recognize outstanding performers in both plays and musicals across two tiers, as well as featured performers, ensemble work, choreography, and technical achievements including costume, lighting, scenic, and sound design.

Five world premieres are nominated for Outstanding New Play or Musical, including The Reservoir by Jake Brasch, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape by Buntport Theater Company and Emily K. Harrison, and National Bohemians by Luke Sorge.

Read more about the Henry Awards.

“The Henry Awards are designed to celebrate the talent, wonder, and incredible Colorado theatre community,” said Betty Hart, Board President and Henry Awards Committee Chair. “This was a banner year for Colorado theatre excellence.”

The Henry Awards are named for legendary Colorado theatre producer Henry Lowenstein and serve as one of the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual fundraising events. The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be announced at a later date.

Complete list of nominees:

Outstanding Production of a Play:

Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding Production of a Musical:

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Play:

Laura Alcalá Baker, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
Rick Barbour, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Timothy Douglas, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
Christy Montour-Larson, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
Elise Santora, Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

Outstanding Director of a Musical:

Chris Coleman, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Lynne Collins, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Jeff Duke, Come from Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Jeff Duke, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Sally Scott, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction:

Michael Querio, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Michael Querio, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Dom Scott, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
Angela Steiner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Alec Steinhorn, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
(L-R) Lavour Addison, Jacob Dresch and Sean Scrutchins in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival production of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ | Photo: Jennifer Koskinen

Outstanding Performer in a Play – Tier 1:

Terence Archie, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
Alan Ball, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Creede Repertory Theatre
Jacob Dresch, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Logan Ernstthal, Henry, Theatreworks
Tim Fishbaugh, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Drew Horwitz, The White Chip, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Tammy Meneghini, Morning After Grace, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Anne Penner, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Colton Pratt, Henry, Theatreworks
Katie Rodriguez, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Creede Repertory Theatre
Rosa Isabella Salvatierra, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
Michael Shayan, Avaaz, DCPA Theatre Company
Megan Van De Hey, ‘night Mother, Town Hall Arts Center

Outstanding Performer in a Play – Tier 2:

Miranda Byers, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
Mark Collins, The Trip to Bountiful, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Alex J. Gould, Stockade, Local Theater Company
Wendy Ishii, The Trip to Bountiful, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Regan Linton, The Menagerist, Buntport Theater Company
Frank Oden, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Wild
Jacob Offen, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company
Cheryl Sakaria, The Girl on the Train, Firehouse Theater Company
Simone St. John, Stockade, Local Theater Company
Kelly Uhlenhopp, Othello 2024, Firehouse Theater Company
Johnathan Underwood, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company
Aaron Vega, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Wild
From left: Katie Medved, Miranda Byers and Matthew Combs in the Firehouse Theater production of ‘Perfect Arrangement.’ | Photo: Soular Radiant Photography

Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Tier 1:

John Harmon Cooper, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Shabazz Green, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Gizel Jiménez, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Mitchell Lewis, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Dom Scott, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
Tyler Symone, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Tyler Symone, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Anne Terze-Schwarz, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Luiza Vitucci, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Nik Vlachos, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Tier 2:

Madison Falkenstine, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins, Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Maya A. Hernandez-Pearson, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Clark Destin Jones, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
Cooper Kaminsky, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre
Abigail Kochevar, Cabaret, Platte Valley Players Theatre
Jeffrey Parker, Cabaret, Platte Valley Players Theatre
Jennasea Pearce, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
Emma Rebecca Maxfield, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
Jason Rexx, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
L. Bryce Welborn, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Rachael Perez, Jeffrey Parker and Trevor Targowski in the Platte Valley Theatre Arts production of ‘Cabaret’ at the Armory Performing Arts Center in Brighton | Photo: RDGPhotography

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play – Tier 1:

Steven J. Burge, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Joyce Cohen, The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company
GerRee Hinshaw, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
Jim Hunt, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
Cajardo Lindsey, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
Stephen Pearce, Sense and Sensibility, Theatreworks
Colton Pratt, Sense and Sensibility, Theatreworks
Leslie Sophia Pérez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
Tobias A. Young, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play – Tier 2:

David Austin-Gröen, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company
Brian Colonna, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
Gabe Combs, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Wild
Hannah Duggan, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
Erik Edborg, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
Thadd Krueger, Stockade, Local Theater Company
Heather Ostberg Johnson, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company
Erin Rollman, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
Jacob Sorling, Stockade, Local Theater Company
Kelly Uhlenhopp, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
Erik Edborg (left), Brian Colonna and Hannah Duggan in the Buntport Theater production of ‘Eyes Up, Mouth Agape’ | Photo: Buntport Theater

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical – Tier 1:

Bryce Baxter, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Will Branner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Colin Alexander, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Josh Kellman, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Mitchell Lewis, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Adriane Leigh Robinson, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Jenna Moll Reyes, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Kieran O’Brien, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Megan Opalinski, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
David Studwell, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical – Tier 2:

Ben Brewer, Spamalot, Thin Air Theatre Company
Jennifer Burnett, Cabaret, Platte Valley Players Theatre
Isabella Duran, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre
Alex Forbes, Reefer Madness, OpenStage Theatre & Company
Tiffany Gruman, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
Joshua Harris, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
Victoria Holloway, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
Nick Marshall, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
Lars Preece, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
Jessica Sotwick, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre

From left, Adriane Leigh Robinson, Marco Alberto Robinson and Katie Jackson in the Arvada Center production of ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder.’ | Photo: Amanda Tipton Photography

Outstanding Ensemble Performance:

Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Choreography:

Megan Bliss, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Stephanie Hansen, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Jennifer Lupp, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Kelly Van Oosbree, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
Rickey Tripp, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding New Play or Musical – World Premiere:

The Reservoir, By Jake Brasch, DCPA Theatre Company
Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, By Buntport Theater Company and Emily K. Harrison, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
The Ballot of Paola Aguilar, By Bernardo Cubría, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
The Suffragette’s Murder, By Sandy Rustin, DCPA Theatre Company
National Bohemians, By Luke Sorge, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
From left, Steven J. Burge, Len Matheo and Tim Fishbaugh power down some Natty Bo’s in the world premiere production of Luke Sorge’s play ‘National Bohemians.’ Photo: Sarah Roshan

Outstanding Costume Design – Tier 1:

Kevin Copenhaver, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Kevin Copenhaver, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
Beth Goldenberg, The Suffragette’s Murder, DCPA Theatre Company
Samantha C. Jones, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Nicole Watts, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Outstanding Costume Design – Tier 2:

Emily K. Harrison and Buntport Theater Company, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
Nicole Harrison, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Performance Now Theatre Company
Rachel Herring-Luna, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
Susan Rahmsdorf-Terry, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
Susan Rahmsdorf-Terry, Pirates of Penzance, Performance Now Theatre Company
Emily Valley, Reefer Madness, OpenStage Theatre & Company

Outstanding Lighting Design – Tier 1:

Jon Dunkle, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
Charles R. MacLeod, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Vance McKenzie, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Shannon McKinney, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design – Tier 2:

Josiah Croegaert, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Price Johnston, Waiting for Godot, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Brett Maughan, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
Brett Maughan, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
Vance McKenzie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
Matthew Schlief, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company

Outstanding Scenic Design – Tier 1:

Tony Cisek, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
Brian Mallgrave, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Alan E. Muraoka, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Cody Tellis Rutledge, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Reid Thompson, The Suffragette’s Murder, DCPA Theatre Company

Ben Fankhauser and Gizel Jiménez with Audrey II in ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ | Photo: Jamie Kraus Photography

Outstanding Scenic Design – Tier 2:

Spencer Alton, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Andrew Bates, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
Roger Hanna, Waiting for Godot, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Jeff Jesmer and Troy Lakey, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
Jeff Jesmer and Adrienne Martin-Fullwood, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company
Jason Laughrey, Chloe Flores, Robert Urrutia, Paul LaBar, and Justin Goss, The Play That Goes Wrong, Steel City Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design – Tier 1:

John Hauser, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Noel Nichols, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
Max Silverman, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Creede Repertory Theatre
Max Silverman, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Max Silverman, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Elisabeth Wediner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design – Tier 2:

Dean Arniotes and Biz Schaugaard, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre
Madison Kuebler, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
Brendan O’Hara, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Kitty Robbins, On Clover Road, Springs Ensemble Theatre
Eric Small, The Girl on the Train, Firehouse Theater Company
CeCe Smith, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company
CeCe Smith and Dan McDonough, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
Victoria Villalobos, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company