Prix Rideau Awards announces 2025–26 theatre season nominations
Juries made up of theatre professionals, critics and patrons have named nominees across 10 categories for the annual awards, which celebrate French and English locally produced theatre.
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The Prix Rideau Awards has announced nominations for the 2025–26 theatre season, recognizing French and English locally produced professional theatre work and its artists.
English and French juries made up of theatre professionals, critics and patrons reviewed locally produced plays, musicals, dramas and comedies from September 2025 through August 2026. The awards exist to foster artistic excellence and encourage communication between both theatre communities.
Outstanding production nominees are Macbeth at the Tower (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival), R & J and Joni (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival), Sound (Skeleton Key Theatre), and Wind (Cullen Elijah McGrail & Nicholas Leno).
Outstanding direction nominees include Shauna Akkermans for Pride and Prejudice (Morph Arts); Nicholas Leno for Wind (Cullen Elijah McGrail & Nicholas Leno); Caity Smyck and Ava Alavi for Sound (Skeleton Key Theatre); and James Wallis for Macbeth at the Tower (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival).
In outstanding performances, nominees span Hilary Adams (Macbeth at the Tower), Ava Alavi and Laurence Gallant (both for Sound), Rachel Eugster (Blood Relations), Andrew Iles (Macbeth at the Tower), Geoff McBride (Wind), Sarah McKay (Pride and Prejudice), and Jillian Mitsuko Cooper and Cara Pantalone (both for R & J and Joni).
Outstanding ensemble performance honours go to ensembles from Macbeth at the Tower, A Midsummer Night's Dream (a Company of Fools), Pride and Prejudice (Morph Arts), R & J and Joni, and The Rock That Boated (Dangerous Dames Theatre).
Outstanding design nominees include Hannah Ferguson (costume design, Macbeth at the Tower), Vanessa Imeson (costume design, A Midsummer Night's Dream), Ian McMullen (puppet design, Dwarves and Dark Places), Yasaman Moradi (video design, Sound), Rachel Van Staalduinen (puppet design, Karl the Cat and the Junkyard Pack), and Laura Wheeler (lighting design, Wind).
Behind the Rideau Award nominees recognize Schyler Fevens and Caitlin Hart as stage managers, Tamara LaPlante as stage manager (Gander Euphoria: A Pretty Gay Goose Play), Nicholas Leno as dramaturg for Wind, and Glency Lopez as production assistant.
The details
What period did juries review for these nominations?
English and French juries reviewed locally produced theatre work from September 2025 through August 2026.
How many categories are included in these nominations?
The Prix Rideau Awards nominations span 10 categories, recognizing French and English locally produced professional theatre.
What are the outstanding production nominees?
'Macbeth at the Tower' (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival), 'R & J and Joni' (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival), 'Sound' (Skeleton Key Theatre), and 'Wind' (Cullen Elijah McGrail & Nicholas Leno) are nominated for outstanding production.
