This past Thursday night, November 7, was a truly show-stopping one for the Delray Beach Playhouse, as it marked their very first DelLago Awards Gala. Formerly known as the Actors Awards Gala, the theater’s annual awards ceremony, set to spotlight standout performances from this past season, has been renamed in honor of the Playhouse’s long-time Artistic Director and Delray Beach theater legend, Randolph “Randy” DelLago. Over the course of his decades-long career, DelLago directed hundreds of plays and musicals, becoming a beloved member of the Playhouse staff, and the South Florida theater community as a whole. The DelLago Awards keep his memory alive by honoring cast members and shows from the most recent season, and by providing a place to celebrate the art form of theater, the joy that it has granted so many people, and the incredible talents who bring these shows to life.
Prior to the beginning of the ceremony, attendees mixed, mingled, and enjoyed some refreshments, but before long, the curtain came up, and with the help of presenters Peter Galman and Patricia Wakely Wolf, it was time to find out who would take home their very own DelLago Award. From the pen pals of She Loves Me to the poodle skirts of Grease, and everything in between, each of the wonderful productions that composed the Playhouse’s 2023-24 season—and the cast and crew who made them all possible—were given a chance to shine.
This year’s ceremony also included the Hidden Gem Award, which honors one Playhouse employee who went above and beyond to make the season a success. Read on for a full list of the categories and their nominees—and winners!
Categories & Winners:
Breakout Star — Ensemble (Main Stage)
Nominees
Allie Woodside (Grease)
Amanda Lopez (Grease)
Kalista Curbelo (Grease)
Lila Fuchs (Merrily We Roll Along)
Marci Robin (Merrily We Roll Along)
Mia Jeannie Rubin (She Loves Me)
Mikaylah O’Brien (Grumpy Old Men)
Scott Travis (Grumpy Old Men)
Trenton Hazelton (Grease)
Winner: Daniel Sanchez (She Loves Me)
Best Cast (Off Broadway)
Nominees
Boeing Boeing
America’s Sexiest Couple
Winner: Wait Until Dark
Best Cast (Main Stage)
Nominees
Merrily We Roll Along
She Loves Me
Grumpy Old Men
The Lost Virginity Tour
Winner: Grease
Best Performance — Featured Actress (Off Broadway)
Nominees
JB Wing (Boeing Boeing)
Sandi Stock (Boeing Boeing)
Zoe Darragh Garnett (Boeing Boeing)
Winner: Ellie Rose (Wait Until Dark)
Best Performance — Featured Actress (Main Stage)
Nominees
Betty Ann Hunt Strain (Grumpy Old Men)
Diane Tyminski (Grumpy Old Men)
Elizabeth Robinson (Grease)
Hailey McDonough (Merrily We Roll Along)
Jessie Dez (Grease)
Rachel O’Hara (Merrily We Roll Along)
Sophia Jacovitz (Grease)
Winner: Amanda Lopez (She Loves Me)
Best Performance — Featured Actor (Off Broadway)
Nominees
Forrest Stringfellow (America’s Sexiest Couple)
Kevin Cruz (Boeing Boeing)
Rio Chavarro (Wait Until Dark)
Troy J. Stanley (Wait Until Dark)
Winner: Michael Coppola (Wait Until Dark)
Best Performance — Featured Actor (Main Stage)
Nominees
Alan Goodman (She Loves Me)
Alex J. Blanco (She Loves Me)
Chris Ombres (Grease)
Desir Dumerjuste (Grease)
Jim Tyminski (Grumpy Old Men)
Kole Rosin (She Loves Me)
Louis Silvers (She Loves Me)
Paolo Pineda (Grease)
Winner: Barry Skeist (Grumpy Old Men)
Best Performance — Leading Actress (Off Broadway)
Nominees
Angie Radash (Boeing Boeing)
Kim Ostrenko (America’s Sexiest Couple)
Winner: Rachel Whittington (Wait Until Dark)
Best Performance — Leading Actress (Main Stage)
Nominees
Betty Ann Hunt Strain (The Lost Virginity Tour)
Devra Seidel (Merrily We Roll Along)
Elise Levine (The Lost Virginity Tour)
Elizabeth Robinson (Merrily We Roll Along)
Kimberly Harvey (Grease)
Liz DeBeer (Grumpy Old Men)
Raven Adams (The Lost Virginity Tour)
Shalia Sakona (She Loves Me)
Sharon Pfeiffer (The Lost Virginity Tour)
Winner: Hannah Hayley (Grease)
Best Performance — Leading Actor (Off Broadway)
Nominees
Noah Levine (Boeing Boeing)
Peter Galman (Tuesdays with Morrie)
Shane Tanner (Wait Until Dark)
Wayne LeGette (America’s Sexiest Couple)
Winner: Jim Tyminsky (Tuesdays with Morrie)
Best Performance — Leading Actor (Main Stage)
Nominees
Chris Ombres (Merrily We Roll Along)
Daniel Distasio (Grease)
Michael Materdomini (Grease)
Louis Silvers (Grumpy Old Men)
Nate Kaufman (Grumpy Old Men)
Winner: Bob Ruggles (She Loves Me)
Best Off Broadway Production
Nominees
Boeing Boeing
America’s Sexiest Couple
Winner: Wait Until Dark
Best Main Stage Production
Nominees
Grease
Merrily We Roll Along
Grumpy Old Men
The Lost Virginity Tour
Winner: She Loves Me
The Hidden Gem Award (Awarded to a playhouse employee):
Jeff Davis, Master Carpenter
