A Star-Studded Summer Night: Delray Beach Playhouse’s Second Annual DelLago Awards Gala

The evening of Saturday, July 19, was cause for celebration at the Delray Beach Playhouse! The special occasion? None other than the Playhouse’s Second Annual DelLago Awards Gala. Originally known as the Actors’ Awards Gala, the theater’s annual awards ceremony, set to spotlight standout performances from this 2024-25 season, has been renamed in honor of the Playhouse’s long-time Artistic Director and Delray Beach theater legend, Randolph “Randy” DelLago. Throughout his long, illustrious career, DelLago directed hundreds of plays and musicals, becoming a beloved member not only of the Playhouse staff, but also 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 ceremony, attendees enjoyed a lively cocktail hour, but before long, the curtain came up, and with the help of returning presenters Peter Galman and Patricia Wolf, it was time to find out who would take home their very own DelLago Award. From the snowglobes of Living on Love to the surfboards of Escape to Margaritaville, and everything in between, each of the wonderful productions that composed the Playhouse’s past 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 may have stayed out of the spotlight, yet 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 in a Main Stage Production

Nominees:

• Nicolas Aquino

• Ryat Chisholm

• Cam Davis

• Neil Evangelista

• Sergio Fuenzalida

• Manda Gonzalez

• Sage Meyers

• Madison Pappalardo

• Mark Perello, Jr.

• Laura Schwartzendruber

• Seth Ullian

Winner: Elizabeth Robinson

Best Cast in an Off Broadway Production

Nominees

• Sidekicked!

• The Last Night of Ballyhoo

• Living on Love

Winner: Dry Powder

Best Cast in a Main Stage Production

Nominees

• A Chorus Line

• Escape to Margaritaville

• Murder on the Orient Express

• The Bridges of Madison County

Winner: The Producers

Best Performance by a Featured Actress Off Broadway

Nominees

• Liz DeBeer

• Betty Ann Hunt Strain

Winner: Amber Lynn Benson

Best Performance by a Featured Actress Main Stage

Nominees

• Norita Bandel

• Nia Bourne

• Anna Cappelli

• Rachel O’Hara

• Elaine Levin

• Demi Master

• Jade Master

• Jessica Perry

Winner: JB Wing

Best Performance by a Featured Actor Off Broadway

Nominees

• Christian Cooper

• Jack Stein

• Matthew Schenk

Winner: Christopher Dreeson

Best Performance by a Featured Actor Main Stage

Nominees

• Desir Dumerjuste

• Thomas Hallett

• Joel Hunt

• Santiago Garza

• Anthony Lobo

• Jeff Morgan

• Eric Purcell

• Lovell Rose

• Brian Shaer

• Chase Stante

• Jorge Valero

Winner: Matthew Schenk

Best Performance by a Leading Actress Off Broadway

Nominees

• Irene Adjan

• Hannah Hayley

• Mallory Newbrough

• Rachel Whittington

Winner: Autumn Kioti Horne

Best Performance by a Leading Actress Main Stage

Nominees

• Spensyr Bach

• Aurora Jenkins

• Deborah Katz

• Amanda Lopez

Winner: Dawn Derow

Best Performance by a Leading Actor Main Stage

Nominees

• Sean Birkett

• Bruno Faria

• Robert Fritz

• Brandon Kraut

• Theodore Martello

• Collin Salvatore

Winner: Todd Caster

Best Off Broadway Production

Nominees

• Sidekicked!

• The Last Night of Ballyhoo

• Living on Love

Winner: Dry Powder

Best Main Stage Production

Nominees

• A Chorus Line

• Escape to Margaritaville

• Murder on the Orient Express

• The Bridges of Madison County

Winner: The Producers

The Hidden Gem Award (awarded to a playhouse employee):

Winner: Hen Zannini, Usher

Want to take in a production at the Delray Beach Playhouse? You won’t want to miss what their upcoming season has in store! Click here to find out more about the Playhouse’s Main Stage Plays, and here for more information about their Off-Broadway Series.