Bentley Awards and Celebration of 2025-2026 Season

2026 Bentley Awards
Join us to celebrate the 2025-2026 Season!

Bellingham Cruise Terminal
Saturday August 29, 2026
6-7 social hour for nominees and those involved in productions only
7-9 awards ceremony

PLEASE RSVP: Reserve a spot

Named for Roy Bentley, the Bentley Awards are bestowed at the annual awards ceremony held each August. Bentley Awards are focused on the productions from the previous season; a panel of independent judges create nominations and choose winners in a variety of categories, some standard (e.g., best show, best director) and some nonstandard and even whimsical (e.g., most enthusiastic set change).

NOMINATIONS
Congratulations to all the nominees on being recognized for your excellent work this past season!

Best Actor – Female Role – Play
Isabella Jones, Annie, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Deshanna Brown, Kendra Ellis-Connor, “American Son”
Molly Garrison, The Photographer, “Kodachrome”
Taylor Rae-Anne, Florist / Mystery Novelist, “Kodachrome”
Olivia Wise, Librarian / Waitress, “Kodachrome”

Best Actor – Male Role – Play
Christopher Ballou, Chris / Inspector Carter, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Rossner Randolph, Robert / Thomas, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Jamie Healt, Scott Connor, “American Son”
Steven L. Thomas, Lt. John Stokes, “American Son”
Emmett Kineman, The Gravedigger / Young Man, “Kodachrome”

Best Actor – Male Role – Musical
Paul Henderson, Curtis, “Sister Act”
Ian McFarlane, Eddie Souther, “Sister Act”
Emmett Kineman, Henry, “Next to Normal”
Brett Madden, Dan Goodman, “Next to Normal”
Aidan Williams, Gabe Goodman, “Next to Normal”

Best Actor – Female Role – Musical
Chelsea Blackwell, Mother Superior, “Sister Act”
Jennaveve Hernandez, Sister Mary Robert, “Sister Act”
Elsa B Miller, Deloris Van Cartier, “Sister Act”
Elsa B Miller, Natalie Goodman, “Next to Normal”
Sophia Christensen, Diana Goodman, “Next to Normal”

Outstanding Character Actor – Male or Female Role – Play or Musical
Elias Gardner, Max / Cecil / Arthur, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Amy Erickson, Sister Mary Lazarus, “Sister Act”
Doreen Younglove, Monsignor O’Hara, “Sister Act”
Olivia Wise, Sister Mary Patrick, “Sister Act”
Clare Koesters, EMT2, “Kodachrome”
Levi Weston Bruner, Drs. Fine / Madden, “Next to Normal”

Best Vocalist – Female Role – Musical
Chelsea Blackwell, Mother Superior, “Sister Act”
Jennaveve Hernandez, Sister Mary Robert, “Sister Act”
Elsa B Miller, Deloris Van Cartier, “Sister Act”
Elsa B Miller, Natalie, “Next to Normal”
Sophia Christensen, Diana Goodman, “Next to Normal”

Best Vocalist – Male Role – Musical
Paul Henderson, Curtis, “Sister Act”
Ian McFarlane, Eddie Souther, “Sister Act”
Emmett Kineman, Henry, “Next to Normal”
Brett Madden, Dan Goodman, “Next to Normal”
Aidan Williams, Gabe Goodman, “Next to Normal”

Best New Actor – Female Role – Musical or Play
Emy EveryHope, Sandra / Florence, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Jennaveve Hernandez, Sister Mary Robert, “Sister Act”
Deshanna Brown, Kendra Ellis-Connor, “American Son”
Sophia Christensen, Diana Goodman, “Next to Normal”

Best New Actor – Male Role – Musical or Play
Elias Gardner, Max / Cecil / Arthur, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Ian McFarlane, Eddie Souther, “Sister Act”
Doreen Younglove, Monsignor O’Hara, “Sister Act”
Fabiola Yupari, Pablo, “Sister Act”
Steven L Thomas, Lt. John Stokes, “American Son”
Emmett Kineman, The Gravedigger / Young Man, “Kodachrome”
Levi Weston Bruner, Drs. Fine / Madden, “Next to Normal”

Best Ensemble – Musical or Play
The Crooks, “Sister Act”
The Backstage Crew, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
The Nuns, “Sister Act”
The Players, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
The (Living) Townspeople, “Kodachrome”

Best Duo – Play or Musical
Thomas Beirne + Clara Koesters, EMTs, “Kodachrome”
Deshanna Brown + Jamie Healt, Kendra & Scott Ellis-Connor, “American Son”
Sophia Christensen + Brett Madden, the Goodmans, “Next to Normal”
Molly Garrison + Emmett Kineman, Photographer + Gravedigger, “Kodachrome”
Kyle Kahklen + Taylor Rae-Ann, 2 couples, “Kodachrome”
Emmett Kineman + Elsa B Miller, Henry + Natalie, “Next to Normal”

Best Costume Design
Marie Wildfiled, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Ali Salvino, “Sister Act”
Olivia Wise, “Kodachrome”
Adie Grass, “American Son”
Rylan MacDonald, “Next to Normal”

Best Lighting Design
Dylan Gibson, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Sean McMullen + Portia Cicchitti, “Sister Act”
Sean McMullen+ Ali Salvino, “American Son”
Dylan Gibson “Kodachrome”
Shaw Metcalf, “Next to Normal”

Best Sound Design
Tim Rodenberger, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Daniel Gross, “Sister Act”
Les Campbell, “American Son”
Heidi Sackerson, “Kodachrome”
Jackson Kelly, “Next to Normal”

Best Properties
Christy Genuit + Carole Osier, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Jeff Eastman + Teri Grimes, “Sister Act”
Teri Grimes, “Kodachrome”
Teri Grimes, “Next to Normal”

Best Technical Direction/Special Effects
Russ Nelson, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Ryan Goelzenleuchter, “Kodachrome”

Best Set Design
Russ Nelson, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
David Cohn, “Sister Act”
David Cohn, “American Son”
Les Campbell, “Kodachrome”
David Cohn + Justin Pickard + Tom Roberts, “Next to Normal”

Best Choreography
Christopher Ballou “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Deshanna Brown, “Sister Act”
Erin Melanie, “Next to Normal”

Best Stage Management
Ali Salvino, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Eden White + Logan Ransom, “Sister Act”
Taylor Rae-Anne, “American Son”
Hannah Smith + Madison Moore, “Kodachrome”
Logan Ransom + Ellie Pierson, “Next to Normal”

Best Musical Direction
TJ Anderson, “Sister Act”
Quinn Krivanek, “Next to Normal”

Best Direction
Shawn Fuller, “The Play That Goes Wrong”
Teri Grimes, “Sister Act”
Deshanna Brown, “American Son”
Heidi Sackerson “Kodachrome”
TJ Anderson “Next to Normal”

Best Production
“The Play That Goes Wrong”
“Sister Act”
“American Son”
“Kodachrome”
“Next to Normal”