The 42nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards Winner Revealed
Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence was awarded to Kathy St. George.
By: Chloe Rabinowitz Jun. 03, 2025
Awards were presented tonight in over two dozen categories of outstanding actors, directors, designers, choreographers, musicians, and productions, and 5 awards for visiting productions by the Boston Theater Critics Association at The 42nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards ceremony held at The Huntington Theatre in Boston.
This year’s recipient of The 2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence is Kathy St. George, an acclaimed actress based in Boston, whose work has been seen in Boston, New York, nationally, and throughout New England. Special Citations were awarded to the historic Boch Center Wang Theatre in honor of its 100th Anniversary, Apollinaire Theatre Company in honor of its 30th Anniversary, Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25th Anniversary, and Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10th Anniversary. The 2025 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award was presented to Rehearsal for Life— and their flagship programs Urban Improv and the Freelance Players — which supports students’ social-emotional growth through transformative performing arts programming that sparks joy, emphasizes community, and encourages creative expression. For a full list of awardees and nominees, visit ElliotNortonawards.com
The Elliot Norton Awards are presented annually by the Boston Theater Critics Association (Don Aucoin, Jules Becker, Jared Bowen, Christopher Ehlers, Joyce Kulhawik, Charles Munitz, R. Scott Reedy, Jacquinn Sinclair, Bob Verini, and Lynne Weiss; new member as of 4/1/25, Shelley Sackett).
The Elliot Norton Awards are named for the eminent Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who remained an active supporter of drama, both locally and nationally, until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. The greater Boston theater community carries on that legacy, proud of its relentless commitment to the arts, more crucial now in the public forum than ever before.
Special and honored guests at the awards in past years comprise a Who’s Who of distinguished artists whose work has appeared on Boston’s stages, including: Al Pacino, Chita Rivera, Olympia Dukakis, Faye Dunaway, August Wilson, Melinda Lopez, Randy Rainbow, Cherry Jones, Lea DeLaria, Tommy Tune, Edward Albee, Brian Dennehy, Julie Harris, Sir Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, and Jason Robards Jr.
This year’s recipient of The Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence is Kathy St. George. Acting professionally since 1981, she made her Broadway debut in “Fiddler on the Roof” at Lincoln Center. She later played two roles in the Tony-Award winning 1990 revival of “Fiddler” at the Gershwin Theatre directed by the legendary Jerome Robbins. Kathy made her Off-Broadway debut in “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change” at The Westside Theatre. A veteran of five national tours, she has performed across the US, Canada, Russia, and Japan. But Kathy was born in a trunk in Stoneham, MA and is a Boston girl at heart, so she returned to New England to make it her artistic home. Last season alone she appeared in “A Man of No Importance” at SpeakEasy Stage, “A Christmas Carol” at the Majestic Theatre with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, “Urinetown” at Lyric Stage Boston, “Fiddler on the Roof ” (again, oy vey!) at North Shore Music Theatre, and in concert with the Firebird Pops at Greater Boston Stage Company.
Kathy has also performed at the Charles Playhouse, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Wilbur Theatre, Shubert Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre, Hanover Theatre, Publick Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Barter Theatre, Actors' Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Rochester Opera House, and the late great Stuart Street Playhouse and Copley Theatres. She has performed in over a dozen musicals and cabaret shows at her favorite winter destination, the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, FL. Her many cherished performing memories include “Peter Pan,” “Pippin,” "Once,” "Follies," “The Full Monty,” “Ruthless!,” “Showboat,” “Violet,” "Gypsy,” and her own one-person show “Dear Miss Garland.” Kathy received an Elliot Norton Award for her performance in “The Divine Sister,” and IRNE Awards for “Das Barbecu," "Holidaze" and “And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Judy Garland." Member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. A former second-grade teacher, she holds a B.S. and M.Ed. in Education from Salem State University. Kathy is proud and grateful to be a member of our extraordinary theatre community.
Boston Theater Critics Association 42nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards
2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence
Special Citations
The Boch Center Wang Theatre in honor of its 100th Anniversary
Apollinaire Theatre Company in honor of its 30th Anniversary
Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25th Anniversary
Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10th Anniversary
2025 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award
Rehearsal for Life— and their flagship programs Urban Improv and the Freelance Players — which supports students’ social-emotional growth through transformative performing arts programming that sparks joy, emphasizes community, and encourages creative expression.
Visiting Awardees
Outstanding Visiting Play
“Life & Times of Michael K,” A Baxter Theatre Centre and Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus Production, presented by ArtsEmerson
Outstanding Visiting Musical
“Parade,” presented by Emerson Colonial Theatre
Outstanding Visiting Lead Performance in a Musical
Kristin Chenoweth, “The Queen of Versailles,” presented by Emerson Colonial Theatre
Outstanding Visiting Featured Performance in a Musical
Melissa Manchester, “Funny Girl,” presented by Broadway In Boston
Outstanding Visiting Solo Performance
Gordon Clapp, “Robert Frost: This Verse Business,” presented by Spring Pool Arts
Awardees
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Large
Joshua Olumide, “Sojourners,” The Huntington
Outstanding Lighting Design, Large
Alan C. Edwards, “Gatsby,” American Repertory Theater
Outstanding Music Direction
Jenny Tsai, “A Little Night Music,” Sullivan Rep
Outstanding Scenic Design, Large
Mimi Lien, “Gatsby,” American Repertory Theater
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small
Brooks Reeves, “Tartuffe,” Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Outstanding Scenic Design, Midsize or Small
Jon Savage, “The Piano Lesson,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Outstanding Choreography
Ayodele Casel, “Diary of a Tap Dancer,” American Repertory Theater
Outstanding Lighting Design, Midsize or Small
Jeff Adelberg, “The Dybbuk,” Arlekin
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Midsize
Anthony T Goss, “The Piano Lesson,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Outstanding Costume Design, Large
Rachel Padula-Shufelt, “The Winter’s Tale,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Outstanding Sound Design, Midsize or Small
Gage Baker and Peter DiMaggio, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Wheelock Family Theatre
Outstanding Solo Performance
Jenece Upton, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Outstanding New Script—in memory of Athol Fugard
Mfoniso Udofia, “The Grove,” The Huntington
Outstanding Sound Design, Large
Lucas Clopton and Aubrey Dube, “Toni Stone,” The Huntington
Outstanding Costume Design, Midsize/ Small
Seth Bodie, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Lyric Stage Boston
Chloe Moore, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Wheelock Family Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small
Patrick O’Konis, “Touching the Void,” Apollinaire Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Midsize
Omar Robinson, “The Piano Lesson,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Large—in memory of James Earl Jones
Abigail C. Onwunali, “The Grove,” The Huntington
Outstanding Director, Large
Kevin P. Hill, “Titanic,” North Shore Music Theatre
Outstanding Director, Small
Danielle Jacques, “Touching the Void,” Apollinaire Theatre Company
Outstanding Director, Midsize
Armando Rivera, “The Hombres,” Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Cortlandt Barrett, “Next to Normal,” Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Sherée Marcelle, “Next to Normal,” Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Outstanding Play, Large
“Leopoldstadt,” The Huntington in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Play, Small—In memory of Ron Ritchell
“The Dybbuk,” Arlekin
Outstanding Play, Midsize
“The Hombres,” Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea
Outstanding Musical—In memory of William Finn
“Next to Normal,” Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Outstanding Ensemble
“Titanic,” North Shore Music Theatre
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