What an incredible way to celebrate another amazing season at Studio Players!
We are absolutely thrilled to share that Studio Players has been named Community Theatre of the Year by the New Jersey Association of Community Theatres (NJACT)!
The award was presented at the 2026 NJACT Perry Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 4, at The Strand Theatre in Lakewood, NJ. NJACT recognized Studio for our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, our efforts to build broader community ties, and our inventive programming.
This is such a meaningful recognition for our entire Studio Players community.
Over the past several years, Studio has worked hard to make our theatre a place where everyone feels welcome. In 2020, as the Black Lives Matter movement brought issues of representation and inclusion into the national conversation, Studio took a hard look at how we could do better.
Under the guidance of board member Elizabeth Sanchez Quiñones, we hosted a series of eight honest and thoughtful conversations with BIPOC artists, neurodiverse advocates, and actors with disabilities. Those conversations helped us identify ways to make Studio more welcoming and inclusive, and we have seen representation increase both on our stage and throughout our organization.
Following Elizabeth’s passing, the committee was renamed in her honor, and that important work continues today under the co-chairmanship of board members Idris Talbott and A’layeah Thompson.
And while it is wonderful to be recognized for that work, Studio Players has also continued to grow artistically. Our productions, our audiences, and our community connections have all grown over the past several years, and we are so proud of what we are building together.
Success this year
We are so proud of all of our 2026 NJACT Perry Award nominees and the incredible work they put into bringing these productions to life. Each nomination is a wonderful recognition of the talent, creativity, and dedication that our artists and volunteers bring to Studio Players.
2026 NJACT Perry Award Winners
Outstanding Properties in a Musical
Kevin Ohlweiler, First Date
Outstanding Stage Management of a Play
Nicole Dougherty and Ashley “Ash” Nichols, A Night at the Theatre: An Immersive Murder Mystery Experience
2026 NJACT Perry Award Nominations
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Kevin Ohlweiler, First Date
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Steve Moger and Kevin Ohlweiler, First Date
Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play
Elliott Peterson, Our Town
Outstanding Youth Actress in a Play
Brooke Olivia Ginsberg, Our Town
Studio Players would also like to recognize Alicia Whavers, a member of our board of directors, for her nomination for Outstanding Production of an Original Play for Hey! I Heard You Were Black, through her company Unidentified Stages.
And while it is always exciting to see individual achievements recognized, community theatre has never been about just one person.
Every rehearsal, every costume change, every set piece, every lighting cue, every ticket sold, every musician, volunteer, stage manager, designer, director, crew member, board member, and performer helps bring these productions to life.
What makes this award so special.
The Community Theatre of the Year award is a celebration of all the people who have given their time, creativity, energy, and heart to Studio Players. It belongs to everyone who has been part of this theatre, whether you have been with us for decades or walked through our doors for the very first time this year.
“I could not be more proud of the work that we are doing at Studio Players both artistically and organizationally,” said E. Dale Smith-Gallo, Board President. “We have seen exceptional growth in both our productions and audience attendance over the last several years, and we thank NJACT for this outstanding recognition. We hope that this achievement will encourage even more Montclair residents to come check us out in the near future.”
To our nominees, congratulations! To our award winners, we are so proud of you. And to everyone who was part of these productions and everything else happening at Studio, thank you.
You are the reason Studio Players continues to create memorable theatre and remains a welcoming home for artists and audiences alike.
We are so proud of our Studio Players family and incredibly grateful to NJACT for this honor.