San Diego’s theater scene is no stranger to innovation, but 2025 has been a year like no other. From bold new musicals tackling reproductive rights to immersive plays staged on vintage trains, this year’s Craig Noel Awards celebrated the boundary-pushing creativity that’s putting San Diego on the national stage. But here’s where it gets controversial: as one of the country’s leading incubators for new plays and musicals, is San Diego getting the recognition it deserves outside its own borders? Let’s dive in.
On Monday night, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle honored the year’s standout achievements at the 22nd annual Craig Noel Awards, named after the visionary Craig Noel—founding director of the Old Globe and a driving force behind San Diego’s professional theater community for over five decades. Held at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre before a packed audience of nearly 400, the ceremony spotlighted 30 winners across categories ranging from new works to technical design.
And this is the part most people miss: San Diego’s role as a theatrical innovator isn’t just about quantity—it’s about the fearless stories being told. Take Regency Girls, The Old Globe’s world premiere musical comedy, which snagged the top prize for Outstanding New Musical. With its Bridgerton-esque charm, this feminist romp tackles women’s reproductive rights in 1810 England—a bold choice that’s as timely as it is entertaining. But is it too daring for mainstream audiences? You decide.
Meanwhile, the Outstanding New Play award went to Carla Navarro’s Fragment/o/s of Air/e, a haunting psychological drama about a Chilean refugee grappling with the trauma of Pinochet’s regime. Premiered at Chula Vista’s OnStage Playhouse, the play is a powerful reminder of theater’s ability to confront uncomfortable truths. Does it go too far, or is it exactly what we need right now?
TuYo Theatre, winner of the Alice and Doug Diamond Outstanding Small Theatre Award, continued to break boundaries with its immersive production of La Llorona on the Blue Line, staged inside a vintage train car. Founded in 2017, TuYo has become a powerhouse for Latinx storytelling, blending tradition with innovation. But is this niche focus limiting its reach, or is it precisely what makes it unique?
Other highlights included Cygnet Theatre’s Follies, which took home Outstanding Resident Musical, and Backyard Renaissance Theatre’s reimagined A Streetcar Named Desire, awarded Outstanding Dramatic Production. These productions, along with the versatile performances of Actors of the Year Eli Wood and Lena Ceja, showcased the depth and diversity of San Diego’s talent.
But here’s the real question: With so much groundbreaking work happening here, why isn’t San Diego’s theater scene getting the national spotlight it deserves? Is it a matter of geography, perception, or something else entirely? Let us know in the comments.
Here’s the full list of 2025 winners, celebrating the artists and productions that made this year unforgettable:
Outstanding New Musical: Regency Girls – The Old Globe
Outstanding New Play: Fragment/o/s of Air/e by Carla Navarro – OnStage Playhouse
Outstanding Dramatic Production: A Streetcar Named Desire – Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company
Outstanding Resident Musical: Follies – Cygnet Theatre
Alice and Doug Diamond Outstanding Small Theatre Award: TuYo Theatre
2025 Actors of the Year: Eli Wood and Lena Ceja
Audience Choice Award: La Llorona on the Blue Line by Mabelle Reynoso – TuYo Theatre
And the technical awards, which often go unsung but are the backbone of every production:
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical: Richard Bermudez (Jekyll & Hyde) and Karole Foreman (Follies)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play: Marti Gobel (Beauty’s Daughter) and Valeria Vega (Fragment/o/s of Air/e)
Outstanding Youth Performance: Iris Manter
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play: Katie MacNichol (The Waverly Gallery) and Jocorey Mitchell (The Hot Wing King)
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical: Jacob Caltrider (Oklahoma!) and Carmen Cusack (3 Summers of Lincoln)
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Sean Murray (Follies)
Outstanding Direction of a Play: Francis Gercke (The Waverly Gallery)
Outstanding Choreography: Jon Rua and Daniel J. Watts (3 Summers of Lincoln)
Outstanding Music Direction: Patrick Sulken (Regency Girls)
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mathys Herbert (To My Girls)
Outstanding Sound Design: Gareth Owen (The Heart)
Outstanding Lighting Design: Sammy Webster (The Strangers)
Outstanding Costume Design: David I. Reynoso (Regency Girls)
Outstanding Projection Design: Michael Wogulis (The Mountaintop)
Finally, a shoutout to the Reviewers of Tomorrow, presented by Broadway San Diego: Josiah Briggs, Ava Cherry, and Devina Keswani. These rising critics are the voices that will shape the future of theater discourse.
So, what do you think? Is San Diego’s theater scene the best-kept secret in the arts world, or is it poised to take center stage nationally? Share your thoughts below—we’re all ears!
