South Florida's answer to the Tony Awards, and a highlight of each arts season, the Carbonell Awards pay tribute to the very best theatrical productions on local stages; and features the area's top entertainers and theater insiders as they step out from behind their roles in an unforgettable yearly celebration. Revelers gathered on Monday March 30th to celebrate an artistic standard in the local theatrical community—the 2014 Annual Carbonell Award. The ceremonies were attended by South Florida theatregoers, actors, producers, directors, cast and crew members at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The evening featured performances from the five productions nominated for Best Musical, with the festivities continued at the off-site after-party.

The 39th Annual Carbonell Awards ceremony is designed to raise scholarships for students in the tri-county area to study at accredited colleges and universities for careers in the visual and performing arts, and in journalism. Along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation's senior regional arts awards and predate others including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes and Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards.

The graduating high school seniors planning to pursue a degree in theatre or journalism, who were each the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship awarded by the Carbonells were: Danielle Angela Jensen of Margery Stoneman Douglas High School, Jason Poser of Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and Gena Yvonne Sims: New World School of the Arts.

2014 CARBONELL AWARD WINNERS

Plays
Best Production of a Play: The Foreigner, Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
Best Director:Stuart Meltzer, Clark Gable Slept Here, Zoetic Stage.
Best Actor: Nicholas Richberg, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Miami.
Best Actress: Natalia Coego, Bad Jews, GableStage.
Best Supporting Actor: Mark Della Ventura, Bad Jews, GableStage
Best Supporting Actress: Arielle Hoffman, The Whale, GableStage
Best New Work: Clark Gable Slept Here, Michael McKeever, Zoetic Stage.
Best Ensemble Production: Murder Ballad, Actors' Playhouse.

Musicals
Best Production of a Musical: Assassins, Zoetic Stage.
Best Director: Marcia Milgrom Dodge, The King and I, Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
Best Actor: Clay Cartland, The Trouble with Doug, Theatre at Arts Garage.
Best Actress: Ann Marie Olson, Parade, Slow Burn Theatre Company.
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Crawford, Murder Ballad, Actors' Playhouse.
Best Supporting Actress: Mariand Torres, Murder Ballad, Actors' Playhouse.
Best Musical Direction: Manny Schvartzman, Parade, Slow Burn Theatre Company.
Best Choreography: Ron Hutchins, 42nd Street, The Wick.

Design
Best Scenic Design: Yoshinori Tanokura, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Miami.
Best Lighting Design: Eric Haugen, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Miami.
Best Costume Design: Leon Weibers, The King and I, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Sound Design: Matt Corey, The Mountaintop, GableStage.

Internationally-renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell is the creator, namesake and Grand Benefactor of South Florida's Carbonell Awards. Mr. Carbonell designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976. Born in 1918 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, and educated throughout Europe, he fled Cuba's totalitarian regime in 1959. His art works now adorn museums, galleries, private collections and public projects throughout the free world. For additional information please visit the Carbonell Awards website www.carbonellawards.org.

See the current theatre season schedule for southern Florida.

-- John Lariviere