Frontmezzjunkies reports: A quiet evening announcement carries the weight of a season’s most lasting impressions
By Ross
In a grand and great surprise, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle has named one of my favourite plays of the season, Little Bear Ridge Road, as Best Play of the 2025-26 season. It feels like one of those moments, a recognition of a play that quietly astounded, and closed far too quickly.
Selected at the organization’s 90th annual voting meeting, the honor places Samuel D. Hunter’s work at the center of a season defined by intimate storytelling and emotional precision. Directed by Joe Mantello, the play’s Broadway run at the Booth Theatre followed an earlier premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, marking a journey that has now culminated in one of the field’s most enduring recognitions.
The Circle also continued its newer performance honors, awarding Best Individual Performance to Alden Ehrenreich for Becky Shaw, and Best Ensemble Performance to the cast of Death of a Salesman. These acknowledgments highlight a season shaped not only by writing, but by the collective and individual artistry that brings it to life on stage.
Special Citations further broaden the scope of recognition. The revival of Ragtime at Lincoln Center Theater was honored, alongside career achievements by Wallace Shawn and André Gregory. Costume designer Qween Jean was also recognized for work that has left a distinct visual imprint across productions, including Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Liberation, and Saturday Church.
Notably, no award was given for Best Musical this season, a shocking decision that stands as its own statement within a year filled with varied theatrical offerings. The Circle’s selections, as always, reflect a collective critical voice drawn from across New York’s major publications, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1936.
As these honors are set to be presented on May 7, the announcement itself offers a moment to pause and take stock of the season just passed. The plays, the performances, and the artists recognized here trace a path through the year’s theatrical landscape, one that leads back to that initial sense of stillness. A title is named, a performance is singled out, a body of work is acknowledged, and suddenly the season gathers into focus again, just before the full list of honorees unfolds.
