“Mexodus,” “Spelling Bee,” and More Honoured at the Off-Broadway Alliance Awards – front mezz junkies, Theater News

Frontmezzjunkies reports: The Winners of the 15th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards

By Ross

Some of the most thrilling nights I have ever experienced in theatre have happened far away from Broadway’s largest stages, inside intimate Off-Broadway spaces where artistic risk, emotional immediacy, and creative ambition seem to vibrate directly through the walls. Off-Broadway has always carried a unique electricity for me because it often feels like the place where theatre is still discovering itself in real time. New voices emerge there. Strange ideas take shape there. Productions arrive with fewer guarantees but often with far greater urgency. That spirit was beautifully reflected this week as the Off-Broadway Alliance announced the winners of its 15th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, celebrating the outstanding productions and artists that defined the 2025-2026 season.

The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 16th at 1:00pm at Sardi’s. 

Among the major winners, Mexodus claimed Best Musical, while Cold War Choir Practice received the award for Best Play. The acclaimed revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee earned Best Revival, reaffirming the enduring affection audiences continue to hold for William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s beloved musical comedy. In the solo performance category, Can I Be Frank? took top honours, while the immersive production Masquerade received the award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience.

Beyond the competitive categories, the Off Broadway Alliance will also honour several beloved figures whose careers have helped shape the identity and vitality of New York theatre itself. Legendary stage and screen actor Peter Friedman and celebrated performer and impressionist Christine Pedi will receive Legend of Off-Broadway Awards for their extraordinary artistic contributions over many years.

The ceremony will also celebrate the lasting legacies of producer and press representative David Gersten, downtown theatre advocate Andy Halliday, and longtime producing executive Paul Libin, all of whom will be inducted posthumously into the Off-Broadway Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the Friend of Off-Broadway Award will be presented to Richard Ridge for his decades of passionate support and documentation of the New York theatre community.

What makes these awards especially meaningful is how fully they reflect the adventurous spirit that has always defined Off-Broadway itself. These productions and artists exist within a theatrical ecosystem driven not by spectacle alone, but by imagination, intimacy, experimentation, and an enduring belief in the emotional power of live performance. Whether through bold new musicals, deeply personal solo works, inventive revivals, or immersive theatrical experiences, this year’s winners collectively celebrate the restless creativity that continues to keep Off-Broadway one of the most exciting artistic spaces anywhere in the theatre world.

Full List of Winners

Best Musical

• Beau
• Bigfoot
• Mexodus WINNER
• Night Side Songs
• The Porch on Windy Hill

Best Play

Best Revival

Best Solo Performance

• Can I Be Frank? WINNER
• Kenrex
• The Least Problematic Woman in the World
• Other
• ta-da!

Best Unique Theatrical Experience