Students, faculty, staff and alumni from UCF have been recognized by Matthew J. Palm in the Orlando Sentinel’s Orlando Theater Best of 2025. [Note: subscription may be required to view links. Support local journalism!]
Director, Drama: Roberta Emerson, lecturer at UCF and director of new plays at Orlando Shakes, was honored for the production For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide… at Theater West End. Alumnus Nick Bazo ’09MFA was also honored for Orlando Shakes’ production of Anna in the Tropics.
Leading actor, Drama: Roberta Emerson was honored for the role of Queen Margaret in Orlando Shakes’ production of Henry IV, Part 2. Alumnus Timothy Williams was honored for the role of the Duke of York in Orlando Shakes’ production of Henry IV, Part 2. Alumna Dee Quintero was honored for her portrayal of the character Conchita in Orlando Shakes’ production of Anna in the Tropics.
Special recognition, Video design: Tim Brown, associate professor and coordinator of theatre design and technology, was honored for his video projections in Orlando Family Stage’s production of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Leading actor, drama: Roberta Emerson, actor, was honored for her portrayal of Queen Margaret in Orlando Shakes’ production of Henry VI, Part 2: She-Wolf of France, delivering a commanding performance marked by icy authority and flashes of unexpected vulnerability.
Leading actor, drama: Dee Quintero, actor, was recognized for her performance in Orlando Shakes’ Anna in the Tropics, where she quietly built a portrait of restraint that evolved into a powerful expression of self-determination.
Leading actor, drama: Timothy Williams, alumnus, was honored for his role as the Duke of York in Orlando Shakes’ Henry VI, Part 2: She-Wolf of France, commanding the stage with steely conviction and charismatic intensity.
Special recognition, video design: Tim Brown, associate professor and coordinator of theatre design and technology, was recognized for his video projections in Orlando Family Stage’s production of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which brought the book’s iconic illustrations to life while adding energy and momentum to the storytelling.
Leading actor, comedy: Alexander Hehr, alumnus, was honored for his performances in Theater West End’s Sordid Lives, earning recognition for his versatility and comedic timing across two sharply contrasting roles.
Leading Actor, comedy: Timothy Williams was honored for his multiple roles in Orlando Shakes’ The Hound of the Baskervilles, showcasing sharp comedic range from an inspired villain to a delightfully oblivious Sherlock Holmes.
Director, comedy: Roberta Emerson, director, was recognized for her work on Orlando Shakes’ Welcome to Matteson, skillfully balancing humor and social commentary while developing nuanced relationships among the play’s characters.
Director, comedy: Tara Kromer, alumnus, was honored for her direction of Theater West End’s Sordid Lives, skillfully balancing broad humor with heartfelt storytelling so that themes of tolerance and love emerged naturally through laughter.
Sound design: Anthony Narciso was honored for his sound design for Orlando Family Stage’s Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium, crafting a playful yet spooky soundscape that balanced suspense and fun for young audiences.
Scenic design: Tramaine Berryhill was honored for his scenic design for Theatre at St. Luke’s Big Fish, creating a multi-tiered, visually inventive set that seamlessly supported both intimate scenes and large-scale theatrical moments.
Scenic design: Bert Scott was honored for his scenic design for Orlando Shakes’ Cabaret, crafting a decaying theater environment whose worn textures and tarnished surfaces mirrored the moral and social unraveling at the heart of the production.
More honorees will be added throughout the month as announced by the Orlando Sentinel.