Established in 2006, The Henry Awards honor outstanding achievements during the past season and serves as the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual fundraising event. The awards are named for theatre producer Henry Lowenstein. Nominations are determined through a judging process conducted by more than 100 statewide peer professionals, academics / educators and other theatre lovers.
Henry Lowenstein The awards are named in honor of longtime Colorado theatre producer and director Henry Lowenstein, who made significant artistic and advocacy contributions to the local theatre community over many decades.
Current Awards In 2026, awards were presented in 28 categories. The categories are Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Play, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Tier 1), Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Tier 2), Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Tier 1), Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Tier 2), Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Tier 1), Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Tier 2), Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (Tier 1), Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (Tier 2), Outstanding Ensemble Performance, Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding New Play or Musical - World Premiere, Outstanding Costume Design (Tier 1), Outstanding Costume Design (Tier 2), Outstanding Lighting Design (tier 1), Outstanding Lighting Design (tier 2), Outstanding Scenic Design (tier 1), Outstanding Scenic Design (Tier 2), Outstanding Sound Design (Tier 1), Outstanding Sound Design (Tier 2) and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Eligibility for nomination is open to organizational member productions produced in Colorado that meet the Henry Award criteria. Judging categories are for productions, directors, designers and performers. Lifetime Achievement qualification has its own distinct criteria. Productions that are solely produced by a high school, college or university, children's theatre (shows that are by children for children), puppet shows, opera, performance art, mime theatre, unscripted, improvised productions or staged readings are not eligible for the Henry Awards.
Nominations and awards are determined by a panel of trained judges made up of theatre professionals, theatre educators and qualified theatre patrons. The Lifetime Achievement Award is determined by nominations from members of the Colorado theatre community. The recipient is selected from the nominees by the Colorado Theatre Guild Board of Directors.
History The first Henry Awards were presented on June 5, 2006 at the New Denver Civic Theatre. The original award statue was a ceramic mask designed to resemble the face of Henry Lowenstein, In 2018, the Henry Award was redesigned as a custom, engraved commemorative plaque.
In 2013, the Colorado Theatre Guild decided to separate technical design categories into two tiers which were determined by the annual budget of the producing theatres. In 2022, the tier system was applied to the acting categories as well.
In 2025, the Colorado Theatre Guild chose to eliminate gender in the acting categories and present each acting award to the top two performers.
20th Annual Henry Awards The 20th Annual Henry Awards were presented on July 20, 2026 at the Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities for the 2025-2026 season.
The 2025-2026 Henry Award winners were: CategoryWinnerOutstanding Production of a PlayEnglish, Denver Center Theatre CompanyOutstanding Production of a MusicalNice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Direction of a PlayGordon Greenberg, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, DCPA CabaretOutstanding Direction of a Musical Kate Gleason, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Musical DirectionAlec Steinhorn, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Tier 1)Bernard Dotson, Driving Miss Daisy, Theatre Aspen
Kenneth Tigar, The Happiest Man on Earth, Denver Center Theatre CompanyOutstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Tier 2)Jeffrey Bigger, Another Medea, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Martha Harmon Pardee, Alabama Story, Firehouse Theatre CompanyOutstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Tier 1)Adriane Leigh Robinson, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts Center
Marco Alberto Robinson, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Tier 2)Adam Brett, Cabaret, Stage of Life (SoL) Theatre Company
Maura Fawley, Cabaret, Stage of Life (SoL) Theatre CompanyOutstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Tier 1)Leslie O’Carroll, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, DCPA Cabaret
Adriane Leigh Robinson, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, DCPA CabaretOutstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Tier 2)Steve Emily, Frozen, Springs Ensemble Theatre
Dia Kline, The Last Yiddish Speaker, Theatre OrOutstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (Tier 1)Elise Daniells,Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts Center
Jennifer DeDominici, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts Center
Shabazz Green, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (Tier 2)Jeffrey Parker, South Pacific, Performance Now Theatre Company
Jason Rexx, Something Rotten!, StageDoor TheatreOutstanding Ensemble PerformanceNice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding ChoreographyChristopher Page-Sanders, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding New Play or Musical - World PremiereGodspeed, Written by Terence Anthony, Denver Center Theatre CompanyOutstanding Costume Design (Tier 1)Madison Booth, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Costume Design (Tier 2)Charlotte Campbell, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Performance Now Theatre CompanyOutstanding Lighting Design (Tier 1)Charles R. MacLeod, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, DCPA CabaretOutstanding Lighting Design (Tier 2)Josiah Croegaert, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Breckenridge Backstage TheatreOutstanding Scenic Design (Tier 1)Christopher L. Sheley, The Roommate, Colorado Springs Fine Arts
Center at Colorado CollegeOutstanding Scenic Design (Tier 2)Jim & Carla Brookman, The Cottage, OpenStage Theatre & CompanyOutstanding Sound Design (Tier 1)Max Silverman, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts CenterOutstanding Sound Design (Tier 2)Madison Kuebler, Alabama Story, Firehouse Theatre CompanyLifetime Achievement AwardDr. Brian Kelly, DDS
19th Annual Henry Awards The 19th Annual Henry Awards were presented on July 28, 2025 at the Lone Tree Arts Center for the 2024-2025 season.
The 2024-2025 Henry Award winners were: CategoryWinnerOutstanding Production of a PlayDownstate, Curious Theatre Company Outstanding Production of a MusicalCome From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding Direction of a PlayRick Barbour, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) Outstanding Direction of a Musical Jeff Duke, Come from Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding Musical DirectionMichael Querio, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Tier 1)Anne Penner, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC)
Rosa Isabella Salvatierra, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Tier 2)Miranda Byers, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
Wendy Ishii, The Trip to Bountiful, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Johnathan Underwood, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Tier 1)Shabazz Green, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Luiza Vitucci, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Tier 2)Clark Destin Jones, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
Jennasea Pearce, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Tier 1)Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
Leslie Sophia Pérez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre CompanyOutstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Tier 2)Heather Ostberg Johnson, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Kelly Uhlenhopp, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (Tier 1)Will Branner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
Mitchell Lewis, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (Tier 2)Jennifer Burnett, Cabaret, Platte Valley Theatre Arts
Jessica Sotwick, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre Outstanding Ensemble PerformanceCome From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding ChoreographyJennifer Lupp, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Outstanding New Play or Musical - World PremiereThe Reservoir, by Jake Brasch, DCPA Theatre CompanyOutstanding Costume Design (Tier 1)Kevin Copenhaver, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Outstanding Costume Design (Tier 2)Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company Outstanding Lighting Design (Tier 1)Vance McKenzie, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center Outstanding Lighting Design (Tier 2)Brett Maughan, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
Vance McKenzie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company Outstanding Scenic Design (Tier 1)Tony Cisek, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre CompanyOutstanding Scenic Design (Tier 2)Andrew Bates, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company Outstanding Sound Design (Tier 1)John Hauser, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center Outstanding Sound Design (Tier 2)Brendan O’Hara, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Kitty Robbins, On Clover Road, Springs Ensemble Theatre Lifetime Achievement AwardKQ, Artistic Director, Magic Moments, Inc.
18th Annual Henry Awards The 18th Annual Henry Awards were presented on July 29, 2024 at the Lone Tree Arts Center for the 2023-2024 season.
The 2023-2024 Henry Award winners were: CategoryWinnerOutstanding Production of a PlayEndgame, Thunder River Theatre CompanyOutstanding Production of a MusicalA Little Night Music, DCPA Theatre Company Outstanding Direction of a PlayMargot Bordelon, The Lehman Trilogy, DCPA Theatre Company Outstanding Direction of a Musical Chris Coleman, A Little Night Music, DCPA Theatre Company
Lynne Collins, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Outstanding Musical DirectionDavid Nehls, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (Tier 1) Brian Landis Folkins, Endgame, Thunder River Theatre Company Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (Tier 2) Kent-Jameson Ehrman, Inventing Van Gogh, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre