CARBONELL AWARDS Seeks Nominations for Eight Special Awards

BOCA RATON, Fla. - EntSun -- (South Florida – June 9, 2026) Gary Schweikhart, president of the Carbonell Awards, today announced that "South Florida's Theater & Arts Honors" is seeking nominations for up to eight additional Special Awards that will be presented at the 49th annual Carbonell Awards Ceremony on Monday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m. at FAU's University Theatre in Boca Raton.

The Carbonell Special Awards include:

** The Vinnette Carroll Award for significant achievement in advancing the cause of diversity, equality, and inclusion in South Florida theater.

Previous winners of this award include Michel Hausman, co-founder and artistic director of Miami New Drama (2025); director, actor, and college educator John Pryor (2024); Christina Alexander & Katie Christie, for leading the South Florida Theatre League's AntiRacism Theatre Strategies Cohorts (2023); and Marshall L. Davis, who served for nearly 40 years as managing director of the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC) in Miami's Liberty City (2022).

More on EntSun News

• One-Woman Show, Saila Rachelle on Stage
• For Romance Awareness Month: Treat yourself to some "Not Exactly Love Poems" by Robert Barrows
• New Novel WINCE Takes Unflinching Aim at American Gun Culture and Masculinity
• New Research Puts the Cost of Enterprise Decision Delay at $630 Billion a Year Across the Global 2000
• Back behind the Mic after Cancer Operation

** The Charlie Cinnamon Award honors an individual who contributes significantly to the support of the arts in South Florida and to the Carbonell Awards program.

Previous Cinnamon Award winners include longtime critic and former Carbonell Coordinator Mary Damiano (2025); veteran reviewer and founder of FloridaTheaterOnStage.com Bill Hirschman (2023); longtime critic and Carbonell judge Hap Erstein (2022), the Broward Center's Director of Marketing Jennifer Sierra-Grobbelaar (2019); Tony Finstrom, playwright and founder of the Silver Palm Awards, (2018); and longtime arts patron and Carbonell judge Jerome J. (Jerry) Cohen (2017).

NEW

** The Christine Dolen Award for outstanding debut. Named after the award-winning theater critic for the Miami Herald for more than 35 years and dean of the Carbonell judges, this new Special Award could go to a first-time performer, playwright, director, designer, theater, or program.

** The Ruth Foreman Award recognizes contributions to South Florida theater development by an individual or group, for singular achievement and/or career contributions.

More on EntSun News

• Marcus "Big Spence" Spencer Stars Alongside Tom Arnold in New Sci-Fi Thriller "Alien Storm"
• Nick Egan Times Celebrates Five Years Following Times Square New Year's Eve Milestone
• Cover Story about Matthew Cossolotto – Author of Harness Your PromisePower -- Published in July 2026 Enterprise World Magazine
• For Tell an Old Joke Day, Treat Yourself to some very edgy jokes in "Crazy Robert's Joke Book"
• Lineus Medical Signs Partnership Agreement with DIMA MedTech to Support Expansion into Italy

Recent Foreman Award winners include Alexa Kuve, founder, executive producer and artistic director of Arca Images (2025); Marilynn Wick, Founder and CEO of The Wick Theatre & Museum Club and Costume World, Inc. (2024); the Maltz Jupiter Theatre (2023); actor, producer, director, poet, and educator Teresa María Rojas (2022); The Amparo Experience (2020); Juggerknot Theatre Company for Miami Motel Stories (2019); Nicole Stodard for the GAP Play Reading Series at Thinking Cap Theatre (2018); and Florida Children's Theatre (2016).

Attached Image:

(Photo Credit: Premier Photo/Jacek Gancarz)

Carbonell Special Award recipients in 2025

(L-R: Michel Hausman, Mary Damiano, Harvey Burstein, Beverly Blanchette, Timothy Mark Davis accepting for New City Players, Bari Newport accepting for GableStage, and Alexa Kuve.)

Available for Interview:

Gary Schweikhart

Carbonell Board President

561.756.4298  /  gary@pr-bs.net