When people talk about six degrees of separation, that’s actually, well, a lot of separation. But if you talk about one degree — from Denver to New York — it’s just a four-hour plane ride away!

That’s a little like this year’s nominees for the 2026 Tony Awards. While the full lineup of nominations is impressive, we’re a little biased in favor of those with connections to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Talking about connections. Did you know that the Tony Awards were named for Denver native Antoinette Perry? More good luck for these nominees.

SAMUEL D. HUNTER

Nominated for Best Play for Little Bear Ridge Road

Tom Alan Robbins in The Whale. Photo: Terry Shapiro

Samuel D. Hunter is best known for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere of The Whale, which was adapted into a 2022 Oscar-winning film. As one of America’s most produced playwrights, Little Bear Ridge Road marks Hunter’s Broadway debut. His other plays include A Case for the Existence of God, A Bright New Boise, Greater Clements, Lewiston/Clarkston, among others. His plays have been produced by Lincoln Cener Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theatre, Theatre Royal bath, and others. For television, he wrote/produced FX’s Emmy Award-winning “Baskets.” He has received the 2014 MacArthur Genius Grant, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Obie Award, Whiting Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Drama Desk Award, and GLAAD Media Award.

CAISSIE LEVY

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Ragtime

Caissie Levy in Frozen. Photo: Deen van Meer

Caissie Levy is known to Denver audiences for originating the role of Elsa in the world premiere of Disney’s Frozen, which enjoyed its pre-Broadway debut in the Buell Theatre. She is an Olivier and Grammy-nominated veteran of nine Broadway productions, three West End shows, and seven original cast albums. She earned an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for starring in the UK premiere of Next to Normal in the West End, which subsequently aired on PBS.

TAKESHI KATA

Nominated for Best Scenic Design of a Play for Bug

Peter Schneider & Peter Van Wagner in The Reservoir. Photo: Jamie Kraus Photography

Takeshi Kata was the Scenic Designer for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s The Constant Wife, the world premiere of The Reservoir, and the upcoming production of Destiny of Desire. He has worked on more than 150 productions in the US and around the world for companies such as Atlantic Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, Alley Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Geffen Playhouse, Goodman, Mark Taper Forum, The Old Glove, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His work has been recognized with an Obie, Drama Desk, Barrymore and Ovation awards, and now a Tony Award nomination for Bug.

DANE LAFFREY

Nominated for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for The Lost Boys

Ben Huber & Jamie Ann Romero in The Legend of Georgia McBride. Photo: Jennifer M Koskinen

Dane was the Scenic Designer for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride. As a scenic and costumer designer, Dane’s work was recognized with the 2025 Tony, Drama Desk and Henry Hewes awards for Maybe Happy Ending. While Dane has numerous Broadway credits, his work also can be seen around the country at theatres including Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center Theatre, Public Theatre, Second Stage Theatre and many others. Dane won a 2017 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Set and Costume Design and has been nominated for numerous awards including Tony Awards (4), Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Henry Hewes, Ovation Awards (5 nominations, 2 wins), and a Sydney Theatre Award.

PAUL TAZEWELL

Nominated for Best Costume Design of a Play for August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Beth Malone, John Scherer, Michael Halling & Gregg Goodbrod in The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Photo: Jennifer M. Koskinen

Paul Tazewell was the Costume Designer for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere of The Unsinkable Molly Brown — and who can forget that red dress! With a career spanning three decades, Paul’s recent achievements for his work on the film adaptation of Wicked for which he won an Oscar, BAFTA Award, Critics Choice Award, Costume Designers Guild’s Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film award, NAACP Image Award, and the Innovator Award from the African American Film Critics Association. Additional accolades include an Academy Award nomination for West Side Story and an Emmy for “The Wiz! Live.”

ISABELLA BYRD

Nominated for Best Lighting Design of a Play for Dog Day Afternoon

Marco Alberto Robinson, Nate Miller & Henry Walter Greenberg in The 39 Steps. Photo: Jamie Kraus Photography

Isabella served as the Lighting Designer of the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2023 production of The 39 Steps. She is a Brooklyn-based designer whose New York credits include Sanctuary City and Light Shining in Buckinghamshire (New York Theatre Workshop), Epiphany (Lincoln Center), and ongoing collaborations with Will Arvery, including the world premieres of Heroes of the Fourth Turning and Corsicana (Playwrights Horizons), and PLANO (Clubbed Thumb). She’s worked internationally in London and Dublin and regionally with ACT, Hartford Stage, and Alley Theatre among others. Her work has been recognized with Obie, Lotrel, and Henry Hewes awards.

So, hop on a plane and experience that one degree of separation. Ragtime, The Lost Boys and  Joe Turner’s Come and Gone are still playing on Broadway. Then tune into CBS Colorado on June 7 from 5-8pm to see who wins. Let’s root, root, root for the “home” team!

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) NewsCenter is the organization’s editorial platform for stories, announcements, interviews, and coverage of theatre and cultural programming in Colorado. We are committed to producing accurate, trustworthy, clearly sourced journalism that reflects our mission and serves our community.