BOCA RATON, Fla. - s4story -- (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).

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** 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.

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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