The 2026 JKTS Awards: Readers' Choice: The Winners!

We are very pleased to announce this year's JKTS Readers' Choice Awards! It is especially nice to connect with so many of you, and this year - once again - you voted in record numbers! And so we thank you for being a part of our site and for sharing our love for all things theater!

Without further ado, here are your winners!

Broadway Games: Which Tony Nominee Am I?

 Broadway Games:

Which Tony Nominee Am I?

DIRECTIONS: This one's pretty simple. Read the three clues and name the 2026 Tony nominee they describe and which award they are up for.

1. Who am I?

    A. I am up for more than one Tony Award this year.

    B. I've won at least one Tony Award before in one of the categories I'm up for this year.

    C. Even though my Tonys and nominations are for producing, directing and technical categories, I started my Broadway career as an actor.

2. Who am I?

    A. I am a first-time nominee.

    B. My Broadway career spans decades.

    C. On TV, I played the grandmother of one of Titanique's stars.

3. Who am I?

    A. I played the role I am nominated for in the West End.

    B. I play a real-life person in this play.

    C. Though I'm though of as a dramatic actor, I have done Broadway musicals, and even won one of my 2 Tonys for being in a musical!

4. Who am I?

    A. I am up against myself in my category.

    B. Both of my nominations are for work where I had to research early to mid 20th century styles.

    C. The shows I am nominated for have a combined total of 23 Tony nominations.

5. Who am I?

    A. I am up against myself in my category.

    B. Both of my nominations are for plays.

    C. There are 6 nominees in my category, and only one of us is a man.

6. Who am I?

    A. I am a first time nominee, and I am up for two awards!

    B. My first name has to do with the day I was born.

    C. My show played in Washington, DC prior to Broadway.

7. Who am I?

    A. I am a designer.

    B. I am nominated for a play Tony and a musical Tony this year.

    C. My designs for one of those shows is notable for being a big departure from previous productions of that show.

8. Who are we?

    A. We are in a category that has only first time nominees.

    B. We are both nominees known for acting, but here we are doing something much different.

    C. The other writers on our project (in a different category) are also first time nominees.

9. Which show are we?

    A. We have a small cast.

    B. We are the only completely original show in our category.

    C. Only half of the cast on Broadway transferred to Broadway from the original production.

10. What show are we?

    A. We did a pre-Broadway run of this production.

    B. One of our stars was a replacement in the original pre-Broadway run this show.

    C. This is the third time a production of this show has been on Broadway.

Star-To-Be: Benjamin Pajak

⭐⭐Star - To - Be⭐⭐

Benjamin Pajak

At the ripe old age of 15, one might say that Benjamin Pajak is already a star, not a "to be." But we are certain that he is on his way to a decades long, successful career (if he so chooses). This guy has shown that he can grow as an actor as he himself has grow. He did the sweet little boy - without being sickly sweet - in The Music Man. Then he did the slightly older almost tween/waif thing in an acclaimed turn in the title role of Oliver! at Encores!

Along the way, he's held his own against some pretty heavy-hitters on the stage: Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster and Raul Esparza, to name but a few. And he has a prestigious Theatre World Award to start his collection. Not bad. Then there's a growing film career, where he's played against Tom Hiddleston in The Life of Chuck, and has a feature, Tiny Fugitives and a remake of The Exorcist coming up.

For the immediate future, Broadway fans can enjoy his funny and intense performance as the comic book-loving younger brother/vampire slayer in The Lost Boys. His turn includes a sweet realization of his sexuality in the big number, "Superhero." This next step in his stage career has garnered him both Outer Critics Circle Award and Dorian Award nominations.

This star-to-be is definitely one to keep your eye on! Keep up the good work, Benjamin!

  

We said: "Among the new generation [is] the absolutely adorable, but so real and so grounded Benjamin Pajak as Winthrop Paroo. To all of their credit not a single child in this production indulges in even the slightest hint of cloying behavior."

  

  

  

We said: "As Sam, the younger brother, Benjamin Pajak continues his streak of endearing characters and remarkable natural talent. His Sam is the people pleaser of the family, fiercely protective and enthralled by the super heroes of his beloved comic book collection. The evolution of his character includes him slowly realizing that he is queer, manifested as a super hero secret identity, naturally. His big number is "Superpower," complete with a rainbow of caped crusaders fighting an army of Draculas and a pair of Elviras (it doesn't get more 80s than that!). It is very funny and ultimately touching." 

The 2026 JKTS Awards: Readers' Choice: The Final Ballot

The Reader's Choice Final Ballot

• Nomination counts are HERE.
• The ballot has closed. Thanks for taking the time to do this! 
• The winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 26th.

Friday 5: The 5 2026 Tony Awards Snubs and Disappointments

5 2026 Tony Awards

Snubs & Disappointments

Every year, right after the Tony Awards nominations are announced, publications and fans alike rush to declare that so and so was "snubbed." The truth is, there are snubs, yes, but more times than not it is disappointment that a favorite artist or show was left off the list. There is a difference:

• Snub: When the parameters of a category are manipulated to exclude a possible nominee.
• Disappointment: When a favorite that fits a category doesn't make the cut; those that are included really all deserve to be included.

Today's Friday 5 are 5 such nominee omissions. Most are disappointments, but two definitely qualify as snubs. Do you agree?

  

Disappointment: Leading Actress in a Musical: 

• Lea Michele as Florence Vassey, Chess 
• Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee Bloom, Beaches

These are the two names that keep coming up as the "egregiously overlooked." We would have loved it is Ms. Michele made the cut, as we found her performance to be terrific. Of course, we realize for many, she's a polarizing performer, so there are just as many people who are glad she wasn't nominated as there are disappointed. In the case of Ms. Vosk, we weren't that impressed, but understand that her massive following would be upset that she was left out.

But we're they snubbed? No. The ladies who did make the list are all deserving of being there; neither Lea nor Jessica were likely not nominated because the field was too crowded.

  

Disappointment: Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical: Cats: The Jellicle Ball:

• Sydney James Harcourt as Rum Tum Tugger
• "Tempress" Chastity Moore as Grizabella

In the case of shows like Cats: The Jellicle Ball, where there are really aren't any leads, but each member of the cast makes big contributions. And let's face it, there are so many featured performers each season, it is nearly impossible to include everyone. In this case, we were majorly disappointed that neither Harcourt nor Moore made the final list. His Rum Tum Tugger is a really fresh take on the character, while the same could be said for Moore's Grizabella. I mean heck, even Betty Buckley raved about her performance!

Again, as painful as it is that they didn't make the cut, those that did were deserving.*

  

Disappointment: Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical: Schmigadoon!:

• Max Clayton as Danny Bailey
• Isabelle McCalla as Emma Tate

We were completely smitten with both of these performances, and were disappointed that they weren't nominated. But, just as with Cats, a large, impactful supporting cast is bound to have someone not on the nominee list. Both Mr. Clayton and Ms. McCalla led big numbers - his was more a solo, but both were among the songs that got the biggest hands of the evening.

Again, as painful as it is that they didn't make the cut, those that did were deserving.*

      

Disappointment: Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical: Titanique:

• Jim Parsons as Ruth DeWitt Bukater
• Constantine Rousouli as Jack Dawson
• Melissa Barrera as Rose DeWitt Bukater
• Deborah Cox as The Unsinkable Molly Brown

There's a pattern here. Titanique is another mostly ensemble show. Here the cast is so small, they all are stars. Anyway, we felt that any or all of these four performances were worthy of awards love. Mr. Rousouli and Ms. Barrera, one could argue, have roles as big as Best Leading Actress nominee, Marla Mindelle, and both are just terrific. Mr. Parsons is comedy gold and Ms. Cox is not only funny, but damn she has a major voice! 

Again, as painful as it is that they didn't make the cut, those that did were deserving.*

  

Snub-ish: Score Written for the Theatre: 

• Stephen Schwartz, The Queen of Versailles
• Iris Rainer Dart & Mike Stoller, Beaches

Let me start off by saying that I haven't heard any of the two scores nominated from plays this year, and I can't weigh in on whether or not I think their inclusion wasn't worthy. And I think there was plenty of fresh music in Schmigadoon! That said, even though no rules were broken, it may appear that both Queen and Beaches were purposely excluded. However, having sat through both, I can honestly say I don't think either were good enough to be nominated. Even as weak as this year was, including them just to fill in the minimum number of nominees would have been insulting to both The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon!

No one but the committee will ever know if they were purposely excluded (I have my doubts), so this may or may not be a snub.

* - I have to say that at least one nominee that did make the list in the Featured categories I would not have included, but I wouldn't say any of them are that shocking to be on the list.