WICKED, OH, MARY!, THE OUTSIDERS And More Take Home Artios Awards

Casting Society honored excellence in casting across feature film, television (scripted and unscripted), commercials and theater at the 40th Annual Artios Awards held on February 12, with ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Several theatrical productions were recognized for their casting including the Broadway productions of Oh, Mary!, The Outsiders, and Stereophonic. Off-Broadway's Here We Are, the final musical from composer Stephen Sondheim earned honors, along with the recent high-profile production of Reefer Madness in Los Angeles. The film adaptation of Wicked was recognized in the Big Budget Feature Comedy category.

In New York, The Marion Dougherty New York Apple Award was presented to casting director Daniel Swee (Lincoln Center Theater). At the Los Angeles ceremony, The Hoyt Bowers Award for Excellence in Casting was awarded to casting director John Papsidera (Oppenheimer) and was presented to him by director Jason Reitman. In London, The Capelier-Shaw Award for Excellence in Casting was awarded to Juliette Ménager and was presented to her by filmmaker Luca Guadagnino.

During the Los Angeles ceremony, CSA President Destiny Lilly announced that the organization is adding a new category for 2026, the London Theater Award, honoring excellence in casting in U.K. theater, as the organization continues to expand its global presence. In addition, Lilly announced that CSA has made a donation to a variety of charitable organizations supporting Los Angeles Wildfire Relief, to help victims of the devastating fires across the city.

The full list of winners:

THEATER WINNERS

BROADWAY: COMEDY OR DRAMA                        

STEREOPHONIC: Alaine Alldaffer, Taylor Williams               

BROADWAY: MUSICAL                                                       

THE OUTSIDERS: Tara Rubin, Xavier Rubiano                               

NEW YORK THEATER: COMEDY OR DRAMA

OH, MARY!: Henry Russell Bergstein                                               

NEW YORK THEATER: MUSICAL                            

HERE WE ARE: Bernard Telsey, Adam Caldwell, Associate Casting Director: Geoff Josselson

LOS ANGELES THEATER                                        

REEFER MADNESS THE MUSICAL: Michael Donovan, Richie Ferris                               

REGIONAL THEATER

A STRANGE LOOP: Destiny Lilly

THEATER TOURS

MJ THE MUSICAL: Lindsay Levine, Rachel Hoffman                                   

SPECIAL THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE                          

WEST SIDE STORY (Lyric Opera Of Chicago): Merri Sugarman, Location Casting Director: Becca McCracken

FEATURE FILM WINNERS

BIG BUDGET FEATURE COMEDY

WICKED: PART I: Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield. Associate Casting Director: Ryan Bernard Tymensky. Location Casting Director: Tamsyn Manson

BIG BUDGET FEATURE DRAMA

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN: Yesi Ramirez. Location Casting Directors: Rori Bergman, Karlee Fomalont. Location Associate Casting Director: Kate Sprance

ANIMATED FEATURE

THE WILD ROBOT: Christi Soper Hilt

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (*NEW CATEGORY)

EMILIA PÉREZ: Carla Hool. Associate Casting Director: Susan Putnam

STUDIO OR INDEPENDENT FEATURE COMEDY

MY OLD ASS: Douglas Aibel. Associate Casting Director: Matthew Glasner

STUDIO OR INDEPENDENT FEATURE DRAMA

CONCLAVE: Nina Gold, Martin Ware. Location Casting Director: Francesco Vedovati, Barbara Giordani

LOW BUDGET FEATURE COMEDY OR DRAMA

JANET PLANET: Jessica Kelly

TELEVISION (SCRIPTED AND UNSCRIPTED), COMMERCIALS,SHORT FILM, SHORT FORM SERIES WINNERS

FILM, FIRST RELEASED FOR TELEVISION OR STREAMING      

THE IDEA OF YOU: Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Associate Casting Director: Brian

Sutow, Location Casting Directors: Chase Paris, Tara Feldstein Bennett

TELEVISION SERIES: COMEDY

HACKS (S3): Nicole Abellera Hallman, Jeanne McCarthy, Associate Casting Director: Anna Mayworm

TELEVISION SERIES: DRAMA                   

SLOW HORSES (S3): Nina Gold, Associate Casting Director: Melissa Gethin Clarke

TELEVISION PILOT AND FIRST SEASON: COMEDY      

PALM ROYALE: Kerry Barden, Paul Schnee, Associate Casting Directors: Roya Semnanian, Rachel Goldman                                                                   

TELEVISION PILOT AND FIRST SEASON: DRAMA

SHŌGUN: Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino, Associate Casting Director: Chelsea Egozi, Location Casting Director: Kei Kawamura

LIMITED SERIES

BABY REINDEER: Nina Gold, Martin Ware                         

REALITY SERIES: COMPETITION

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE (S16): Goloka Bolte, Ethan Petersen

REALITY SERIES: STRUCTURED & UNSTRUCTURED

QUEER EYE (S8): Pamela Vallarelli, Quinn Fegan, Jessica Jorgensen, Danielle Gervais

LIVE ACTION CHILDREN & FAMILY SERIES

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER (S1): Michael Nicolo, Anya Colloff, Michelle Olivia Tidwell, Location Casting Directors: Tiffany Mak, PoPing AuYeung, Amanda Mitchell           

ANIMATED PROGRAM FOR TELEVISION

BLUE EYE SAMURAI (S1): Margery Simkin, Orly Sitowitz, Associate Casting Directors: Elizabeth Vitale, Jasmine Gutierrez

INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SERIES (New Category)

MONSIEUR SPADE: Olivia Scott-Webb, Constance Demontoy

SHORT FORM SERIES

COMMAND-Z: Carmen Cuba, Salvatore Schiavone

SHORT FILMS

THE ROOF: Candido Cornejo

COMMERCIALS

NFL SUPER BOWL LVIII || BORN TO PLAY: Mawuko Kuadzi

Tonight's honorees also included:

• Veteran casting director David Grindrod was awarded the Creative Collaboration Award in London. The honor is in recognition of significant and outstanding creative or professional contributions to the entertainment industry, including distinctive support of casting professionals and the art and craft of casting. It was presented to him by “Mamma Mia” creator and producer Judy Craymer.
• Also at the London ceremony, the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award was presented posthumously to Zora DeHorter.
• The Associate Casting Director / Casting Producer Spotlight Award recipients were presented to Amanda Ogen in Los Angeles and Josy Rodriguez in New York. The award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Associate Casting Directors and Casting Producers in CSA.

The New York ceremony included presenters Jocelyn Bioh (Jaja's African Hair Braiding), Michael Cyril Creighton (“Only Murders in the Building”), Dagmara Dominczyk (“Succession”), Noma Dumezweni (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Eden Espinosa (Lempicka), Ray Fisher (The Piano Lesson), John Magaro (Past Lives), Jinkx Monsoon (Little Shop of Horrors), Ethan Slater (Wicked) and Patrick Wilson (Aquaman).

The Los Angeles ceremony included presenters Marissa Bode (Wicked), Garcelle Beauvais (“Survival of the Thickest,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), Joel Kim Booster (Loot), Sasha Colby (“RuPaul's Drag Race”), Ethan Herisse (Nickel Boys), Frankie Grande (Henry Danger: The Movie), Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer), Lamorne Morris (Emmy Award winner, “Fargo”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“St. Denis Medical”), Jason Reitman (Saturday Night), Parvati Shallow (“Deal or No Deal Island”) and Brandon Wilson (Nickel Boys).

ABOUT CASTING SOCIETY

Casting Society was founded in February of 1982 with the intention of establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the casting field and providing its members with a support organization to further their goals and protect their common interests. Casting Society currently boasts close to 1,200 members. Casting Society casting professionals work around the world, with members based in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. Casting Society is a global resource for producers, directors and creative teams seeking casting professionals while promoting the image of casting directors and associate casting directors/casting producers worldwide, engaging in a number of charitable activities and supporting its members by sharing important and helpful professional information. For more information on Casting Society, please visit CastingSociety.com.