What is the OVATION! Awards?
Various performers pictured over the first 20 years of the OVATION! Awards show in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The OVATION! AWARDS is an annual, community-wide celebration of Musical Theatre in the Lower Mainland. Designed to uplift and include as many voices as possible, the awards shine a spotlight on the incredible range of artistic teams, performers, volunteers, and companies - both amateur and professional - who bring musical theatre to life in our community. It’s a joyful gathering to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, and welcome a new year filled with creativity, collaboration, and outstanding musicals.
THE PROCESS:
A volunteer jury, made up of a diverse group of musical theatre creators, attends musicals in the Lower Mainland (all companies are welcome to invite the jury). The jury deliberate together to create a list of the nominees which are announced roughly one month before the awards show. The jury then votes for the winners. The general public can participate in "audience choice" awards which are conducted online starting January 1st (a tradition we have had for 22 years!)
The AWARDS CEREMONY & SHOW
Awards are given out in a number of categories which fluctuate each year based on the current year and jury suggestions. Special awards are also given for “significant contribution for the previous year" as well as an award for “major contribution” awarded to a member of the community who has contributed a minimum of 10 years to the development, promotion and continuation of musical theatre in the lower mainland. The awards show, always the last Sunday of January, includes performances from various productions and special guest presenters.
PRODUCTION ELIGIBILITY
The goal of the awards is to be as inclusionary with productions from the Greater Vancouver Regional District including musical theatre, revue, and/or light opera/operetta.
Since the beginning of the awards, the following awards are chosen online by a popularity vote from the general public starting January 1st.
A SPECIAL NOTE:
As with many aspects of the arts, our award categories and nomination processes are continually evolving. APPLAUSE! Musicals Society and the OVATION! Awards are committed to ongoing evaluation and thoughtful updates that reflect both the changing artistic landscape and the needs of our community. We strive to involve as many individuals and producing organizations as possible while representing the full diversity of our community.
Each year, our volunteer jury is intentionally composed of a diverse group of artists and arts professionals, representing a wide range of disciplines (including directors, actors, designers, and music directors), as well as varying ages, genders, backgrounds, and levels of experience. We remain in active conversation with this jury throughout the season, and their insights often inform recommendations for adjustments to award categories and processes. Just as importantly, APPLAUSE! welcomes and values ongoing feedback from the broader community as we work to ensure the OVATION! Awards continue to serve and reflect our community as authentically and inclusively as possible.
Jury information, eligibility, guidelines, process, awards and descriptions are reviewed every year in November/December.
Page updated December 28, 2025.
THE PROCESS:
A volunteer jury, made up of a diverse group of musical theatre creators, attends musicals in the Lower Mainland (all companies are welcome to invite the jury). The jury deliberate together to create a list of the nominees which are announced roughly one month before the awards show. The jury then votes for the winners. The general public can participate in "audience choice" awards which are conducted online starting January 1st (a tradition we have had for 22 years!)
The AWARDS CEREMONY & SHOW
Awards are given out in a number of categories which fluctuate each year based on the current year and jury suggestions. Special awards are also given for “significant contribution for the previous year" as well as an award for “major contribution” awarded to a member of the community who has contributed a minimum of 10 years to the development, promotion and continuation of musical theatre in the lower mainland. The awards show, always the last Sunday of January, includes performances from various productions and special guest presenters.
PRODUCTION ELIGIBILITY
The goal of the awards is to be as inclusionary with productions from the Greater Vancouver Regional District including musical theatre, revue, and/or light opera/operetta.
- A production must have a run of six or more public performances.
- A production with book, lyrics and music must be fully staged and fully memorized. Readings, book-in-hand performances, and musical in concert or workshop productions are not eligible. Choir performances, and fundraising cabaret or revue events are also not eligible.
- A production must be presented or co-presented by a company from the Lower Mainland. Touring productions are not eligible.
- Productions are eligible if presented in the the Metro Vancouver Regional District including: Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Tsawwassen, Vancouver, West Vancouver, White Rock, but excludes productions in Anmore, Belcarra, Lions Bay Village, Bowen Island.
- A “remount” is defined as a production which, once closed, is remounted and the original set and costume designs and/or 50% of the actors in speaking roles are returning to the production in their original role. In the case of a remount, only elements significantly different from the original production will be eligible for nomination (e.g. replacement performers, new design, etc.). Remounted productions are not eligible for "Outstanding Production" awards, but are eligible for individual awards as long as the individual has not previously been nominated in that category.
- Only the cast credited in the opening performance are eligible for consideration. Replacement performers/understudies are not eligible.
- For productions with youth (18 and under) double casting, the jury can nominate the "role" including both individuals for a "Outstanding Performance - Youth" award.
- Eligibility is reviewed every year by the standing jury & board of directors of APPLAUSE! Musicals Society.
- Award categories may change from year to year set by the standing jury.
- A jury may combine, add, or eliminate categories for that particular year.
- There need to be a minimum of three nominees in a category for a category to stand, and a maximum of five nominations per category for small theatre, and six for large theatre or combined (large & small) categories.
- An individual can only be nominated twice in a category.
- Productions are categorized by the jury as either Small Theatre - performances taking place in venues up to 225 seats, or Large Theatre - performances taking place in venues 226+. Where there are not the minimum nominations (three) in a category the Small and Large categories may be combined.
- Outstanding Production - Small Theatre & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Small Cast/Chamber Production (formerly called Ensemble). Awarded to a show with six or fewer performers regardless of being in a Large or Small Theatre.
- Outstanding New Musical. Awarded to the composer/lyricist of a new work performed off book in a staged production (not a reading or workshop). To be considered for this award, a new work must feature original composed material, be created and presented by a Lower Mainland company/individual, and have a minimum of six public performances. Musicals that are New Work are also eligible to be included in the "Outstanding Production" category.
- Outstanding Music Direction of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Direction of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Choreography of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Set Design of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Costume Design of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Lighting Design of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Sound Design of a musical - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Performance in a Principal role - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Performance in a Supporting role - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Performance in the Ensemble - Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Performance - Youth (under 18) - Combines Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Newcomer - Combines Small & Large Theatre
- Outstanding Band/Orchestra - Combines Small & Large Theatre (NEW in 2026)
- Outstanding Artistic Achievement. This award is selected and presented at the discretion of the current jury to recognize distinctive or exceptional elements of a musical that do not fit within existing award categories. This award is not voted on; recipients are determined solely by the jury and receive an automatic award, when the general nominations are announced. Examples in the past include recognition for fight choreography, props, puppetry, body of work and diversity casting.
- Outstanding Longtime Contribution. Chosen by the APPLAUSE! Board of Directors with input from the community. Awarded to a member of the community who has contributed more than 10 years to the development, promotion, and continuation of musical theatre in the lower mainland. Past recipients of this award include: Valerie Easton, Bruce Kellett, Jeff Hyslop, Bill Millerd, Shel Peircy, Lloyd Nicholson, Pat Waldron, Johnny Duncan, Ed Harrington, Cecilia & Roger Smith and Perry Ehrlich.
- Outstanding Behind the Scenes Award. Chosen by the APPLAUSE! Board of Directors with input from the community. Awarded to an individual who demonstrated an exceptional work ethic, enthusiasm while significantly contributing a show or company as a stage manager, assistant stage manager, crew member, producer, or publicist.
- Outstanding Contribution of the Year. Chosen by the APPLAUSE! Board of Directors with input from the community. Awarded to an individual, cast, administrator, producer or company that has made a groundbreaking, special and/or unique contribution to that particular year.
Since the beginning of the awards, the following awards are chosen online by a popularity vote from the general public starting January 1st.
- Outstanding Special Event or Non Juried Show of the previous year.
- Outstanding Panto. A form of musical comedy stage production, designed for families. Mostly performed during the Christmas and New Year season, panto's includes songs, slapstick comedy and dancing, employs gender-crossing actors, and combines topical humour with a story loosely based on a well-known fairy tale. It is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers.
- Other awards related to the previous year are also included, but changes each year.
A SPECIAL NOTE:
As with many aspects of the arts, our award categories and nomination processes are continually evolving. APPLAUSE! Musicals Society and the OVATION! Awards are committed to ongoing evaluation and thoughtful updates that reflect both the changing artistic landscape and the needs of our community. We strive to involve as many individuals and producing organizations as possible while representing the full diversity of our community.
Each year, our volunteer jury is intentionally composed of a diverse group of artists and arts professionals, representing a wide range of disciplines (including directors, actors, designers, and music directors), as well as varying ages, genders, backgrounds, and levels of experience. We remain in active conversation with this jury throughout the season, and their insights often inform recommendations for adjustments to award categories and processes. Just as importantly, APPLAUSE! welcomes and values ongoing feedback from the broader community as we work to ensure the OVATION! Awards continue to serve and reflect our community as authentically and inclusively as possible.
Jury information, eligibility, guidelines, process, awards and descriptions are reviewed every year in November/December.
Page updated December 28, 2025.
What is the OVATION! Awards? Check out this video to find out.
