The Tony Awards administration committee has announced the recipient of the 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award. On the recommendation of the American Theatre Critics Association, the American Players Theatre (APT) in Wisconsin will receive the honor, which recognizes a regional theater company that displays continuous artistic achievement and contributes to theater’s growth nationally. The award is accompanied by a $25,000 grant, which is made possible with the support of the 2026 Tonys sponsor City National Bank.
“American Players Theatre is a one-of-a-kind institution, delivering world-class theatre presentations to the Midwest for decades, and we are thrilled to recognize the team there with this award,” said American Theatre Wing president and CEO Heather Hitchens and Broadway League president Jason Laks in a joint statement. “They have succeeded in their mission of illuminating the shared human experience through timeless classics, and in doing so, have broadened the theatre-going audience in their community and beyond.”
APT’s mission is “to perform timeless, challenging, poetic texts, with Shakespeare at the center, to the broadest audience possible.” In 1977, founders Randall Duk Kim, Anne Occhiogrosso and Charles Bright first conceived of APT in Washington, D.C.; the following year, they selected the theater’s location, 40 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin, on a farmstead outside Spring Green. 1980 saw APT putting on its first performance: a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Shakespeare remains central to APT’s programming — its current season, helmed by artistic director Brenda DeVita and managing director Sara Young, features productions of “As You Like It” and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
Since 1985, APT has also prominently featured the works of Anton Chekhov. This season features a production of “Uncle Vanya,” in addition to Eugène Ionesco’s “The Chairs,” Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker,” Nick Green’s “Casey and Diana,” Nathan Alan Davis’ “Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea,” José Rivera’s “Sueño” and Jen Silverman’s “Witch.”
The 2026 Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall on June 7. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
