Many Designers Among Obie Award Winners

The Obie Awards, administered by the American Theatre Wings, which honor achievement Off and Off Off Broadway, were given out on January 31.

Among the design winners, Afsoon Pajoufar was cited for the scenic design of Five Models in Ruins, 1981, staged at LCT3, the new writing arm of Lincoln Center Theatre, and for Cold War Choir Practice, which debuted at Clubbed Thumb's Summerworks series and will be seen again beginning later this month at MCC Theatre.

Kate McGee was honored for the lighting of Bowl EP, staged at the Vineyard Theatre, and Suppose Beautiful Madeline Harvey, presented at La MaMa. Frank J. Oliva won for the scenic design of Well, I'll Let You Go, staged at The Space at Irondale, Danger and Opportunity, produced at East Village Basement, and A Knock on the Roof, seen at New York Theatre Workshop.

The lighting designer Cha See earned an award for sustained achievement based on her such productions as Five Models in Ruins, 1981; Liberation (which premiered at Roundabout Theatre Company and transferred to Broadway); Trophy Boys, presented at MCC Theater; Hold Me in the Water and In the Amazon Parking Lot, seen at Playwrights Horizons; Show/Boat: A River, produced by Target Margin Theater; and Babe, produced by The New Group. David Bengali was similarly cited for his work on the musicals We Live in Cairo and Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole, produced by New York Theatre Workshop, and the Off-Broadway musical Joy.

For the full list of winners, go to playbill.com/article/crystal-lucas-perry-sam-pinkleton-more-win-2026-obie-awards-see-the-full-list-of-winners?utm_source=sniply&utm_campaign=sniply&utm_medium=sniply.