We Are The Beat  ·  April 2025  ·  Theatre & Culture

Jamaica has a new standard bearer for performing arts recognition. The Phoenix Awards — rooted in the motto “Inclusivity in the Culture” — has announced its official list of winners, honouring excellence across every dimension of the island’s theatrical and creative landscape.

Unlike traditional awards frameworks, the Phoenix Awards was built to see everyone. From lead performers and directors to concessionaires, ushers, graphic designers, and multimedia technicians — every member of the production ecosystem receives recognition. The awards span genres as wide as Gospel Theatre, Dance Theatre, Children’s Theatre, Concert Series, Poetry, Short Film, and full-scale Musicals.

“The Phoenix Awards rises as a rebirth and expansion, offering a modern, inclusive approach to theatrical recognition in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.”

When the dust settled on this year’s ceremony, two productions stood above the rest. Modupe by L’Acadco swept the production and design categories, taking home Best Production, Best Ensemble, Best Dance Theatre, Best Multi-Media Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, Best Stage Manager, and Best Choreography.

The Other Side of the Cross by Probemaster Entertainment matched that haul across performance and technical categories, winning Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Original Script, Best Special Effects, Best Graphic Design, Best Light & Sound Tech, and Best Gospel Theatre.

PERFORMANCE

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLERuth HoshingThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLEMichael Nicholson3rd Street — Jamstage Productions
BEST SUPPORTING ACTORDavid TullochThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSDanah Lawson-ChisholmPaternal Instinct
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE — MALEDuncan EllisBeyond the Wig
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE — FEMALELatoya Malcolm3rd Street
BEST LEAD PERFORMER — MALEOwen “Blakka” EllisModupe
BEST LEAD PERFORMER — FEMALEDeanne Logan JohnsonLet’s Talk About Love
BEST LEAD SINGER — MALEChris ScottLet’s Talk About Love
BEST LEAD SINGER — FEMALENadejah DeaconModupe
BEST LEAD POET PERFORMANCE — MALEBritton WrightTalk Di Tings: Poetry & Storytelling Showcase

PRODUCTION & GENRE

BEST PRODUCTIONModupeL’Acadco
BEST DRAMA3rd StreetJamstage Productions
BEST COMEDYPure Problem: A Predicament TooKuyah Productions
BEST MUSICALMiss Lou Still A TalkLouise Bennett-Coverly Festival
BEST GOSPEL THEATREThe Other Side of the CrossProbemaster Entertainment
BEST CHILDREN’S THEATREMiss Lou Still A Talk 
BEST ENSEMBLEModupe 
BEST CONCERT SERIESLet’s Talk About Love 
BEST SHORT FILMThe L.O.V.E.Good Vybz Entertainment
BEST TRAGEDYPaternal Instinct 

MUSIC & WRITING

BEST ORIGINAL SCRIPTDavid TullochThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST ORIGINAL SONG“Irie” — Rashiem ShepherdKin Teet Jam Rock Sweet
BEST ORIGINAL SCORERashiem ShepherdKin Teet Jam Rock Sweet
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTORRashiem ShepherdRedemption

TECHNICAL & DESIGN

BEST DIRECTORDavid TullochThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGNFrancois WrayThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST MULTI-MEDIA DESIGNGuy ThorneModupe
BEST SET DESIGNChristopher Daley & Patrick RussellBeyond the Wig
BEST LIGHTING DESIGNNadia RoxburghModupe
BEST SOUND DESIGNNadia RoxburghModupe
BEST LIGHT & SOUND TECHAnthony SealyThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST COSTUMESDanielle ShepherdKin Teet Jam Rock Sweet
BEST CHOREOGRAPHYDr. L’Antoinette Stines, Orville McFarlane, Jessica Shaw, Yakeem Reid, Arsenio AndradeModupe
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTSDavid TullochThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST PROPSSabrina Thomas & Dwayne AndersonBeyond the Wig
BEST MAKE-UPCollette FaceyPure Problem: A Predicament Too

OPERATIONS & SUPPORT

BEST STAGE MANAGERTaryn BridgewaterModupe
BEST FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGERSuzann CampbellRedemption
BEST USHERKhalia PhillipsThe Other Side of the Cross
BEST CONCESSIONAIREHarva Stewart PrattThe Other Side of the Cross

SPECIAL CATEGORIES

BEST ORIGINAL POEMRashiem Shepherd & Jordanna Wilson — “A Youth Like Me”Kin Teet Jam Rock Sweet
BEST REVUEKin Teet Jam Rock SweetDredz Productions
BEST DANCE THEATREModupeL’Acadco
BEST POETRY SHOWTalk Di Tings: Poetry & Storytelling Showcase 
BEST REVIVALPaternal Instinct 
BEST INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONThe PreacherKaleo Productions
About the Phoenix Awards 2026 Submissions for the 2026 cycle are now open. Productions must be staged in Jamaica between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Submissions close: December 31, 2026 Nominees announced: February 2027 Awards Ceremony: March 2027 (exact date TBA)   Submit: phoenixawardsja@gmail.com  |  (876) 442-1669