The stage is set for the return of the Actor Boy Awards (ABA) to an in-person format on April 28, 2025.

Under the theme ‘Theatre Reignited: Legacy Meets Future’, this year’s ceremony promises to be a celebration of resilience, artistic excellence, and the dynamic landscape of Jamaican theatre.

The nation’s most talented theatre practitioners, industry professionals, and supporters will be again celebrated and recognised.

Tickets to the awards show will be free this year, but must be reserved in advance to secure a spot.

A key highlight of this year’s awards will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to a theatre practitioner, renowned for profound contributions to both the arts and social development in Jamaica.

The recently held nomination show, hosted by renowned actress Shantol Jackson, highlighted the depth and diversity of the nation’s talent, reflecting stories that resonate with Jamaican audiences.

DMH Productions’ Pull Up – Jamaica Land We Love emerged as the front-runner in this year’s ABA nominations, securing multiple nods across both performance and technical categories. The production, which celebrates Jamaica’s cultural heritage, garnered nominations for Everaldo Creary and Junior Williams for Best Supporting Actor, while the supporting actress category features three noms for Shanique Brown, Dahlia Harris, and Maylynne Lowe, all recognized for their work in the same production.

Patrick Brown’s writing prowess is on full display this season with dual nominations in the Best New Jamaican Play category for Room 513 and Barefoot Battalion from Jambiz International. Brown will face competition from Dahlia Harris for Pull Up – Jamaica Land We Love and Rashiem Shepherd for Kin Teet Jamrock.

In the lead acting categories, Glen Campbell received nominations for his performances in both Barefoot Battalion and
Room 513, while Sharee McDonald-Russell earned similar recognition for her leading roles in the same productions.

McDonald-Russell is also nominated for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. Jon Williams, Paul Barclay, and Grub Cooper’s collaborative work on the original score for Pull Up – Jamaica Land We Love has been recognised, alongside the late Winston “Bello” Bell’s composition for The School of Drama’s Buss Big.

For other musical contributions two original songs from Pull Up – Jamaica Land We Love compete against each other
Jamaica 62 and the production’s title song, both with lyrics by Dahlia Harris.

The ABA remains Jamaica’s premier theatre awards programme, honouring excellence in acting, directing, writing, production, and technical achievements.