Telling stories about everything from Cuban cigar making to the intricacies of the father-daughter relationship, here are the 2025 Orlando Sentinel honorees for best director of a drama, as selected by theater critic Matthew J. Palm.

Although it’s impossible for one person to see every local production, as the Orlando Sentinel’s theater critic, each year I see a broad array of dramas, comedies and musicals. The individuals selected for this 2025 theatrical honor roll, presented here alphabetically, elevated Central Florida’s theatrical arts. Go to OrlandoSentinel.com/entertainment to see the honorees in other categories, and check back on Dec. 22 to learn the Critic’s Pick in this category.

Nick Bazo directed the Orlando Shakes production of “Anna in the Tropics,” with Eddie Gutiérrez and Dee Quintero. (Courtesy Tony Firriolo via Orlando Shakes)

Nick Bazo

‘Anna in the Tropics’ Orlando Shakes

In August: Nick Bazo directed this Pulitzer prize-winner with particular vibrancy and potency. In particular, he captured the beautiful dichotomy of author Nilo Cruz’s work, telling a story both  plainspoken and poetic, rooted in history but resonating with contemporary urgency, concerned with the ordinary things of life while reminding us of the extraordinary things about life. This is Bazo’s third nod for directing.

Marco DiGeorge directed the Theater on the Edge production of “Birds of North America,” with Elaitheia Quinn and Allan Whitehead. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Marco DiGeorge

‘Birds of North America’ Theater on the Edge

In May: Marco DiGeorge took a two-person play and made it encompass a whole world. The monologues rang true, and DiGeorge deftly balanced the bird-watching action with the human drama in play. This is DiGeorge’s sixth appearance in the year-end honors lists.

Roberta Emerson (center) directed the Theater West End production of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” with (clockwise from top) Ayófèmi Jeriah Demps, Bethany Hemmans, Patrece Bloomfield, Nyeshia Naomii, Desiree Montes and Edmarie Montes. (Courtesy Mike Kitaif via Theater West End)

Roberta Emerson

‘For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide…’ Theater West End

In September: Roberta Emerson dug into the personal with this show, and brought out deep emotion in her cast. The actors didn’t appear to be simply conveying Ntozake Shange’s exquisitely chosen words but with immense power showed how they are living those words and living with them. This is Emerson’s seventh appearance on the year-end lists; she has been a Critic’s Pick twice, in 2021 for directing Garden Theatre’s “A Raisin in the Sun” and in 2024 for directing Theatre UCF’s “The Cherry Orchard.”

Matthew MacDermid directed the Ensemble Company production of “Frozen,” with Jonna Kae Volz and Jeremy Wood. (Courtesy Matthew MacDermid/The Ensemble Company)

Matthew MacDermid

‘Frozen’ The Ensemble Company

In May: Matthew MacDermid took a play filled with unimaginable real-life horror and unfathomable emotional turmoil and gave it all beautiful clarity with a polished and focused staging. He made monologues seem real as he took audiences on a journey that had them forgetting to breathe.

Matthew MacDermid directed the Ensemble Company production of “The Other Place,” with Thomas Muniz and Janine Papin. (Courtesy Matthew MacDermid via The Ensemble Company)

Matthew MacDermid

‘The Other Place’ The Ensemble Company

In November: Under the direction of Matthew MacDermid, the minutes flew by in this twisty mystery as the clues dropped. MacDermid wisely didn’t belabor revelations, letting theatergoers absorb the changing narrative at their own pace. And on an important practical note, he made the changes of scene — this was not linear or simple storytelling — easy to follow. With the accolade above, these are MacDermid’s eighth and ninth appearances on the year-end honors list. He has been Critic’s Pick twice for his work with The Ensemble Company, in 2021 for his acting in “Clybourne Park” and in 2023 for his sound design for “The Inheritance.”

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/04/best-of-orlando-theater-2025-director-drama/