Telling stories drawn from literature, real life and more, here are the 2025 Orlando Sentinel honorees for best director of a musical 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.
Roy Alan directed the Winter Park Playhouse production of “Jerry’s Girls,” with Desiree Montes and Patrece Bloomfield. (Courtesy Michael Cairns Photography via Winter Park Playhouse)
Roy Alan
‘Jerry’s Girls’ Winter Park Playhouse
In August: Director Roy Alan is a dab hand at shows like “Jerry’s Girls” — creating personalities out of unnamed characters, building an emotional arc in the absence of traditional narrative — and as usual he knew just when to play a scene with a nod and a wink, and when to let his powerhouse cast dig deep into the emotion of the material. This is Alan’s 11th appearance in the year-end honors; he was Critic’s Pick in 2019 for directing “Desperate Measures.”
Derek Critzer directed the Theater West End production of “Once,” with Andrew Heidorn and Valerie Torres-Rosario. (Courtesy Jose Carlos Rivera via Theater West End)
Derek Critzer
‘Once’ Theater West End
In November: Derek Critzer’s production joyfully and delicately carried the message that we all need each other to help lighten the load, and we all need our dreams. In crafting a relationship between two characters, Critzer beautifully showed us the power of shared humanity. And he did it while managing a lot of moving pieces, including performers who play instruments while acting, with grace and flair. This is Critzer’s 11th appearance in the year-end honors.
Ben Gaetanos directed the Osceola Arts production of “Catch Me If You Can.” (Courtesy Calen J. Herb via Osceola Arts)
Ben Gaetanos
‘Catch Me If You Can’ Osceola Arts
In July: Ben Gaetanos perfectly captured the showiness of “Catch Me If You Can,” where the leading character is always playing a part. His production showcased a gleeful spirit of showbiz razmatazz, going big with costumes and choreography but not short-changing the smaller scenes of genuine emotion. Gaetanos previously was lauded in the year-end honors for his performance in the Ensemble Company’s 2023 production of “The Inheritance.”
Steve MacKinnon directed the Theatre at St. Luke’s production of “Big Fish,” with Flynn Horne and Dustin Michael Russell. (Courtesy Howard Clifton via Theatre at St. Luke’s)
Steve MacKinnon
‘Big Fish’ Theatre at St. Luke’s
In August: With “Big Fish,” director Steve MacKinnon perfectly understood how a show that dazzles in the big production numbers can also touch the heart in its smaller moments. “Big Fish” careens from a big, foot-tapping production number one minute to an intimate, emotional scene the next. The audience is laughing, then crying, and MacKinnon tied it all together with a gorgeously theatrical bow.
Steve MacKinnon directed the Orlando Shakes production of “Cabaret,” with Anastasia Remoundos and Easton J. Curtis. (Courtesy Tony Firriolo via Orlando Shakes)
Steve MacKinnon
‘Cabaret’ Orlando Shakes
In February: Director Steve MacKinnon balanced the seriousness and frivolity of Orlando Shakes’ “Cabaret” with a sure and steady hand. Every movement, every beautiful piece of theatrical imagery felt like a warning to the audience; even in its most lighthearted moments, the production thrillingly hummed with an encroaching darkness just under the surface. This was theater at its most urgent and most gripping. With the previous accolade on this list, MacKinnon has made 10 total appearances in the year-end honors lists. He received a special-recognition award last year for his work as vocal director for the Theatre at St. Luke’s production of “The Sound of Music.”
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/2025/12/05/director-musical-best-orlando-theater-2025/
