More than awards: The PTONYs unite Princeton’s theater community

While A-List celebrities crowded the runway outside the Met Gala this past week, Radon Belarmino ’26 and Al Potter ’27  had already rolled out their own red carpet this past Sunday here on campus. With glitz and glam, Theatre Intime’s iconic stage hosted a unique Princeton theatrical award ceremony, dubbed “The PTONY Awards.” Hosting six different student groups from around campus, the crowded room of actors, designers, and directors represented a total of 17 unique shows. 

Representing a year’s worth of shows, ranging from Triangle Club’s production of “Aisle be Damned!” to Princeton University Players’ “Next to Normal,” the diversity of  Princeton’s talented theater world was on full display. As eager students took their seats before the stage, a table to the left displayed 12 handmade trophies labeled with their respective categories. At this point, the stage was set, and the crowd was buzzing with theories about who would take a trophy home that night. Before theories could be fully laid out, the lights began to dim, and the room roared with life as both student hosts entered the spotlight at the podium. 

With banter reminiscent of the Tonys or Oscars, Belarmino and Potter introduced the eager crowd to the very first PTONYS, playfully arguing over its proper pronunciation. Playing with quick lines and intertwined dialogue, both hosts comically referenced the titles of all 17 shows that debuted this academic year in their monologue. With each title referenced, the crowd cheered, keeping the energy high as they awaited the awarding of the first trophies. For the pair of hosts, the focus wasn’t on the awards but on building and uniting Princeton’s theater community on one stage. As Belarmino shared in an interview with The Daily Princetonian, “This is all about celebration.”

This message of wanting to create a night of celebration rather than competition was the key difference between the PTONYs and other award ceremonies. Yet, where the event contrasted with typical ceremonies in core values, it more than copied in production value. “I wanted it to be like the Tonys. Great production value, great lights, great sound, great projection, ” said Potter in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ For everyone who was present that night, the level of detail only fueled pride in being involved with any of the theater groups on campus. 

After the opening remarks concluded, a highlight reel played clips from all theater productions from the 2025–2026 season. As scenes played from both big and small companies, it was a satisfying recognition for everyone involved in the wide array of genres and talents. As a member of the crowd, the inclusion of these clips acted as a tasteful blend of celebration and recognition, without leaving any groups out. 

What also helped carry this message were the individual performances that broke up the awards presented throughout the night. With performances from the tearful monologue of “A Burning Christmas” by Eric Ding ’29 to the breakout song “Have my Cake” from “Aisle be Damned!” by Ella Williams ’29, each actor brought an intensity and talent deserving of their original productions. Watching each scene felt intimate with its stripped-down production version, letting all the focus follow the talent. 

Beyond the fun and games of the event’s celebrations, the show’s awards were still a defining feature of the night. With 12 awards, ranging from the usual “Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical” to more niche titles such as “Outstanding Design from a New Theatermaker,” the opportunities for the community were diverse. Out of this range of awards, the category of “New Theatermaker,” which applied only to those who had just begun their theater journey as first-time actors or stagehands, felt most reflective of what the PTONYs stood for. In an environment where glory often falls to the more experienced, cultivating first-timers encourages a tradition of investing in the future of theater on Princeton’s campus. For newcomers, being recognized and supported by their community does just that. B Ireland ’29, the 2026 PTONY winner for “Outstanding Design from a New Theatermaker,” shared with the ‘Prince,’ “It’s always really nice to be recognized for the work that we do, especially the work that we do behind the scenes. It’s incredible to be up there with all these incredible people and just amazing to be a part of this family.”

Other winners from the night shared the sentiment that the recognition wasn’t just for the individual, but for their community. As Williams, winner for “Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical,” shared, “Being able to celebrate theater in this way, and being able to be recognized, not just for my work, but everyone, and all the amazingly talented people in this community, is so special.”

As the final awards were given and a final round of applause filled Theatre Intime, co-host Belarmino shared his final thoughts. “This is winning. Hosting this was winning. And that’s what it felt like. It felt like this whole night has just been all of us as winners in this together.”

Amanda Hugas is a member of the Class of 2027 and a senior writer for The Prospect. She can be reached by her email at ah0942[at]princeton.edu.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.