Of the more than 100 shows that opened in 2007, 30 productions at 13 different companies were nominated for South Florida's "oldest and most prestigious arts honors, citing the best shows and performances in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties."

A fresh production of the flapper-era musical The Boy Friend at Maltz Jupiter Theatre took home the most nominations with 11. GableStage's production of the black comedy The Lieutenant of Inishmore was the most recognized play with nine nominations.

This year the Carbonell George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, awarded for significant contributions to the artistic and cultural development of the region, will go to Carbonell Awards executive director Jack Zink, who first won the award in 1989. This is the first time one person took home a second Abbott Award. Zink is being honored again "for his continuing role of encouraging growth and excellence in the South Florida arts industry."

Three plays were in the category of Best New Work (Play or Musical): David Caudle's Likeness and Michael McKeever's Melt (both produced by New Theatre) and Juan C. Sanchez's Red Tide (The Promethean Theatre).

The 2008 Carbonell Award nominees are: COMBINED (Plays & Musicals)

Best New Work (Play or Musical)
David Caudle, Likeness, New Theatre
Michael McKeever, Melt, New Theatre
Juan C. Sanchez, Red Tide, The Promethean Theatre

Best Ensemble Production (Play or Musical)
Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre
Melt, New Theatre
Steel Magnolias, Caldwell Theatre Company
Summer Shorts, City Theatre

PLAYS

Best Production of a Play
Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre
A House With No Walls, Florida Stage
The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre
Trying, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Best Director/Play
Joseph Adler, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Nanique Gheridian, Trying, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Richard Jay Simon, Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre
Richard Jay Simon, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre
Louis Tyrrell, A House With No Walls, Florida Stage

Best Actor/Play
Stephen G. Anthony, Faith Healer, Inside Out Theatre Company
Todd Allen Durkin, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
John Felix, Guest Artist, Mosaic Theatre
Peter Haig, Trying, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Paul Tei, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

Best Actress/Play
Kameshia Duncan, A House With No Walls, Florida Stage
Lela Elam, In the Continuum, GableStage
Margot Moreland, Fat Pig, GableStage
Pilar Uribe, Nine Parts of Desire, Mosaic Theatre
Tara Vodihn, I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady From Rwanda, New Theatre

Best Supporting Actor/Play
Ken Clement, Faith Healer, Inside Out Theatre Company
Erik Fabregat, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
John Felix, Melt, New Theatre
Andrew Rassmussen, According to Goldman, Florida Stage
Paul Tei, Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre

Best Supporting Actress/Play
Linda Bernhard, Sister Cities, The Women's Project
Pat Bowie, Doubt, Caldwell Theatre Company
Kim Morgan, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Kim Morgan, Smut, GableStage
Angie Radosh, The Fourth Wall, Palm Beach DramaWorks

MUSICALS

Best Production of a Musical
The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
I Love You Because, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Director/Musical
David Arisco, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
David Arisco, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Peter Flynn, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
J. Barry Lewis, Side by Side by Sondheim, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Mark Martino, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Actor/Musical
Neal Benari, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Jerry Gulledge, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Terrell Hardcastle, Side by Side by Sondheim, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Gary Marachek, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Tally Sessions, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Actress/Musical
Irene Adjan, Funny Girl, New Vista Theatre Company
Natalie Hall, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Jennifer Hughes, I Love You Because, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Alicia Irving, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Laura Turnbull, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, New Vista Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor/Musical
Jim Ballard, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Marcus Davis, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Connor Gallagher, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Christopher A. Kent, Funny Girl, New Vista Theatre Company
Michael Lluberes, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Supporting Actress/Musical
Cherilyn Franco, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Rachel Jones, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Julie Kotarides, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Erin McGuire, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Lourelene Snedeker, Backwards in High Heels, Florida Stage

Musical Direction/Musical
Eric Alsford, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Craig D. Ames, Side by Side by Sondheim, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Helen Gregory, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Helen Gregory, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
David Nagy, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Choreography/Musical
Chrissi Ardito, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Chrissi Ardito, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Lynnette Barkley, Backwards in High Heels, Florida Stage
Rob Dawson, Funny Girl, New Vista Theatre Company
Denis Jones, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

DESIGN (Plays and Musicals)

Best Scenic Design
Lyle Baskin, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Dan Kuchar, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Sean McClelland, Guest Artist, Mosaic Theatre
Sean McClelland, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

Best Lighting Design
Lance Blank, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, New Vista Theatre Company
Jeff Quinn, Fat Pig, GableStage
Jeff Quinn, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Donald Edmund Thomas, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Donald Edmund Thomas, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Costume Design
Erin Amico, Summer Shorts, City Theatre
Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Jose M. Rivera, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Ellis Tillman, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Ellis Tillman, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Sound Design
Matt Corey, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage
Matt Corey, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre
Luis Lojo, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Steve Shapiro, Summer Shorts, City Theatre
Lane Starratt, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre