The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) announced on May 18 that several of its alumni have been nominated for major honors at the 2026 Tony Awards, Chita Rivera Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Drama League Awards. These nominations highlight the ongoing presence of CCM graduates both on stage and behind the scenes in New York’s professional theater community.
These recognitions matter because they reflect CCM’s consistent reputation as one of Playbill’s top schools most represented on Broadway. Alumni from CCM continue to contribute significantly to productions in New York City’s theater industry.
The Tony Awards ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 7. The event will be hosted by music artist P!NK and broadcast live on CBS Television Network while also streaming on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. Eastern Time/5 p.m. Pacific Time. Multiple CCM alumni are among those recognized this year for their work with nominations across various categories.
In addition to the Tony Awards recognition, CCM alumni have also received accolades at other prestigious events this season. The Chita Rivera Awards—held at NYU’s Skirball Center—celebrate excellence in dance and choreography across Broadway and film. The Drama Desk Awards honor achievements across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-off-Broadway; this year’s ceremony was hosted by Marla Mindelle (BFA Musical Theatre, ’09), a CCM alumna. Meanwhile, the Drama League Awards took place at NYC’s Ziegfeld Ballroom.
Beyond individual awards ceremonies, organizations like the Broadway Women’s Fund are also recognizing emerging female leaders within the industry; this year’s “Women to Watch on Broadway” list includes Alex Brock (MFA Sound Design, ’22), another CCM graduate.
Looking ahead, university officials say that many more graduates continue to work as performers or behind-the-scenes professionals not only in New York but also with touring companies and theaters nationwide.