SPRING GREEN, WIS. — American Players Theatre has been named the recipient of the 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award, becoming the first Wisconsin theater company to receive one of the American theater industry’s highest honors.

The announcement was made Tuesday by the Tony Awards Administration Committee following a recommendation from the American Theatre Critics Association. The award recognizes a regional theater company that has demonstrated a sustained commitment to artistic excellence and contributions to the growth of theater nationally. The honor includes a $25,000 grant supported by City National Bank.

“American Players Theatre is a one-of-a-kind institution, delivering world-class theatre presentations to the Midwest for decades, and we are thrilled to recognize the team there with this award,” said Heather Hitchens and Jason Laks in a joint statement. “By illuminating the shared human experience through timeless classics, they have broadened the theatre-going audience in their community and beyond.”

Located in Spring Green, APT has become one of the nation’s most acclaimed outdoor classical theaters since its founding in 1979. The company stages productions from June through November, drawing nearly 100,000 audience members annually to its outdoor Hill Theatre and indoor Touchstone Theatre.

In a statement, APT Artistic Director Brenda DeVita and Managing Director Sara Young described the recognition as an honor shared by the entire APT community.

“This award is for the whole APT community: the artists, artisans and staff who work so hard to bring stories to life on our Hill, who believe their work is special and that it matters — because it does matter,” the pair wrote. “This award is also for our extraordinary audience, who come back year after year, sharing this theater with friends and family, because it is their theater.”

APT’s 47th season begins June 6 with As You Like It and includes a lineup spanning Shakespearean classics, modern adaptations and contemporary works. Productions this season include The Matchmaker, Uncle Vanya, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Sueño on the Hill Theatre stage, alongside Touchstone productions including The Chairs, Casey and Diana, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea and Witch.

The 2026 Tony Awards will take place June 7 at Radio City Music Hall and will air live on CBS and Paramount+.

Founded with a mission centered on performing “timeless, challenging, poetic texts, with Shakespeare at the center,” APT has become both a major cultural destination in Wisconsin and a nationally respected force in regional theater.