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2017 - 2018 Thirteenth Annual National Youth Arts Awards!
 
~ Arizona - East Valley Ceremony ~ 
 
National Youth Arts is excited to begin announcing the winners of our 13th Annual National Youth Arts Awards to honor outstanding work by youth in the arts. This year more than 600 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more 220 different members spanning 17 states & the UK. For information on how to get involved, please click here.

This year's award winners were selected from nominations by a panel of more than 50 judges and reviewers. In addition to the youth who performed in schools and youth arts companies, anyone age 18 and under who performed at a show reviewed by a judge was also considered for the NYA awards, as well as the adults who participated in the youth productions backstage (directors, set designers, costume designers, etc.) and guest adult Performances in productions designed for youth. College artists are eligible for our University Arts (UniArts) Awards presented in conjunction with the National Youth Arts Awards. Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year!

The award winners will be formally presented with their awards on stage and nomination certificates will be available at the registration table for the nominees. The ceremonies honoring all of their accomplishments are held in different regions of the country including multiple ceremonies in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York, and Virginia. A few award-winning alumni include Tony Nominees Ashley Park [2009] (Broadway: Gretchen in Mean Girls, Tuptim in The King & I) and Emily Skeggs [2008] (Broadway: Medium Alison in Fun Home, TV: Young Roma in When We Rise), Asher Angel [2013, '14, '15] (Film: Billy Batson in Shazam!, TV: Jonah Beck in Andi Mack), Jackie Foster [2010, '12, '13, '14] (TV: The Voice Semifinalist), Brian Crum [2005] (TV: America's Got Talent finalist), Veronica Dunne [2011, '12, '13] (Broadway: Roxie in Chicago, TV: Marisa Clark in K.C. Undercover), Carolyn Braver [2007, '08] (Broadway: Pearl in The Iceman Cometh), Kyle Selig [2010] (Broadway: Aaron in Mean Girls), Emma Howard [2011, '16, '17] (Broadway: Hortensia in Matilda, Film: The Beguiled), Brennyn Lark [2011] (West End: Deena Jones in Dreamgirls, Broadway: Eponine in Les Mis), and multiple-Grammy Nominee Ariana Grande [2009].

If award winners can't make it to their ceremony, they might be able to attend one of the other ceremonies. Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year, and we hope you can join us!

Ceremony Portfolio for Agents: Award recipients and nominees are eligible for talent agency submissions. If you're interested in having NY and LA agents review your headshot/resume, please email them to rob@nationalyouththeatre.com. If any of the agencies are interested, you'll be contacted directly via the email on your resume. Reminder: Your resume should only have the email and cell of someone over the age of 18 (your parent or guardian). 

Rob Hopper
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Executive Director
National Youth Arts


Arizona - East Valley Ceremony
RSVP 
NYA Awards | Nominees

Sunday, August 5
Registration begins @ 1:15 p.m.
Awards Presentation begins @ 2:00 p.m.
The Dutton Family Theater
East Valley High School
7420 E. Main St. 
Mesa, AZ 85207

Please click here for more details and ticket information

And the Winners are ...

Outstanding Production:
Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)

Outstanding Production (Junior Division):
The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)

Artist of the Year:
Connor Brigola (Tarzan in Tarzan, Ching Ho in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Direction of The Lion King and 12 Angry Jurors @ Limelight Perfomring Arts)
Joey J Grado (Lonny in Rock of Ages @ Chandler, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar @ Spotlight, Silk by Belaganas)
Casey Likes (Drew in Rock of Ages and Sullen Summers in The Bottom of the Lake @ Chandler, Alex in Madagascar and Buddy in Elf @ Greasepaint)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical::
Kale Burr as Ren McCormack in Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Audrey Coleman as Jane in Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
Benny Cowans as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Sophia Donnell as Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Hailey Gates as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Bailey Gorman as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Miles Hull as Bert in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Lizzy Jensen as Betty Haynes in White Christmas (Perry High School)
Tré Moore as Captain Hook in Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Austin Porter as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Jessica Wastchak as Molly Jensen in Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Nick Williams as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Kayleah Wilson as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Emily Wright as Judy Haynes in White Christmas (Perry High School)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:
Hunter DiGrazia as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Bryce Dilullo as Chuck Biggs in She Kills Monsters (Arizona Young Actors’ Alliance)
Drew MacCallum as Emily Book in The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Elizabeth Schaible as Princess Cora in King Thrushbeard (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Grey Smith as Junior Dover Jr. in The Great All-American Musical Disaster (Hamilton High School)

Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Chloe Rozalsky as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:
Nora Baier as Smitty in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Desert Vista High School)
Kalei Cotecson as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Noah Delgado as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Manuel Edrozo as Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Gillian Elliott as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Meg Farnsworth as Lucy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mountain View High School)
Kendall Kingdeski as Martha Watson in White Christmas (Perry High School)
Mandalyn Larsen as Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Garrett Lindsey as Patsy in Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Megan McEwen as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Hailey Palmer as Hilda Klinemann in Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Anthony Procopio as Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Kiersten Rule as Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mountain View High School)
Jack Walton as Bud Frump in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Desert Vista High School)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:
Faith Sterling as Lady in White in The Bottom of the Lake (Chandler High School)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Carly Cairns as Kate Keller in The Miracle Worker (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Kassandra Diaz as Fortunata in Beauty and the Computer Geek (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Lachlan Henderson as Merryweather in Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Connor Klein as Sheldon in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Meredith Woodward as Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Olivia Woodward-Shaw as Nala in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:
Sara Blue as Louise in Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding New Song:
Silk by Belaganas

Outstanding Ensemble:
Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
White Christmas (Perry High School)

Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division):
Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Emma England for Body of Work (Limelight Performing Arts)
Aurelie Flores & Linda Pauley for Footloose (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Skye Bradsher for Insanity (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Set Design:
Dane Burk for Insanity (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Choreography:
Angela Kriese for Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Taryn Tidwell for Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)

Outstanding Sound Design/Original Music:
Jordan Donovan-Schager, Emma England, Kevin O’Donnell for The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)

Outstanding Youth Orchestra:
White Christmas (Perry High School)

Outstanding Direction:
Jamie Bauer-Spano for The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Jere Van Patten for Footloose (Mountain View High School)

 

* ...And the additional Nominees are ... *

Outstanding Production:
Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
The Great All-American Musical Disaster (Hamilton High School)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Insanity (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
White Christmas (Perry High School)

Outstanding Production (Junior Division):
Annie Jr. (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical:
Reagan Bentley as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Kylie Burge as Wendy Darling in Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Desiree Mendoza as Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Noah Delgado as Jean Shepard/Narrator in A Christmas Story (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Noah Delgado as Dom Claude Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Maritza Kozicki as Rosemary Pilkington in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Desert Vista High School)
Matthew Pittman as Phil Davis in White Christmas (Perry High School)
Austin Porter as Bob Wallace in White Christmas (Perry High School)
Elizabeth Schaible as Peter Pan in Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Alex Silver as J Pierrepoint Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Desert Vista High School)
Annabelle Skala as Kala in Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
Annabelle Skala as Daisy Hilton in Side Show (Limelight Performing Arts)
Grey Smith as Albert in Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Ben Thornburg as The Old Man in A Christmas Story (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Charity Thurston as Ariel for Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Samantha Timothy as Violet Hilton in Side Show (Limelight Performing Arts)
Nick Williams as Sam Wheat in Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:
Sara Blue as Doctor in Insanity (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Sarah Brown as Junie B. Jones in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Paige Gagliardi as Lillith in She Kills Monsters (Arizona Young Actors’ Alliance)
Aubrey Hoffer as Agnes Evans in She Kills Monsters (Arizona Young Actors’ Alliance)
Suzy Olson as Crystalline (Beauty) in Beauty and the Computer Geek (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Haley Reed as Molly Aster in Peter and the Starcatcher (Dobson High School)
Ben Thornburg as Peter in Insanity (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Zolton Bonnenfant as Herb in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Ava De Campo as Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Mikayla Glancy as Gertrude in Seussical the Musical (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Connor Klein as Horton in Seussical the Musical (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Aaron McCaskill as Kevin in Robin Hood and His Merry Men (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Mia McFarland as Virginia O’Hanlon in Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Lily Nelson as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Lily Nelson as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Taylor Peel as Annie in Annie Jr. (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Jonah Romanoff as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Macee Schmidt as Little John in Robin Hood and His Merry Men (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Brandon Trudelle as Simba in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Olivia Woodward-Shaw as Natalie in All Shook Up (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance (College Division):
Zack Anderson as Juror 8 in 12 Angry Jurors (Limelight Performing Arts)
Noah Delgado as King Arthur in Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (College Division):
Nicolas Caglia as Kerchak in Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:
Kristiana Corona as Miss Shields in A Christmas Story (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Benny Cowans as Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Noah Delgado as Carl Bruner in Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Shaun Dunn as Conrad in Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Parker Ellsworth as Lancelot/French Taunter/Black Knight in Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Anna Holt as Vi Moore in Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Will Lombardi as J.B. Biggley in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Desert Vista High School)
Sammy Maxwell as Hedy Larue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Desert Vista High School)
Andru Moeller as Franz Klinemann in Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Emma Nissen as Rusty in Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Victoria Pond as Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Austin Porter as Terk in Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
Carson Robles as Linus in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mountain View High School)
Carson Robles as Willard Hewitt in Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Jordan Sagy as Jake in Side Show (Limelight Performing Arts)
Faith Sterling as Anita Bath in Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Victoria Vredevoogd as Lucy in 13 (Perry High School)
Dallin Wilson as Galahad/Herbert’s Father in Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:
Rebecca Benham as Joyce McGuckin in The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Aaron Brown as Orcus in She Kills Monsters (Arizona Young Actors’ Alliance)
Ezra Glenn as Bloody Mary in The Bottom of the Lake (Chandler High School)
Kaitlyn Hohl as Elf Ellen in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Drew MacCallum as Juror 4 in 12 Angry Jurors (Limelight Performing Arts)
Kylee Richardson as Lily Belle Savage in The Curious Savage (Mountain View High School)
Brett Small as Dan Christopher in The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Riley Van Cleve as Sylvia Metroland in The Great All-American Musical Disaster (Hamilton High School)
Bonnie Wanstreet as Jenny McGrath in The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Leah Wild as Mrs. Paddy in The Curious Savage (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Alexis Archer as Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Allison Avery as Fauna in Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Ciara Bogan as Juror 9 in 12 Angry Jurors (Limelight Performing Arts)
Carly Cairns as May in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Kylan Chait as Young Simba in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Patricia Dawson as Jinx in Beauty and the Computer Geek (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Teagan Dinyes as Zazu in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Shaylee Flanagan as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Ryley Hansen as Timon in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Will Horsley as Rooster Hannigan in Annie Jr. (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Baylee Horvath as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Kayla King as Rafiki in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Emma Martin as Miss Dorothy Brown in Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Adam Miller as Schwartz in A Christmas Story (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Julia Pitman as Young Nala in The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Remington Rathbun as Erma in Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Chloe Rozalsky as Lucille in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Erin Schumacher as Flora in Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Abigail Springer as Young Terk in Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
Savannah Swaitkowski as Mary Lou in Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (East Valley Children’s Theatre)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:
Bryce Dilullo as Subway Ghost in Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Manuel Edrozo as Eddie in 13 (Perry High School)
Savannah Gambell as Bird Woman in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Alyssa Granger as Ursula in Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Abbey Porter as Mrs. Brill in Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Tim Pung as Malcolm in 13 (Perry High School)
Emily Wright as Charlotte in 13 (Perry High School)

Outstanding Ensemble:
12 Angry Jurors (Limelight Performing Arts)
Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Side Show (Limelight Performing Arts)
Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division):
The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Skyler Christensen for White Christmas (Perry High School)
Aurelie Flores for Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Barbara Jakucki for Beauty and the Computer Geek (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Diana Likes for Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Kathryn Most for Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Pamela Oborn for Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Skye Bradsher for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Ross Collins for Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Bill Lorentz for Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Angel Moreno for Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Nathaniel White for Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)

Outstanding Set Design:
Chris Burk for Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Dane Burk for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Emma England for Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
Jesse Ploog-Bacik for Footloose (Mountain View High School)
Kim Williams & Devan Wastchak for Ghost the Musical (Actor’s Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Choreography:
Emma England and Jordan Donovan-Schager for The Sparrow (Limelight Performing Arts)
Emma England and Marie South for Thoroughly Modern Millie (Limelight Performing Arts)
Emma England & Nikki Gray for The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Bruce Goolsby for Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Jennifer Grisham-Dobbs for Peter Pan (East Valley Children’s Theatre)
Abby Kozel, Sarah Martino, Rebecca Miller, Fara Sadler, Emily Wright for White Christmas (Perry High School)
Kim Rodriguez & Katie Hudnall for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Sound Design/Original Music:
Jason Krull for The Bottom of the Lake (Chandler High School)
Jeffrey Sloan for Footloose (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Hair/Makeup Design:
Emma England for Side Show (Limelight Performing Arts)
Elizabeth Mosey for Footloose (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Youth Orchestra:
Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)

Outstanding Musical Direction:
Nikki Gray & Carol Webb for The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Tracie Jones for Anything Goes (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Lori Lyford for Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Mason Screiber for Footloose (Mountain View High School)

Outstanding Direction:
Jamie Bauer-Spano for Side Show (Limelight Performing Arts)
Connor Brigola & Emma England for The Lion King Jr. (Limelight Performing Arts)
Dane Burk for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Ross Collins for The Miracle Worker (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Marcus Ellsworth and Julie Clement for Spamalot (Actor’s Youth Theatre)
Emma England for Tarzan (Limelight Performing Arts)
Matt Erickson for Mary Poppins (Red Mountain High School)
Peyton Jordan for Sleeping Beauty KIDS (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Stephanie Likes for Rock of Ages (Chandler High School)
Shawna Marquis for White Christmas (Perry High School)
Emily Spets for Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Fountain Hills Youth Theater)
Christina Vail for Bye Bye Birdie (Hamilton High School)
Jere Van Patten for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mountain View High School)