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2017 - 2018 Thirteenth Annual National Youth Arts Awards!
 
~ Western Regional 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


Western Regional Ceremony
RSVP 
NYA Awards | Nominees

Monday, October 22
Registration begins @ 6:45 p.m.
Awards Presentation begins @ 7:30 p.m.
Valley Youth Theatre
525 N. 1st Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Please click here for more details and ticket information

And the Winners are ...

Outstanding Production:
Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty, CA)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical:
Katie Brown as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Lily Castle as Jo in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Lily Castle as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Brach Drew as Donkey in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
JoyAnna Eans as Marian Paroo in The Music Man (Northwest Christian School)
Steven Enriquez as Shrek in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Kyra Klonoski as Cinderella in Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Jessica Kupillas as The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Jesse Pike as Janet Van de Graff in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Alec Pursell as William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Cormac Romine as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Hayden Skaggs as Alex in Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
Mariah Stanelle as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Archbishop Mitty, CA)
Greer Tornquist as Ariel in The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Kaitlin Wyse as Judy Haynes in White Christmas (Pinnacle Creative Arts Studio & Northwest Christian School)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:
Stokley Berg as Ponyboy in The Outsiders (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Griffin Fletcher as Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Conor Sherry as Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty, CA)
Grace Tobin as Molly Aster in Peter and the Starcatcher (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Mia McFarland as Annie in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance (College Division):
Olivia Casper as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
James Gish as Jack in Newsies (Phoenix Theatre)
Maya Sherer as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:
Isabel Alamin as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company, CA)
Lauren Baber as Rona Lisa Peretti (Olive’s Mom) in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Jared Barbee as Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Abby Cardenas as Skipper in Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
Tatum Dial as the Witch in Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Avienne James as Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
McKenna Kollman as Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Grand Canyon University)
Lucy Phillipes as Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company, CA)
Chloe Pierson as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Kendra Richards as Amy in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Johnny Robaina as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Olivia Smith as Grace Farrell in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)
Cora Stone as Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Brytan Todd as Dorothy Brown in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Amelia Whitney as Helen Sinclair in Bullets Over Broadway (Archbishop Mitty, CA)
Angel Wilensky as Heather Chandler in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:
Camden Andl as Mrs. Bumbrake in Peter and the Starcatcher (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Erik Federwisch as Stanley Stubbers in One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty, CA)
Harleigh Irizarry as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Alice Miller as Juror #4 in 12 Angry Women (Ellensburg High School, WA)
Megan Montoya as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Shanaya Sales as Dolly in One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Joey Dean as Les in Newsies (Phoenix Theatre)
Annalise Decker as Rabbit in A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Cree Thomas as Gollum in The Hobbit (Valley Youth Theatre)
Riley Thornton as King Julien in Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (College Division):
Brandon Brown as Crutchie in Newsies (Phoenix Theatre)
Isaac O’Farrell as Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Grand Canyon University)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:
Natalie Kenning as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Daniel Manzo as Ram’s Dad in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater, CA)

Outstanding Featured Performance (Junior Division):
Kate Williams as Molly in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Ensemble:
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)
Bullets Over Broadway (Archbishop Mitty, CA)
The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
Peter and the Starcatcher (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Ensemble (College Division):
Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater, CA)

Outstanding Guest Ensemble:
Newsies (Phoenix Theatre)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Karol Cooper for Body of Work (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Bret Reese for Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Choreography:
Katie Casey for The Music Man ( Northwest Christian School)
Nathalie Velasquez for Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Sound Design/Original Music:
Gary Gillespie for Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Musical Direction:
Mark Fearey for Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Tristan Peterson-Steinert for Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Direction:
Bobb Cooper for Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Maureen Dias for Peter and the Starcatcher (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Rusty Ferracane for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Doug Santana for One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty, CA)

 

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

Outstanding Production:
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Bullets Over Broadway (Archbishop Mitty)
The Hobbit (Valley Youth Theatre)
Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
The Outsiders (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
The Sparrow (Arizona School for the Arts)
Sondheim on Sondheim (ACAA)
A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Production (College Division):
Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical:
Jack Bloome as David Shayne in Bullets Over Broadway (Archbishop Mitty)
Jordan Barker as Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Kanessa Campbell as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Cydney Capulong as Rose Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie (St. Mary’s Theatre)
JoyAnna Eans as Betty Haynes in White Christmas (Pinnacle Creative Arts Studio & Northwest Christian School)
Nicolas Graffanino as Harold Hill in The Music Man ( Northwest Christian School)
Nicolas Graffanino as Phil Davis in White Christmas (Pinnacle Creative Arts Studio & Northwest Christian School)
Morgan Hunt as Fredrick in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company)
Trent Lawson as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (Archbishop Mitty)
Caden Lewis as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Nolan Peterson Ause as Bob Wallace in White Christmas (Pinnacle Creative Arts Studio & Northwest Christian School)
Johnny Robaina as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Michael Robertson as Igor in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company)
Oriana Valcamp as Pooh in A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Anna Vorperian as Inga in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:
Jonathan Collins as Luke Winthrop in The Color of Stars (St. Mary’s Theatre)
Esmeralda Franco as Eddie in The Color of Stars (St. Mary’s Theatre)
Julia Murphy as Emily Book in The Sparrow (Arizona School for the Arts)
Matthew Syms as Bilbo in The Hobbit (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Guest Performance:
Bobb Cooper as Oliver Warbucks in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)
Karol Cooper as Miss Hannigan in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)
Ira Hill as Marty in Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance (College Division):
Jesse Northen as JD in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (College Division):
McCall Brinskele as Heather McNamara in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater)
Brandon Brown as Rooster in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)
Lily Hahn as Heather Duke in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:
Hannah Bowling as Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Ande Burns as Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar (Archbishop Mitty)
Kristen Chua as Little Red Ridinghood in Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Madelyn Davis as Olive Neal in Bullets Over Broadway (Archbishop Mitty)
Tino DeAngelis as Leaf Coneybear (Carl Dad) in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Tatum Dial as Ursula in The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Tatum Dial as Marmee in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Olivia Drapeau as Mae Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie (St. Mary’s Theatre)
Steven Enriquez as Professor Bhaer in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Quinn Hasenkamp as Ellen in Bullets Over Broadway (Archbishop Mitty)
Frankie Jurado as Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Noah Lanouette as Chip Tolentino (Jesus) in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Stephanie Larson as Meg in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Lilly LeBlanc as Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Max Mendoza as Douglas Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Anna Mettes as Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Hannah Novack as Flounder in The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Brooke O’Connell as Kemp in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company) 
Andrew Pryor-Ramirez as Kurt Kelly in Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater)
Anastasia Rai as Gloria in Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
Cormac Romine as Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Emma Sucato as Aunt March in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Tanner Sumens as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Andy Wissink as Jack in Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:
Stokley Berg as Smee in Peter and the Starcatcher (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Justin Carey as Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Aaron Ciolek as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Griffin Fletcher as Dallas in The Outsiders (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Jonah Fried as Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Anastasia Goebel as Juror #3 in 12 Angry Women (Ellensburg High School)
Charlie Ibsen as Charlie “The Duck” in One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty)
James Kirkham as Juror #3 in 12 Angry Men (Ellensburg High School)
Jessica Kupillas as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Sheina Manning as Juror #7 in 12 Angry Women (Ellensburg High School)
Olivia Monroy as Pauline in One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty)
Andrew Ray as Johnny in The Outsiders (Brophy-Xavier Theatre)
Oakley Rinehart as Flute/Thisbee in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Amelia Whitney as Rachel Crabbe in One Man, Two Guvnors (Archbishop Mitty)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Raymond Cusick as Melman in Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
Isabella Del Rosso as Susan Waverly in White Christmas (Pinnacle Creative Arts Studio & Northwest Christian School)
Alexander Flores as Eeyore in A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Aaron McCaskill as Piglet in A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Riley Thornton as Mr. Laurence in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:
Brendan Alcott as Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Chelsea Carll as Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Isabella Conner as Gingy/Surgar Plum Fairy/Blind Mouse in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Tanner Dutton as Papa Bear/Papa Ogre/Thelonius in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Jonah Fried as Gangster #1 in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Nathan Holley as Ching Ho in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Anand Khalsa as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hoovervillian in Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)
Kaila Ludvigson as Victor in Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company) 
Megan Montoya as Gangster #2 in The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)

Outstanding Featured Performance (College Division):
Emily Bowlby as Dragon in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Albert Johnson as Pinocchio in Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Ensemble:
The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)
Sondheim on Sondheim (ACAA)
White Christmas (Pinnacle Creative Arts Studio & Northwest Christian School)
Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company)

Outstanding Ensemble (College Division):
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Grand Canyon University)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Maria Manning for 12 Angry Women (Ellensburg High School)
Jennifer McNeal for The Drowsy Chaperone (ACAA)
Kristina Nagaran for Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Kristina Nagaran for The Little Mermaid (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Brytan Todd & Laura Bedore for Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Daniel Davisson for A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Jonah Nelson for Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)

Outstanding Set Design:
Paul Bridgeman for Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Dori Brown for The Hobbit (Valley Youth Theatre)
Dori Brown for Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre)
Dori Brown for Madagascar (Valley Youth Theatre)
Bobb Cooper for A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Teresa Corderman & Thomas Lytle for Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)

Outstanding Choreography:
Lizzie Baggleman for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)
Katie Casey for A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Kristina Nagaran for Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Nathalie Velasquez for Annie (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Fight Choreography:
Bruce Laks for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ACAA)

Outstanding Sound Design/Original Music:
Billy Lopez for A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Musical Direction:
Rebecca Joslin for A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Elise Kurbat for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arizona School for the Arts)

Outstanding Direction:
Adam Berger for Sondheim on Sondheim (ACAA)
Katie Casey for A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Valley Youth Theatre)
Bobb Cooper for Shrek the Musical (Valley Youth Theatre)
Pat Nims for Heathers the Musical (Marin Summer Theater)
Janice Robillard for Into the Woods (Xavier-Brophy Theatre)
Bronson Todd for Thoroughly Modern Millie (Desert Star Youth Theater, UT)
Young Frankenstein (23 Elephants Theatre Company)