Blumenthal Arts Announces the 2025 Blumey Awards Nominees

May 5, 2025 (Charlotte, NC) – Blumenthal Arts is pleased to announce the nominees competing in the 12th Annual High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Blumey Awards, presented by Bank of America, on Sunday, May 18 at the Belk Theater.

 

The Blumey Awards program recognizes and celebrates the best in high school musical theater and fosters even greater achievements in the future.

 

Winners will be announced at The Blumey Awards Ceremony on May 18 at 7 pm in the Belk Theater. Tickets for The Blumey Awards ceremony will go on sale on Wednesday, May 7 at 10 am and will be available at blumenthalarts.org, 704-372-1000 or from the box office in the Belk Theater lobby, 130 N. Tryon St. 

 

Performer Warren Egypt Franklin (Hamilton Broadway national tour, TV’s American Sports Story and Grown-ish) will host the black-tie event. Last year’s Best Actress and Best Actor winners, Lainey Gaston and Rylan Lowe, will present this year’s Best Actress and Best Actor awards, in addition to Blumey Awards Gordon Hay Scholarship recipient Ash Hernick, Ryann Redmond (Broadway’s Once Upon a One More Time, Frozen, Escape to Margaritaville, and others), and Sterling Masters-Deeny (Broadway and national tours of Wicked, A Chorus Line, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and others).

 

“The Blumey Awards is a powerful milestone for students—one that often leaves a lasting impact,” said Blumenthal Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard. “When we invest in their growth, spark creativity, connect them with the industry, and help them build meaningful peer relationships, we open doors to futures filled with possibility—on stage and beyond.”

 

Like the Tony Awards®, The Blumey Awards Ceremony will feature a performance by each of the six nominated schools in the best musical category, a medley of performances by the six finalists for Best Actor and for Best Actress, and an opening and closing number that features two students from each of the 54 participating schools.

 

The New York–based creative team will include Broadway composer and Grammy-nominated orchestrator David Dabbon (Oh, Mary!, Beetlejuice, Funny Girl, Disaster!, and others), Music Director since the inaugural Blumey Awards ceremony in 2012, returning as Conductor, Music Director, and Arranger. Reagan Casteel (Broadway national tour of & Juliet, Broadway’s Once Upon a One More Time and Dancin’) will return as Music Director and Arranger. Director and choreographer Deirdre Goodwin (Broadway: A Chorus Line, Chicago) will choreograph the event. 

 

The two students named Best Actor and Best Actress at The Blumey Awards will receive an all-expenses-paid trip and weeklong stay in New York City where they will train and compete with other regional winners in The National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Jimmy Awards® (named after famed Broadway producer, James M. Nederlander). The national show and ceremony take place on June 23, 2025.

 

“Bank of America, as a longtime partner of Blumenthal Arts, is proud to support the 2025 Blumey Awards. This celebration of talent and big dreams is a meaningful showcase of the hard work of Charlotte’s students, staff, and schools. We are proud to support an organization that opens doors by providing important opportunities for students through arts education, recognition, and industry connections,” said Grace Nystrum, Charlotte Market Executive for Bank of America.

 

 

Nominees for the 2025 Blumey Awards:
 

 

Best Student Orchestra 

Central Academy of Technology and Arts– Les Misérables School Edition

Hickory Ridge High School – Something Rotten

Myers Park High School – Freaky Friday

Providence High School – All Shook Up

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – The Addams Family

 

Best Student Reporter

Concord High School – Yasmine Miller

Cox Mill High School – Anease Tucker

Hopewell High School – JP Spencer

Weddington High School – Hayden Kocur

 

Best Student Stage Manager

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Alice Starnes – Les Misérables School Edition

Charlotte Latin School – Claire Addison – The Drowsy Chaperone

Hopewell High School – Aleksi Bernier – Mamma Mia!

North Lincoln High School – Wren Heise – Pippin

Weddington High School – Ria Agarwal – Chicago: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – Gavin Vezendy – The Addams Family

 

Best Student Set Designer

Catawba Ridge High School – David Archie - Little Shop of Horrors

Kings Mountain High School – Luca Narciso – Disaster! The Musical

North Lincoln High School – Addie Geiger – Pippin

Northwest School of the Arts – Tyler Goguen - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Weddington High School – Jackson Jedelsky – Chicago: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – Dylan Vezendy – The Addams Family

 

Best Student Costume Designer
Concord Academy – Lexi LaCroix – Guys and Dolls
Cox Mill High School – Abigail Woerner - Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Cuthbertson High School – Julianna Walker – Anastasia
North Lincoln High School – Bianca Travis – Pippin
Piedmont Community Charter School – Charlotte Robert – West Side Story

William A. Hough High School – Abigail Smith – The Addams Family

 

Best Choreography Execution 

Concord Academy – Guys and Dolls

Nation Ford High School – The Lightning Thief

North Lincoln High School – Pippin

Piedmont Community Charter School – West Side Story

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – The Addams Family

 

Best Ensemble/Chorus 

Central Academy of Technology and Arts– Les Misérables School Edition

Concord Academy – Guys and Dolls

Nation Ford High School – The Lightning Thief

North Lincoln High School – Pippin

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – The Addams Family

 

Best Overall Direction 

Concord Academy – Guys and Dolls

Gaston Day – Once Upon a Mattress

North Lincoln High School – Pippin

Piedmont Community Charter School – West Side Story

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – The Addams Family

 

Best Featured Performer 

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Garrett Dwiggins as Bishop of Digne/Legles –
Les Misérables School Edition

Hickory Grove Christian School – Amara Aghedo as Sour Kangaroo – Seussical

Lincoln Charter School – Joseph Sintoni as Foley Artist – The SpongeBob Musical

Myers Park High School – Mary Claire Davidson as Mrs. Meyers/Officer – Freaky Friday

North Lincoln High School – Tucker Cranford as Theo – Pippin

Piedmont Community Charter School – Rae Thomas as Rosalia – West Side Story

 

Best Supporting Actor 

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Aidan Conway as Thénardier –
Les Misérables School Edition

Mountain Island Charter School – Judson Jones as Mr. Duvall – Mean Girls High School Edition

Myers Park High School – Addison Elder as Savannah – Freaky Friday

North Lincoln High School – Ethan Smith as Charles – Pippin

Piedmont Community Charter School – Joshua Sells as Riff – West Side Story

William A. Hough High School – Jack McRee as Uncle Fester – The Addams Family

 

Best Supporting Actress 

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Sophia Davison as Fantine – Les Misérables School Edition

Gaston Christian School – Callie Keller as Liesl – The Sound of Music

Myers Park High School – Rachel Stitt as Torrey – Freaky Friday

North Lincoln High School – Emma Rogne as Fastrada – Pippin

Pine Lake Preparatory School – Ella Paquette as Martha Dunnstock – Heathers the Musical: Teen Edition

William A. Hough High School – Cassidy Wade as Alice Beineke – The Addams Family

 

Bank of America Best Musical – Tier 1 

Concord Academy – Guys and Dolls

Piedmont Community Charter School – West Side Story

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

 

Bank of America Best Musical – Tier 2 

Nation Ford High School – The Lightning Thief

North Lincoln High School – Pippin

William A. Hough High School – The Addams Family

 

Best Actor

Ardrey Kell High School – Brett Parrish as Professor Callahan – Legally Blonde

Carmel Christian School – Dylan Wilson as Curly McLain – Oklahoma!

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Alex Board as Javert – Les Misérables School Edition

Indian Land High School – Kevin Perry as Billy Flynn – Chicago: Teen Edition

North Lincoln High School – Harold Garcia as Pippin – Pippin

William A. Hough High School – Cole Knight as Pugsley – The Addams Family

 

Best Actress
Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Haley Ciaramella as Eponine –
Les Misérables School Edition
Concord Academy – Quinby Goode as Miss Adelaide– Guys and Dolls
Mountain Island Charter School – Trulyn Rhinehardt as Regina George –
Mean Girls High School Edition
North Lincoln High School – Ava Regalado as Leading Player – Pippin
Pine Lake Preparatory School – Emily Garberina as Veronica Sawyer –
Heathers the Musical: Teen Edition
Weddington High School – Isabella Stetson as Roxie Hart – Chicago: Teen Edition

 

The schools competing include:

 

NAME OF SCHOOL	NAME OF MUSICAL
A.L. Brown High School	Little Shop of Horrors
Ardrey Kell High School	Legally Blonde
Ashbrook High School	The SpongeBob Musical
Ballantyne Ridge High School	The Lightning Thief
Cannon School	Mamma Mia!
Carmel Christian School	Oklahoma!
Catawba Ridge High School	Little Shop of Horrors
Central Academy of Technology & Arts	Les Misérables School Edition
Central Cabarrus High School	Chicago: Teen Edition
Charlotte Catholic High School	Fiddler on the Roof
Charlotte Country Day School	Bright Star
Charlotte Latin School	The Drowsy Chaperone
Christ the King Catholic High School	The Music Man
Concord Academy	Guys and Dolls
Concord High School	Hairspray
Cox Mill High School	Disney's The Little Mermaid
Cuthbertson High School	Anastasia
Davidson Day School	Once Upon a Once More Time High School Edition
East Lincoln High School	Matilda the Musical
East Mecklenburg High School	Pippin
Gaston Christian School	The Sound of Music
Gaston Day School	Once Upon a Mattress
Hickory Grove Christian School	Seussical
Hickory Ridge High School	Something Rotten
Highland School of Technology	The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Hopewell High School	Mamma Mia
Indian Land High School	Chicago: Teen Edition
Jay M Robinson High School	Mama Mia
Kings Mountain High School	Disaster
Lake Norman High School	Anastasia
Lincoln Charter School	The SpongeBob Musical
Lincolnton High School	Something Rotten
Marvin Ridge High School	Mary Poppins
Mountain Island Charter School	Mean Girls High School Edition
Myers Park High School	Freaky Friday
Nation Ford High School	The Lightning Thief
North Gaston High School	Mean Girls High School Edition
North Lincoln High School	Pippin
Northwest Cabarrus High School	Seussical
Northwest School of the Arts	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Northwestern High School	Hello Dolly
Palisades High School	Little Shop of Horrors
Parkwood High School	You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised)
Piedmont Community Charter School	West Side Story
Pine Lake Preparatory	Heather the Musical: Teen Edition
Porter Ridge High School	Mamma Mia
Providence Day School	Peter Pan
Providence High School	All Shook Up
Shelby High School	The Lightning Thief
South Mecklenburg High School	Legally Blonde
Weddington High School	Chicago: Teen Edition
West Cabarrus High School	The Addams Family
Westminster Catawba Christian School	Hello, Dolly!
William Amos Hough High School	The Addams Family

Blumenthal Arts thanks title sponsor Bank of America along with supporters Kelli and Mike Richardson, Peg and Jay Adamczyk, Savannah College of Art and Design, Mel Gordon and category sponsors Rodgers Builders (Best Student Set Designer), and Tom and Vickie Gabbard (Best Supporting Actress).

For more information: BlumenthalArts.org/BlumeyAwards.

ABOUT BLUMENTHAL ARTS
Blumenthal Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment, and education not-for-profit. For more information, call (704) 372-1000 or visit BlumenthalArts.org. Blumenthal Arts receives support from the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Arts Council. Generous support is also provided by PNC Bank, sponsor of the PNC Broadway Lights series, and Equitable, sponsor of the Equitable Bravo Series.

 

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