Blumenthal Arts Announces 2026 Blumey Award Winners
May 17, 2026 / Press Releases
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Blumenthal Arts celebrated the region’s top high school musical theater students during the 2026 Blumey Awards on May 17 at Belk Theater, recognizing excellence in performance, design, direction and production among a record-breaking 59 participating schools across the Charlotte region.
Weddington High School received Bank of America’s Best Musical Award for Tier 1 for its production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, while North Lincoln High School earned the Tier 2 award for Hadestown: Teen Edition. Harold Garcia of North Lincoln High School was named Best Actor for his portrayal of Orpheus in Hadestown: Teen Edition, and Anna Jernigan of Carmel Christian High School was named Best Actress for her performance as Ariel Moore in Footloose.
“One of the most rewarding parts of the Blumey Awards is watching these students step into what comes next,” said Tom Gabbard, CEO of Blumenthal Arts. “What we see on the Blumey stage is the result of months of hard work, collaboration, and fearless creativity. It’s incredibly exciting to witness so many of them at the very beginning of their artistic careers.”
This year’s ceremony featured musical direction and arrangements from Raegan Casteel, whose recent credits include Broadway and national tour productions of Chess and & Juliet, alongside Broadway composer and longtime Blumey Awards collaborator David Dabbon for the opening number. Choreography for the production was led by Broadway performer, director, and choreographer Deidre Goodwin.
Hosted by theater teaching artist, live event host, and community organizer Tania Kelly, the ceremony featured appearances from Broadway performers, composers, choreographers, producers, and arts leaders with strong ties to theater education and professional performance. Presenters included Broadway performer and arts educator Paul Canaan; Broadway composer Jacob Yandura; choreographer and filmmaker Maxx Reed; touring production stage manager Ashani Smith; creative producer and former Blumey Award winner Arella Flur; Broadway performer and dance educator Sterling Masters-Deeney; 2025 Blumey Best Actress winner and Jimmy Awards participant Haley Rose Ciaramella; and Jeanine R. Wilson, senior vice president and human resources executive at Bank of America.
The 2026 Blumey Awards Winners are:
Best Musical—Tier 1 (Sponsored by Bank of America)
Weddington High School – Legally Blonde: The Musical
Best Musical—Tier 2 (Sponsored by Bank of America)
North Lincoln High School – Hadestown Teen Edition
Best Actor (Sponsored by Hobart Wealth)
North Lincoln High School – Harold Garcia as Orpheus – Hadestown Teen Edition
Best Actress (Sponsored by Hobart Wealth)
Carmel Christian School – Anna Jernigan as Ariel Moore - Footloose
Best Supporting Actor (Sponsored by Nadine Melka and Michael Laub)
Northwest School of the Arts – Wiley Seago as Basilius – Head Over Heels
Best Supporting Actress (Sponsored in honor of Vickie Gabbard)
Northwest School of the Arts – Andie Jones as Gynecia – Head Over Heels
Best Featured Performer
Weddington High School – Alexander Stetson as Dewy/Kyle/Grand Master Chad – Legally Blonde: The Musical
Best Direction (Sponsored by Michelle Y. Lee)
North Lincoln High School – Hadestown Teen Edition
Best Ensemble
Weddington High School – Legally Blonde: The Musical
Best Choreography Execution
North Lincoln High School – Hadestown Teen Edition
Best Student Orchestra (Sponsored by The Harrison Family)
Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Pippin (2013 Revival)
Best Student Costume Designer
Cox Mill High School – Abigail Woerner - Seussical
Best Student Set Designer
Catawba Ridge High School – David Archie – Mamma Mia!
Best Student Stage Manager (Sponsored by Rodgers Builders Inc. in honor of Emily Stanton)
Northwest School of the Arts – Spencer Angel – Head Over Heels
Best Student Reporter (Sponsored by Axios Charlotte)
Catawba Ridge High School – Richard Hughes
“Tonight’s Blumey Awards were an incredible celebration of the talent, teamwork, and heart on display across our high schools,” said Kieth Cockrell, President, Bank of America Charlotte. “From the first moments of this program through the final ceremony, it’s inspiring to see students build confidence, discover new possibilities, and develop skills that will serve them far beyond the stage. For the third consecutive year, Bank of America is proud to partner with Blumenthal Arts to support this journey and to invest in the future of Charlotte’s arts community.”
In addition to performance honors, students were recognized for scholarship and mentorship opportunities that support the next generation of theater professionals.
The Mary Doctor Fine Arts Scholarship benefits up to two graduating seniors pursuing degrees in performing arts and related creative disciplines. The renewable scholarship provides up to $40,000 in financial assistance over four years of undergraduate study.
The Gordon Hay Scholarship Fund awarded merit-based scholarships to students pursuing non-performance theatrical disciplines, recognizing academic achievement, community engagement and demonstrated commitment to excellence.
Blumenthal Arts also awarded Theater Pathways Mentorship opportunities, connecting selected students with theater professionals for yearlong mentorships that include hands-on guidance and immersive learning experiences in professional environments.
Through a continued partnership with Broadway Dreams, winners of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress received full scholarships to the organization’s Charlotte Summer Intensive program this July. Additional finalists in these categories received partial scholarships to support continued training and development.
Best Actor and Best Actress winners, Harold Garcia and Anna Jernigan, will also advance to the Jimmy Awards in New York City, joining students from across the country for an intensive Broadway-led training, workshops and rehearsals, culminating in a live performance at the prestigious Minskoff Theater.
For updates and more information, follow @blumeyawards on Instagram and Facebook. For more information, visit blumenthalarts.org/education/blumey-awards.
The schools that competed this year include:
NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF MUSICAL
A.L. Brown High School Footloose
Ardrey Kell High School Guys and Dolls
Ballantyne Ridge High School High School Musical
Bunker Hill High School Six The Musical: Teen Edition
Cannon School Mean Girls School Edition
Carmel Christian School Footloose
Catawba Ridge High School Mamma Mia!
Central Academy of Technology & Arts Pippin (2013 Revival)
Central Cabarrus High School Bring it On: The Musical
Charlotte Catholic High School The Wizard of Oz
Charlotte Christian School Cinderella (Concord Broadway)
Charlotte Country Day School Frozen
Charlotte Latin School Cabaret
Christ the King Catholic High School Hadestown Teen Edition
Concord Academy Shrek the Musical
Concord High School Legally Blonde: The Musical
Cox Mill High School Seussical
Cuthbertson High School Mamma Mia!
David W. Butler High School 9 to 5 The Musical
Davidson Day School Big Fish
East Lincoln High School Big Fish
East Mecklenburg High School Hadestown Teen Edition
Forestview High School Hadestown Teen Edition
Gaston Christian School Seussical
Gaston Day School Little Women
Hickory Grove Christian School Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Hickory Ridge High School Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Highland School of Technology Legally Blonde: The Musical
Hopewell High School Something Rotten!
Independence High School Mamma Mia!
Indian Land High School Mamma Mia!
Jay M Robinson High School Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)
Kings Mountain High School Legally Blonde: The Musical
Lake Norman High School Mean Girls School Edition
Lincoln Charter School - Lincolnton The Addams Family
Lincoln Charter School- Denver Campus Frozen
Lincolnton High School Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Marvin Ridge High School Something Rotten!
Mooresville High School Matilda the Musical
Mountain Island Charter School Chicago: Teen Edition
Nation Ford High School Catch Me If You Can
North Gaston High Six The Musical: Teen Edition
North Lincoln High School Hadestown Teen Edition
Northwest Cabarrus High School Matilda the Musical
Northwest School of the Arts Head Over Heels
Northwestern High School Seussical
Palisades High School West Side Story
Parkwood High School Hello, Dolly!
Piedmont Community Charter School The Music Man
Pine Lake Preparatory The Lightning Thief
Porter Ridge High School Hadestown Teen Edition
Providence Day School Sweet Charity
Providence High School The Addams Family
Shelby High School Little Women
South Mecklenburg High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Weddington High School Legally Blonde: The Musical
West Cabarrus High School Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Westminster Catawba Christian School Disney’s The Little Mermaid
William Amos Hough High School Newsies
MORE ABOUT BLUMENTHAL ARTS
Located in the heart of uptown Charlotte, Blumenthal Arts is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit performing arts organizations, dedicated to enriching lives and building community through the power of the arts. Since opening in 1992, Blumenthal has presented the Carolinas’ largest Broadway season alongside concerts, comedy, dance, and immersive experiences across its four theaters (Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, Stage Door Theater and Knight Theater). The organization engages more than 150,000 students each year through education and access programs, such as The Blumey Awards. It supports local and emerging artists and invests in the development of new works, earning 13 Tony Awards for its co-productions. Hosting more than 1,000 events annually and welcoming millions of guests since its founding, Blumenthal Arts continues to shape Charlotte’s cultural landscape and strengthen the region’s creative economy. For more information, visit blumenthalarts.org.
ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA CHARLOTTE
From its origins in 1874, Bank of America has helped shape Charlotte’s identity and growth. The bank has played a central role in the city’s emergence as a global financial hub, influencing everything from its business infrastructure and early industrial expansion, to its current skyline and stadiums. Today, Bank of America continues to play a critical leadership role in Charlotte’s progress by supporting local businesses, investing in community development and driving regional growth through sustained philanthropic giving, financing and employment across the metro area.
FOR IMAGES OR INTERVIEW REQUESTS, CONTACT TAYLOR MUMMA: 919.830.1580; taylor@rachelsutherland.net