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District musical theater students recognized in Straz Center awards program

May 26, 2021

The Straz Center's Broadway Star of the Future Awards (BSF) program has named nominees and winners . BSF is the Tampa Bay area's celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theater. The regional awards program is affiliated with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards or the Jimmy Awards®, named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theater owner and producer.

Tampa Bay area theater professionals, college faculty and industry experts serve as reviewers for productions from participating high schools. The high school theater educator receives valuable feedback on their performance and category awards are tabulated based on reviewer ratings.

Below is a list of the Pinellas County Schools winners. They will be celebrated 7 p.m., Saturday, May 29 at the Straz Center in a Tony Awards inspired showcase.  This event will also feature performances from the 2020-2021 Best Actor and Best Actress Finalists. Educational scholarships will be presented by the Straz Center and The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. The overall Best Actor and Actress winners will represent the Straz Center in the 2021 National High School Musical Theatre Awards based out of New York City.

*Indicates Winner

Outstanding Musical

  • *Bright Star–Palm Harbor University High School
  • *Something Rotten!-PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • *The Drowsy Chaperone–East Lake High School

Best Actor Finalists

  • *Bryant Paez–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School–Jimmy Ray Dobbs

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

  • *Haydn Kelley–Something Rotten! –PCCA at Gibbs High School–Nick Bottom
  • *Philip Moraci IV–The Drowsy Chaperone –East Lake High School–Robert Martin
  • Ethan White –Godspell –Dunedin High School–John the Baptist/Judas
  • Jake Tottle–The Drowsy Chaperone –East Lake High School–Man in Chair
  • Zachary Gage–The 25thAnnual Putnum County Spelling Bee–Osceola High School–William Barfee

Best Actress Finalists

  • *Chloe Baker–Something Rotten! –PCCA at Gibbs High School–Portia
  • *Kiley Ondash–The Drowsy Chaperone –East Lake High School–Janet Van De Graaff
  • *Lexi Stephens–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School–Alice Murphy

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

  • *Gracie Campbell–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School–Margo Crawford
  • *Riley Evans–The Marvelous Wonderettes –Countryside High School–Missy
  • *Sahara Seifried–The Mad Ones –PCCA at Gibbs High School–Kelly
  •  *Caroline Simpson–The Mad Ones –PCCA at Gibbs High School–Samantha Brown
  • Emma Van Dyke–The25thAnnual Putnum County Spelling Bee –Osceola High School–Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre
  • Liberty Mack–The25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee –Osceola High School–Olive Ostrovsky
  • Eva Minaj–Mamma Mia! –Clearwater High School–Donna Sheridan

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical

  • *Alexa Aldridge–The Drowsy Chaperone –East Lake High School–Trix
  • *Harrison Betz–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School –Mayor Dobbs
  • *Jordyn Depaol–Godspell –Dunedin High School–Follower
  • *Kaden Potak–Something Rotten! –PCCA at Gibbs High School–Peter
  • *Bella Stotts–The Drowsy Chaperone –East Lake High School–Mrs. Tottendale
  • Dustin Trafton–Something Rotten! –PCCA at Gibbs High School–Brother Jeremiah
  • Jonathan Gold–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School –Daddy Cane
  • Kyndall Small–Godspell –Dunedin High School–Follower

Outstanding Dancer in a Musical

  • *Ciara Noe–Godspell–Dunedin High School

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

  • *Caroline Carter & Dustin Hinzman–The Mad Ones–PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • *Kimberly Florio–The Drowsy Chaperone–East Lake High School
  • *Ashlie Timberlake –Bright Star–Palm Harbor University High School
  • Caroline Carter–Something Rotten!–PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • Cara-Lyn Mullholand–Godspell –Dunedin High School
  • Kevin Pace–The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee–Osceola High School

Outstanding Musical Direction

  • *Gabe Saienni–The Marvelous Wonderettes –Countryside High School
  • *Dwight Thomas–The Mad Ones –PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • Blake Hudson–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School

Outstanding Choreography

  • *Faith Matthews–Bright Star–Palm Harbor University High School

Outstanding Costume Design

  • *Abbie Garretson, Kendall Swartz & Shanelle Purrington-Gil –Something Rotten!–PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • *Sarah Hayes& Emily Karagozian –The Marvelous Wonderettes–Countryside High School
  • *Kylie Knickerbocker & Hannah Scheifele –The Drowsy Chaperone–East Lake High School

Outstanding Scenic Design

  • *Siobhan Archard and Eden Mateo –Something Rotten!–PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • *Brad Brady –The Drowsy Chaperone–East Lake High School
  • *Joe Paez & Nick Silvestro –Bright Star–Palm Harbor University High School
  • *Nicholas Sloan –Mamma Mia!–Clearwater High School
  • Thaddeus Engle –The Mad Ones–PCCA at Gibbs High School

Outstanding Lighting Design

  • *Thaddeus Engle –The Mad Ones–PCCA at Gibbs High School

Outstanding Stage Management

  • *Katy Birkheimer–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School
  • *Avalynn Fuchs–Mamma Mia! –Clearwater High School
  • *Kia Moore–The Mad Ones –PCCA at Gibbs High School
  • Evelyn Ciceklic–The Marvelous Wonderettes –Countryside High School

Special Recognition

  • *Clearwater High School–Mamma Mia! –Clearwater High School–Outstanding Atmosphere
  • *Countryside High School–The Marvelous Wonderettes –Countryside High School–Outstanding Collaborative Chemistry
  • *Jordan Howard, Huyen Nguyen, Zhen Ortega & Marta Szysmanska–Bright Star –Palm Harbor University High School –Outstanding Prop Management

Cast Award Winners

Tech Award Winners