Edwardsburg High School's "Newsies!" led the way, taking home four awards, during the fourth annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre held May 21 at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre.
Presented by LMC's Visual & Performing Arts Department and loosely designed after Broadway's Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognize high school theater students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana. Ten adjudicators evaluated 12 high schools and approximately 700 students who participated in high school musical productions in the 2024-2025 academic year. Individuals and productions from participating schools were nominated in 13 acting and technical categories.
"Each year, this celebration of theatrical talent continues to grow in both size and significance," said Kristopher Zook, LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences and founder of the WAVE Awards. "The LMC Visual & Performing Arts team is deeply committed to supporting our artistic community and nurturing the next generation of performers and creative thinkers."
"Newsies!" claimed the night's top honor as Outstanding Musical Production, while also earning awards for Outstanding Set Design for Emma Hurley, Outstanding Choreography for Catherine Wood, and Outstanding Lead Actor for Brady Leep's portrayal of Jack Kelly.
Concord High School's "Guys and Dolls," also earned multiple awards for Outstanding Music Direction for James Bennett and Outstanding Featured Ensemble for The Cuban Dancers.
Cassopolis High School's "Beetlejuice, Jr.," Hartford High School's "High School Musical 2: Live on Stage," James Whitcomb Riley High School's "Hello, Dolly," Lakeshore High School's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," New Buffalo High School's "Little Shop of Horrors," Paw Paw High School's "Spamalot," Penn High School's "The SpongeBob Musical," South Haven High School's "Chicago," and St. Joseph High School's "The Little Mermaid," each took home one award in the nominated categories. Bridgman High School received the Esprit de Corps Award, which celebrates the cast and crew who elevate each other, who understand that true artistry often lies in collective effort, and who create harmony both on stage and behind the scenes.
The evening's event began with red-carpet arrivals, followed by the awards ceremony, which featured several musical production numbers, including "Come Alive!" performed by an all-star cast from participating schools, "Sue Me" from Concord's "Guys and Dolls," "Jacob & Sons/Jacob's Coat" from Lakeshore's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Paw Paw's "Spamalot," "And All That Jazz" from South Haven's "Chicago," "Bikini Bottom Day" from Penn's "The SpongeBob Musical," and "Santa Fe" from Edwardsburg's "Newsies!"
Presenters included Dawn Aulet, Features Editor of the Herald Palladium, Lynnetta Hamstra, Manager of the Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University; Dr. Ken Flowers, Executive Vice President of Lake Michigan College; Leah Steinhiser, WNIT & PBS Michiana's Educational Engagement Liaison; Susan Dietrich-Reed, Executive Director & Director of Music at the Citadel Dance and Music Center; Peggy Harrington, Trustee of Twin City Players; Michael Bond, Acorn Theatre's Senior Production Manager; Shalico Sain, Lake Michigan College Theatre Instructor; Peter Carey, film and voiceover actor; and Cassidy Vlietstra, Program Director of The Drama Spot.
Several awards were announced by pre-recorded videos from theater celebrities, including Broadway star Gavin Lee, Shea Grant from "Stranger Things: The First Shadow," Joanna Gleason, Tony Award-winning actress from "Into the Woods," and Emmy Award-winning animator Dan Povenmire.
All nominees received an LMC Red Hawk Scholarship for a three-credit course taken within the next four academic years and written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. The lead actor recipients, Brady Leep and Evangeline Salgado, received $1,000 Sierra Loughrin Scholarships to participate in LMC Visual & Performing Arts coursework.
The 2024-2025 WAVE Award nominees and winners are:
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Scott Preheim
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Dwayne Whitmyer
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Emma Hurley - WINNER
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Kevin Marek
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Kristofer M. Perkins & Avery McCafferty
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Suzanne Button
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical
Hartford High School; “High School Musical 2: Live Onstage”; Joe MacMillian
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Paul Milligan
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Lloyd Whitmyer
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Kristofer M. Perkins
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Scott Bradford
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Mike Springer and Erin O’Neil - WINNER
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Laura Pollock
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Barb Stepka & Reta Trux - WINNER
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Deb Rancatore
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Claudia Lee
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Kathryn Hein
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Jessica Wiersbe
Outstanding Choreography in a Musical
Bridgman High School; “The Wizard of Oz”; Caitlyn Lustica
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Heather Schoenherr
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Catherine Wood - WINNER
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Nathan Mittleman
Lakeshore High School; "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; Theresa Graziano
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Jenn Wolfe
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Allie Ruppert & Brandy Campbell
Outstanding Orchestra (Band) in a Musical
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Nicole Knouse
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Jennifer Gladkowski
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Matthew Pagel
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Sydney Brown
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Zac Coudret - WINNER
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Burke Lokey
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Jeff Bopp
Outstanding Music Direction in a Musical
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; James Bennett - WINNER
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Kyle Rehnlund
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Kyle Schreiber & John Mink
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Ethan Schopp
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Beth Gray-Roll
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Katie Hilyard
Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; The Cuban Dancers - WINNER
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Newsies of New York
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; The Waiters
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Narrators & Jacob’s Sons
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; The Urchins
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; The Lady of the Lake & Laker Girls
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; The Sardines
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; The Mersisters & Flounder
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Flotsam & Jetsam
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; 6 Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Prison
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Gen. Cartwright; Ava Peters
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Hannah; Shaelyn Carrick
Hartford High School; “High School Musical 2: Live on Stage”; Oberon Fulton; Aiden Apreza - WINNER (TIE)
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Levi; Lillian Clark
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Orin–Dentist; Aaron Ilescas-Villa - WINNER (TIE)
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Angel; Kami Crandall
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Tim; Bryn Carlsen
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Mayor; Riley Newcomer
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Chef Luis; Evan Lokey
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Hunyak; Serenity Scully
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (2 actors awarded in this category)
Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr”; Delia Schlimmer; Emma Husted
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Crutchie; Lucas Bentzer
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Davey; Aiden Dohm
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Barnaby; Cristian Samuel Hernandez
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Simeon; Ian Sokol
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Mushnik; Addison Lamport
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Patsy; Leilani Cowgill - WINNER
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Mr. Krabs; Jack Mead
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Ursula; Sam Schadler - WINNER
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Amos; Timothy Knapp
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (2 actors awarded in this category)
Bridgman High School; “Wizard of Oz”; Dorothy; Malia Fast
Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr.”; Beetlejuice; Laycee Ericson
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Sky Masterson; Ed Hernandez Lopez
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Sarah Brown; Sydney Trowbridge
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Jack Kelly; Brady Leep - WINNER
Hartford High School; “High School Musical 2: Live on Stage”; Gabriella Montez; Nevaeh Ledesma
James Whitcomb Riley High School; "Hello, Dolly!"; Dolly Gallagher Levi; Evangeline Salgado - WINNER
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Seymour; Henry Gadiel
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Arthur; Ben Plested
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; SpongeBob; Ava Gallo
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Patrick Star; Nix Hardman
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Sebastien; Seth Martin
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph…Dreamcoat”; Joseph; Aiden Sokol
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Velma Kelly; Claudia Fiedorowicz
Esprit d’Corps
Bridgman High School; “Wizard of Oz”
Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr.”; Patrick Bondy - WINNER
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Sam Vaughan
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Kyle Rehnlund
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Christine Sloan
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Chris Beushausen
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Andrew Nemeth
Outstanding Musical Production
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!” - WINNER
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”
South Haven High School; “Chicago”
For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/wave, email Mindy McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@
