Lake Michigan College announces nominees for 2026 WAVE Awards honoring High School Musical Theatre

The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department has announced the nominees for its 2025-2026 WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre. 

Loosely designed after Broadway's famed Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognizes, encourages, and promotes high school theater. Ten adjudicators evaluated 13 high schools and about 890 students who participated in high school musical productions in the 2025-2026 academic year.   

Individuals and productions from participating schools were nominated in 14 acting and technical categories. Winners will be announced during an award ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave. All students and production staff will receive written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. Nominees may also receive additional performance and scholarship opportunities. 

Now in its fifth year at LMC, the WAVE Awards includes students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana.  

“It’s truly inspiring to witness the ongoing development of students and the programs that bring the magic of musical theatre to local high schools,” said Kristopher Zook, Dean of Arts & Sciences at LMC and founder of the WAVE Awards. “Through the Visual & Performing Arts department, LMC remains committed to championing arts education, nurturing creativity, and celebrating the incredible dedication of both students and educators.”  

The awards ceremony begins with red carpet arrivals at 6 p.m., followed by the awards, which include musical production numbers from Concord, Edwardsburg, James Whitcomb Riley, Lakeshore, Paw Paw, Penn, and South Haven high schools, as well as an opening number comprised of students from participating schools and LMC. 

The 2025-2026 WAVE Award nominees are:  

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Scott Preheim 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Lincoln Clark 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!” Kyle Rehnlund, Andrew Hamilton, & Emma Hurley 

• Hartford HS; “Mean Girls: High School Version,” Hailey Cunningham 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Paul Milligan 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph ... Dreamcoat,” Kristofer M. Perkins & Avery McCafferty 

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Suzanne Button & Braden McMillen 

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical 

• Brandywine HS; “Beetlejuice, Jr.,” Garrett Stoneburner 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Scott Preheim 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Lincoln Clark 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” Emma Hurley & Kyle Rehnlund 

• New Buffalo; “The Wizard of Oz,” Lloyd Whitmyer 

• Paw Paw (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Kristofer M. Perkins 

• Penn; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Chase Beachy 

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical 

• Concord HS: “Freaky Friday,” Stephanie Vaughan 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Jessica Wiersbe 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Deb Rancatore & Eliza Zook 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Claudia Lee  

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Kathryn Hein 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Jessica Wiersbe 

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Melanie Ruppert   

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Heather Schoenherr 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” Catherine Wood 

• Hartford HS; “Mean Girls: High School Version,” Cessie Finley  

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Christian Marquez  

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Theresa Graziano  

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Jenn Wolfe 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Beth Gray 

Outstanding Orchestra (Band) in a Musical 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Nicole Knouse 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” Jennifer Haynes 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Matthew Pagel 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Sydney Brown  

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Zac Coudret 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Burke Lokey 

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Jeff Bopp   

Outstanding Music Direction in a Musical 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” James Bennett 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” Kyle Rehnlund 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Kyle Schreiber & John Mink 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” David Gailey  

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” August Gallagher  

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Ethan Schopp 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Beth Gray 

Featured “Special” Award  

• Brandywine HS; “Beetlejuice,” The Sandworm 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Angry Bob & Caspian 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Sven & Olaf 

• Hartford HS; Mean Girls: High School Version,” Damian & Janis’ wheels 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Leaf’s Sock Puppet 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Iguanodon Monster 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Flying Monkeys, & Winkies, & Jitterbugs... Oh, my!” 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” The Camel 

• St. Joseph HS; “Grease,” Greased Lightning 

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Appollo’s Horses (& his Abs...) 

Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Police officers 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Pabbie, Bulba & the Rock Trolls 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” The Dynamos & Wedding Guests 

• Hartford HS; “Mean Girls: High School Version,” The Plastics 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Ancestors 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Munchkins 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Joseph’s Brothers 

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” The Fates & Workers 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Burger Palace Boys & Pink Ladies  

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Greek Chorus & Featured Dancers 

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical     

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Mrs. Time – Keira Dykema 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Oaken – Madeline Steenbeke 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,”  

Ms. Midge Mahoney - Kelis Johnson 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Pugsley Addams - Laney Stempien 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Wicked Witch of the West / Mrs. Gulch- Bianca Ilescas-Villa 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Professor Marvel / Oz - Aaron Ilescas-Villa 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Patty Simcox - Gianna McClellan  

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (two awards will be given) 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Torrey – Skyler Balamucki  

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Fletcher Blake – Matthew Seabolt 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Kristoff – Brady Frazier  

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” Bill Austin – Lucas Bentzer  

• Hartford HS; “Mean Girls: High School Version,” Ms. Norbury – Valeria Perales 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Leaf Coneybear - Babacar Thiam 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre - Ella Farrough 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Alice Beineke - Kya Butcher 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Uncle Fester - Jorin Tabbert 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Lucas Beineke - Ian Sokol 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Pharaoh - Bryn Carlsen 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Jan – Ava Armstrong 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Marty – Elle Durocher 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Frenchy - Rose Lawrence  

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Thalia - Katherine Cox  

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (two awards will be given) 

• Brandywine HS; “Beetlejuice, Jr,” Lydia - Hailey Amster  

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Katherine Blake – Sydney Trowbridge 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday,” Ellie Blake – Julia Witt 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Elsa – Makaylin Mauai 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!,” Sophie Sheridan – Erin Solarek 

• Hartford HS; “Mean Girls: High School Version,” Cady Heron – Destiny Davis-Russell 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Olive Ostrovsky - Cady Bango 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” William Barfee - Oliver Pollock 

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Gomez Addams - Camden King 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy Gale - Angelina Bryk 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Narrator – Kami Crandall 

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Eurydice - Meadow Mager 

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Persephone - Riley Newcomer 

• Saint Joseph HS; “Grease,” Sandy Dombrowski - Zoey Owens 

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Zoe - Drew Olney  

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians,” Lexi – Serenity Scully  

Outstanding Direction in a Musical 

• Brandywine HS; “Beetlejuice, Jr.,” Daysha Amster 

• Dowagiac Union HS; “Frozen, Jr.,” Ryan Murray 

• Hartford HS; “Mean Girls: High School Version,” Hailey Cunningham 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Meghan Beard  

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family,” Mikaela McLaughlin 

• New Buffalo HS; “The Wizard of Oz,” Chris Beushausen  

• St. Joseph HS; “Grease,” Beth Gray 

Outstanding Musical Production 

• Concord HS; “Freaky Friday” 

• Edwardsburg HS; “Mamma Mia!” 

• James Whitcomb Riley HS; “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”  

• Lakeshore HS; “The Addams Family Musical” 

• Paw Paw HS; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”  

• Penn HS; “Hadestown: Teen Edition”  

• South Haven HS; “The Olympians: An Epic Muse-ical,” 

The event is free and open to the public. Parents, friends, fans, teachers, and school administrators are all encouraged to attend.  

Any local business or organization that is interested in becoming a sponsor of the LMC WAVE Awards’ efforts to build character and community through excellence in our region’s high school performing arts is asked to contact kzook@lakemichigancollege.edu.  

For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/wave, email Mindy McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@lakemichigancollege.edu, or call the Visual & Performing Arts office at 269-927-8876.