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2017 - 2018 Thirteenth Annual National Youth Arts Awards!
 
~ Eastern Regional - Evening Ceremony ~ 
 
National Youth Arts is excited to begin announcing the winners of our 13th Annual National Youth Arts Awards to honor outstanding work by youth in the arts. This year more than 600 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more 220 different members spanning 17 states & the UK. For information on how to get involved, please click here.

This year's award winners were selected from nominations by a panel of more than 50 judges and reviewers. In addition to the youth who performed in schools and youth arts companies, anyone age 18 and under who performed at a show reviewed by a judge was also considered for the NYA awards, as well as the adults who participated in the youth productions backstage (directors, set designers, costume designers, etc.) and guest adult Performances in productions designed for youth. College artists are eligible for our University Arts (UniArts) Awards presented in conjunction with the National Youth Arts Awards. Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year!

The award winners will be formally presented with their awards on stage and nomination certificates will be available at the registration table for the nominees. The ceremonies honoring all of their accomplishments are held in different regions of the country including multiple ceremonies in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York, and Virginia. A few award-winning alumni include Tony Nominees Ashley Park [2009] (Broadway: Gretchen in Mean Girls, Tuptim in The King & I) and Emily Skeggs [2008] (Broadway: Medium Alison in Fun Home, TV: Young Roma in When We Rise), Asher Angel [2013, '14, '15] (Film: Billy Batson in Shazam!, TV: Jonah Beck in Andi Mack), Jackie Foster [2010, '12, '13, '14] (TV: The Voice Semifinalist), Brian Crum [2005] (TV: America's Got Talent finalist), Veronica Dunne [2011, '12, '13] (Broadway: Roxie in Chicago, TV: Marisa Clark in K.C. Undercover), Carolyn Braver [2007, '08] (Broadway: Pearl in The Iceman Cometh), Kyle Selig [2010] (Broadway: Aaron in Mean Girls), Emma Howard [2011, '16, '17] (Broadway: Hortensia in Matilda, Film: The Beguiled), Brennyn Lark [2011] (West End: Deena Jones in Dreamgirls, Broadway: Eponine in Les Mis), and multiple-Grammy Nominee Ariana Grande [2009].

If award winners can't make it to their ceremony, they might be able to attend one of the other ceremonies. Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year, and we hope you can join us!

Ceremony Portfolio for Agents: Award recipients and nominees are eligible for talent agency submissions. If you're interested in having NY and LA agents review your headshot/resume, please email them to rob@nationalyouththeatre.com. If any of the agencies are interested, you'll be contacted directly via the email on your resume. Reminder: Your resume should only have the email and cell of someone over the age of 18 (your parent or guardian). 

Rob Hopper
rob@nationalyouththeatre.com
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Executive Director
National Youth Arts


Eastern Regional - Evening Ceremony
RSVP 
NYA Awards
 | Nominees
Sunday, August 19
Registration begins @ 6:15 p.m.
Awards Presentation begins @ 7:00 p.m.
Riverdale YM-YWHA
5625 Arlington Ave.
Bronx, NY 10471

Please click here for more details and ticket information

And the Winners are ...

Outstanding Production:
Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)

Outstanding Dance Production:
The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical:
Jeffrey Castellano as Jesus in Godspell (Ramsey High School)
Sam Dhobany as Captain Georg Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Kerry Fitzgerald as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Joshua Goldin-McCarthy as Chairman in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Elijah Levi-Dabby as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Jovani Perez as Jason “J.D.” Dean in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Dani Rich as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Rebecca Salzhauer as The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Sasha Spitz as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Liza Tananbaum as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Steven Thomas as Bobby Strong in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:
Maddy Cahill as Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher (Edward R. Murrow High School)
PJ Lodin as Stage Manager in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)

Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Josie Dring as Eve in Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
Kahlea Hsu as Sybil in The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)
Jolie Leibner as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Lighthouse Youth Theatre)
Alexis O’Rourke as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Lyndhurst Middle School)
Tae Sheridan as Emily Webb in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:
Samantha Altman as Heather Chandler in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Michael Blackwell as Caldwell B. Cladwell in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Kim Burgering-Jacobs as Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Ruby Comiskey as Miss Dorothy Brown in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Keara Fernandez as Muzzy Van Hossemere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Francesca Guthrie as Francesca in Godspell (Ramsey High School)
Olivia Ross as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Victoria Salves as Heather Chandler in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Samara Scharf as Clopin in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Lauren Hoffmann as Maureen in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:
Sidney Caruth as Blackstache in Peter and the Starcatcher (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Julian Lieber as Nathan Jessep in A Few Good Men (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Kayla Claudio as Perfection in The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)
Neri Frank as Lisa/Ben in Disaster! (Riverdale Repertory Company)
Karli Johnn as Yonah in Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
Cece Valdez as Moonface Martin in Anything Goes (Lyndhurst Middle School)
Frida Corona Werner as Ursula in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:
Tanner McIntyre as Little Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)

Outstanding Featured Performance (Junior Division):
Emma Nathenson as Fruma-Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)

Outstanding Dance Performance:
Alyssa Mack as White Swan in The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Ensemble:
The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
SING! 2018 Junior/Soph (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division):
Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Asa Thornton for The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Daisy Long for The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)

Outstanding Set Design:
Anton Volovsek for The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)

Outstanding Choreography:
Andrea Marano for Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)

Outstanding Musical Direction:
Justin Fischer and Bob Walton for The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Youth Orchestra:
The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Direction:
Jason Brantman and Fiona Santos for Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
Leo Lion for Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
Andrea Marano for Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Thomas O’Sullivan for Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Roberta Raymond for The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Laurie Walton for The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)

 

* ...And the additional Nominees are ... *

Outstanding Production:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
Peter and the Starcatcher (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)

Outstanding Dance Production:
Dance Ensemble (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical:
Kiley Rose Burke-Perez as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Jhariah Clare as Officer Lockstock in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Aaron Correa as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Jennie Gorn as Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Jennie Gorn as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Robby Gray as Mark in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Nora Greenberg as Maria Rainer in The Sound of Music (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Leila Haller as Janet Van de Graff in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Leila Haller as Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Marcos Hidalgo as Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Benjamin Hithcock as Roger in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Kim Jacobs as Janet Van de Graff in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Kara Mueller as Gabriella in High School Musical (Lyndhurst High School)
Jovani Perez as Roger in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Charles Rusciano as Mark in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Trevor Scott as Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Liza Tananbaum as Mimi in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Nuala Vizard as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Lexi Wenger as Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:
Walker Ames as Boy in Peter and the Starcatcher (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Quintin Harris as George Gibbs in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
Emma Scholl as Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Zachary Sirkin as Daniel A. Kaffee in A Few Good Men (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Max Binder as The Cat in the Hat in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Romi Drubetskoy as The Cat in the Hat in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Neri Frank as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Maya Harmony Hartglass as Serena Katz in Fame Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Meaghan McMahon as Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Nathalia Mendoza as Sybil in The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)
Jacob Prager as Horton the Elephant in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Kayla Shapira-Stern as Ariel in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Ayelet Spevack as Ti Moune in Once On This Island Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Madeline Vogt as Father in Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:
Ashley Alexander as Dr. Live in SING! 2018 (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Sam Backer as Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Becca Baron as Phoebus in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Becca Baron as Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Madison Battinelli as Heather Duke in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Haylee Brown as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Serena Dailey as Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Allie D’Orazio as Joanne in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Sofia DePalo as Sofia in Godspell (Ramsey High School)
Davi Frank as Reverend Crisparkle in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Chloe Kim as Chloe in Godspell (Ramsey High School)
Ellie Leibner as Sheila in A Chorus Line (Spotlight Youth Theatre)
Nicholas LoCicero as Mr. Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Hannah Loughran as Martha Dunnstock in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Sarah Madonna as Sharpay in High School Musical (Lyndhurst High School)
Jordan Mangi as The Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Deanna Prekpalaj as Martha Dunnstock in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Stephanie Ricker as Mimi in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Lillian Salazar as Heather McNamara in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Rebecca Salzhauer as Edwin Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Allison Sanel as Heather Duke in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Margaret Schultzberg as Little Sally in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Anthony Velez as Angel in Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Nuala Vizard as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Jeanna Zipparo as Heather McNamara in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:
Viktoriya Fedarenkava as Irene Whitaker in A Few Good Men (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Iosef Freud as Mr. Webb in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
Laine Messier as Mrs. Webb in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
Isabelle Pflanz as Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)
Benny Rendell as Dr. Gibbs in Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Natalie Allon as Ursula in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Natalie Allon as Asaka in Once On This Island Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Michelle Andreo as Little Red in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Chloe Banino as Cain in Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
Joshua Begelman as Agwe in Once On This Island Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Celia Begin as Jojo in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Sigal Bezborodko as Jojo in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Max Binder as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Emily Chin as Jack in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Tristan Colon as Cheshire Cat in Alice Saves Wonderland (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Gigi Cornell as Jack in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Maureen Henshaw as Witch in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Karli Johnn as Chava in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Allegra Kerstein as Erzulie in Once On This Island Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Zoe Lohrasbi as Gertrude in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Claire Missoum as Rapunzel’s Prince/Granny in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Aida Noel as Mayzie La Bird in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Alexis Ortega as Jack in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Sarah Rose Sammarone as Erma in Anything Goes (Lyndhurst Middle School)
Talia Schuldenrein as Japeth in Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
Ezra Schwab as Papa Ge in Once On This Island Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Max Siegmeister as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Ayelet Spevack as Gertrude in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Frida Corona Werner as Mayzie La Bird in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:
Andrew Binder as Gangster 2 in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Sarah Borsari as Ms. Fleming in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Lindsey Cooper as Miss Flannery in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Molly Doyle as Ms. Fleming in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Abby Fisher as Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Davi Frank as Gangster 1 in The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Robby Gray as Ram Sweeney in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Benjamin Hitchcock as Ram’s Dad/Big Bug Dean in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Christopher Scanlon as Kurt’s Dad/Geek/Veronica’s Dad in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Madeline Sledge as Fyedka in Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Hailey Spahiu as Ms. Darbus in High School Musical (Lyndhurst High School)
Mark Tlaseca as Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Anthony Velez as Kurt Kelly in Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)

Outstanding Featured Performance (Junior Division):
Nisha Borrelli as Eleanor Roosevelt in The History Mystery (TADA! Youth Theater)
Kiera Chiu as Laura Ingalls in The History Mystery (TADA! Youth Theater)
Sabrina Downey as Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods Jr. (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Talia Ifrah as Laura Ingalls in The History Mystery (TADA! Youth Theater)
Allegra Kerstein as Sour Kangaroo in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Gideon Lopatin as Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Deanna Sherman as Sour Kangaroo in Seussical Jr. (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Dance Performance:
Teresa DiBlasi as Black Swan in The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Matthew Johnson as Prince in The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Mary Ellen Lassen as Princess Aurora in The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Ensemble:
A Few Good Men (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Godspell (Ramsey High School)
Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)
Peter and the Starcatcher (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)

Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division):
Everything About a Day (Almost) (TADA! Youth Theater)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Allison Galker for The Ballet: A Movement Experience: The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Carolyn Nielsen for Heathers the Musical: High School Edition (Pied Piper Youth Theater)
The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
David Lovett for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
David Lovett for Children of Eden (Broadway Training Center)
Thomas M. Pflanz for Our Town (Firebird Youth Theater)

Outstanding Set Design:
Steve Loftus for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)

Outstanding Choreography:
Sarah Hicks for Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway Training Center)
Thomas O’Sullivan for Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Emily Walton for The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Riverdale Rising Stars)

Outstanding Musical Direction:
Kurt Kelley for Urinetown (Fordham Preparatory School)
Fiona Santos for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Broadway Training Center)
Daphne Sasson for Rent (Pied Piper Youth Theater)

Outstanding Youth Orchestra:
The Sound of Music (Edward R. Murrow High School)

Outstanding Direction:
Scott Austin for Peter and the Starcatcher (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Ellyn Essig for Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts)
Christina Franklin for The Perfect Monster (TADA! Youth Theater)
Doug Gipple for Godspell (Ramsey High School)
Roberta Raymond for A Few Good Men (Edward R. Murrow High School)
Laurie Walton for The Drowsy Chaperone (Riverdale Rising Stars)