2020 Awards  |  Previous National Youth Arts Awards  |  Submit Video for 2020-21 NYA Showcase  | Order Page

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National Youth Arts is excited to continue announcing the winners of our 15th Annual National Youth Arts Awards to honor outstanding work by youth in the arts. 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!

Obviously, due to the pandemic, this year will be far different. We will be posting the awards and nominations, but we won't be holding any live awards ceremonies and, without the ticket sales, won't be able to provide award trophies. Links to PDF printable certificates are next to each award and nomination below. We'll be adding submitted headshots, production photos, and videos to the ceremony page over the coming weeks. Most of the production photos will come from the theaters, but if you have a headshot, favorite production photos, photos of you with your award/nomination, and/or a video to send in of you performing a song or monologue from the show, please email them to rob@nationalyouththeatre.com. You can also send in text of an acceptance speech to that email address or via the Order Page. If you would like to receive an email when the ceremony page is fully updated with all the submissions, please check the box on the Order Page. 

Order Page [Trophies/T-shirts/Yearbooks/Memberships/Artist Pages]: If you're an award winner and would like a trophy to go with the certificate, you can order one directly from our trophy provider or place the order with us. You may also order NYA Awards T-shirts, masks, a yearbook for your area, or have an artist page added to our website. Please email any headshots/production photos for this awards page, your artist page, and/or the yearbook to Rob Hopper at rob@nationalyouththeatre.com.  There is some possibility that in late October/early November we may invite award winners to a limited outdoor event in Scottsdale for acceptance speeches and photos. This would depend on the status of the pandemic and, if it happens, may be done in shifts or on different nights to maintain a small gathering. If interested in attending such an event, award winners may check the appropriate box on the Order Form.

2020-21 NYA & University Arts Video Showcase Submissions Accepted Through June 12!

NYA Alumni: During the 2019-20 season, former NYA award winners have been involved in more than a dozen Broadway shows (including Hadestown, Hamilton, Jagged Little Pill, Come From Away, The Prom, Dear Evan Hansen, The Book of Mormon, The Ferryman, Mean Girls, Grand Horizons, West Side Story) and principal performers on more than twenty current or scheduled TV shows (including Dynasty, Stranger Things, Nancy Drew, Queen Sugar, DuckTales, The L Word, The Twilight Zone, The Stand, The Undoing, High School Musical, Criminal Minds, Black-ish, Batwoman, Dispatches from Elsewhere,  Arrow, The Prom, Mr. Iglesias, Atypical, Veronica Mars, The Gifted, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), as well as principals in films including Frozen 2, Eternals, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Doctor Sleep, Dinner in America, Kajillionaire, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. 

A few award-winning alumni include three Tony Nominees, Ashley Park [2009 Winner] (Gretchen in Mean Girls), Emily Skeggs [2008] (Medium Alison in Fun Home) & Madeleine Foster Bersin [2010] as producer of What the Constitution Means to Me, as well as Asher Angel [2013, '14, '15] (Film: Billy Batson in Shazam!, TV: Jonah Beck in Andi Mack), Lia McHugh [2018] (Film: Sprite in Marvel's Eternals), Jackie Foster [2010, '12, '13, '14] (TV: The Voice Semifinalist, Lollapalooza), Rachel Matthews [2011, '12] (Film: Honeymaren in Frozen 2, Danielle in Happy Death Day), Veronica Dunne [2011, '12, '13] (Broadway: Roxie in Chicago, TV: Marisa Clark in K.C. Undercover), Francesca Reale [2012] (TV: Heather in Stranger Things), Julia Lester [2017] (Ashlyn in Disney's High School Musical: The Musical), Rachel Redleaf [2011, '12, '13, '14] (Mama Cass in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Beth in Atypical),  Kennedy McMann [2013, '14] (TV: Nancy Drew in The CW's Nancy Drew), Brennyn Lark [2011] (Broadway: Eponine in Les Mis, TV: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Grammy winner Ariana Grande [2009]. 

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)

And the Winners are ...

Peter Pan: A Steampunk Adventure (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Production (Junior Division):

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Sister Act (RiverHawk Productions)  NYA Certificate

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Artist of the Year:

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Madison Chase (Morticia in ICE’s The Addams Family, Johanna in Infinite Arts’ Sweeney Todd, Hope in Riverside High’s Almost, Maine)  NYA Certificate

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Colleen Clark (Captain Hook in Peter Pan & Ensemble in Legally Blonde @ Rock Ridge, Mimi in Virginia Thespians All-State Company's Rent)  NYA Certificate

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Katie Howard (Wendy Darling in Peter Pan & Serena in Legally Blonde @ Rock Ridge, Maureen in Virginia Thespians All-State Company's Rent)  NYA Certificate

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Cammie Jackson (Marci in Riverside High’s Almost, Maine, Mrs. Lovett in Infinite Arts’ Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast @ 2020 NYA Showcase 4th Place Eastern Regional)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical:

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Kayden Burns as Dom Claude Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Amarillo Little Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Mary Kate Connor as Christine Canigula in Be More Chill (Studio Bleu)  NYA Certificate

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Gabi David as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers: The Musical (ICE Collaborative Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Sam Fremin as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Hannah Gates as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Erik Houk as Roger Davis in Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Bradley Hurt as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Amarillo Little Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Collin Kilfeather as Mark Cohen in Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Naina Sharma as Morticia in The Addams Family (ICE Collaborative Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play:

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Emily McCallie as Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables (Amarillo Little Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Farley McDaniel as Peter Pan in Peter Pan: A Steampunk Adventure (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division):

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Kendall Beetle as Princess Fiona in Shrek Jr. (Eagle Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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D’Amora Brunson as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act (RiverHawk Productions)  NYA Certificate

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Claire Getsy as Annie in Annie (Eagle Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Grace Luebke as Donkey in Shrek Jr. (Eagle Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Kaylee Stanton as Patrice in 13 (Blue Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical:

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Diego Bly as The Squip in Be More Chill (Studio Bleu)  NYA Certificate

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Nellie Edwards as Maureen Johnson in Rent: School Edition (Studio Bleu)  NYA Certificate

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Ilana Goldman as Heather McNamara in Heathers: The Musical (ICE Collaborative Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Jack Gutierrez as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Emma Healy as Fester in The Addams Family (ICE Collaborative Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Luke Jackins as Angel Schunard in Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Jasmyn Johnson as Joanne Jefferson in Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Nihar Kandarpa as Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Maddie Kesler as Brooke Lohst in Be More Chill (Studio Bleu)  NYA Certificate

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Michael James Lawless as Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Hannah Nicholson as Miss Scarlett in Clue: The Musical (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Ellie Schubert as Paulette in Legally Blonde (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Claire Trochlil as Miss Scarlett in Clue: The Musical (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Jacob Wells as Tom Collins in Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play:

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Liz Fairfax as Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon in That Sinking Feeling (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Genevieve Howley as Tabitha Buttons in That Sinking Feeling (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Evan Kagarise as Sir Cosmos Duff-Gordon in That Sinking Feeling (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Lauren Leppert as Emma in WildKnight (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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Millie Morris as Older Parker in WildKnight (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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Sammi Saba as Madame Zora Van Zant in That Sinking Feeling (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Callie Stapleton as Cinderella in WildKnight (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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Alex Vlasto as Eric in WildKnight (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division):

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Sienna Casillas as Miss Hannigan in Annie (Eagle Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Caroline Jacobson as Kendra in 13 (Blue Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Kaitlyn Lanigan as Alice in The Addams Family (ICE Collaborative Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Elizabeth Salmon as Mother Superior in Sister Act (RiverHawk Productions)  NYA Certificate

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Katie Tirrell as Mary Patrick in Sister Act (RiverHawk Productions)  NYA Certificate

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Madison Whitbeck as Mary Robert in Sister Act (RiverHawk Productions)  NYA Certificate

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Jackie Zisk as Lucy in 13 (Blue Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical:

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Hasitha Guhan as Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play:

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Alexander Footen as Lendall in Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Sophia Grado as Ginette in Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Megan Hoehn as Rhonda in Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Alexandra Lopez as Shelly in Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Lauren Price as Marvalyn in Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Featured Performance (Junior Division):

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Rachel Pruzina as Pinocchio in Shrek Jr. (Eagle Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Ensemble:

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Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Heathers: The Musical (ICE Collaborative Arts)  NYA Certificate

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Amarillo Little Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Legally Blonde (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Rent: School Edition (Studio Bleu)  NYA Certificate

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That Sinking Feeling (Viking Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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WildKnight (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division):

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13 (Blue Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Shrek Jr. (Eagle Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Costume Design:

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Peter Pan: A Steampunk Adventure (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  

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Outstanding Lighting Design:

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Peter Pan: A Steampunk Adventure (Rock Ridge Performing Arts) 

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Outstanding Set Design:

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Peter Pan: A Steampunk Adventure (Rock Ridge Performing Arts) 

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Outstanding Student Choreography:

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Elle Ouimet for Legally Blonde (Rock Ridge Performing Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Choreography:

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Rebekah Hess for Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Musical Direction:

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Aaron Kunk for Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Student Direction:

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Millie Morris and Jessica Haddock for APUSH in the right direction… (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding Direction:

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Jason Augustowski for Sister Act (RiverHawk Productions)  NYA Certificate

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Tony Cimino-Johnson for Rent (Virginia Thespians All-State Company)  NYA Certificate

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Jason Crespin for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Amarillo Little Theatre)  NYA Certificate

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Marilyn Gilligan for Almost, Maine (Riverside High School)  NYA Certificate

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Jill Kerr for Sweeney Todd (Infinite Arts)  NYA Certificate

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Dolly Stevens for 13 (Blue Ridge Middle School)  NYA Certificate

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Outstanding New Works:

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Nicki Cabaniss for The Story of a Firefly (Avalon Theatre Company)  NYA Certificate

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