2007 Awards  |  2007 Additional Nominees  |  Previous National Youth Theatre Awards  | RSVP  | Donations

The award winners were selected from nominations by a panel of eight judges and reviewers. In addition to the youth who performed in the youth theatre companies, any minor (under age 18) who performed at a show reviewed by a National Youth Theatre judge was also considered for the awards, as well as the adults who participated in the youth theatre productions backstage (directors, set designers, costume designers, etc.). Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year!

The winners will be formally presented with their awards at a ceremony honoring their accomplishments. Due to the increasing number of shows, this year we will begin the process of breaking the awards into regions. Since 50 of the judged shows were from California, we will hold a separate awards ceremony for California in San Diego on Monday, June 11 at the Garfield Theatre in the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center located in La Jolla. Home of J*Company for the past several years, they are generously donating the use of their state-of-the-art, 495-seat theatre space, as well as their professional assistance, for this year's festivities as they have for the past four years. The awards for the rest of the country will be held the night of Sunday, August 12 at the Herberger Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona, a space generously hosted by Valley Youth Theatre who will be performing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the theatre.*

Admission to the awards ceremonies is free to all. You just need to RSVP using the link below. We hope you can join us!

*Please note that if you are from California but can't make the San Diego ceremony, or if you are from outside California but can't make the Phoenix ceremony, you are welcome to RSVP for whichever awards ceremony fits your schedule.

Please click here for more details and RSVP information.

NYT Award Nominees (a list of additional nominations from our judges that does not include the award winners below)

Photos from Second Annual National Youth Theatre Awards

Donations to keep NYT going

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

And the winners are ...

Outstanding Production:
Anything Goes (Horizon High School, Thornton, CO)
Bye Bye Birdie (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Godspell (Christian Youth Theater, Huntley, IL)
~ California ~
Once Upon a Mattress (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA) 
The Secret Garden (Poway High School, CA)
Urinetown (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
The Wiz (San Diego Junior Theatre, CA)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:
Danny Hochstatter as Jesus in Godspell (Christian Youth Theater, Huntley, IL)
Jeffrey Reynolds as Albert Petersen in Bye Bye Birdie (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Billy Reed as Jesus in Godspell (Prescott High School, AZ)
Wes Shenker as Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical (Kids on Stage, Stevensville, MI)
~ California ~
Charles Evans, Jr. as Ren McCormack in Footloose (Coronado School of the Arts, CA)
Michael Milligan as Ugly in Honk! (CAT Corona, CA)
Ryan Sandrew as Bobby Strong in Urinetown (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
Garrett Shields as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables (Young Actors Theatre, Spring Valley, CA)
David Tanner as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Carlsbad High School, CA)
Conor Tibbs as Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden (Poway High School, Poway, CA)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
Hannah Bentley as Rose Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ) 
Veronica Domingo as Kim in Miss Saigon (Las Vegas Academy, NV)
Amanda Duvall as Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical (Christian Youth Theater-Chicago, Elmhurst, IL)
Ariel Ellis as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (The Rising Curtain Theatre & Dance Academy, Arvada, CO)
Kaitlyn Hickey as Jo March in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Bethany Kelly as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Horizon High School, Thornton, CO)
Emily Laudeman as Gabriella Montez in Disney’s High School Musical (Amish Acres, Nappanee, IN)
Ashley Machacek as Gabriella in Disney’s High School Musical (Kids on Stage, Stevensville, MI)
Kelly Oury as Lola in Damn Yankees (The Rising Curtain Theatre & Dance Academy, Denver, CO)
~ California ~
Jennifer Bendelstein as Anne Frank in Yours, Anne (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)
Staley Carter as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
Makenzie Daris as Millie Dilmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (El Camino High School, Oceanside, CA)
Dorothy Guthrie as Belle in Beauty and the Beast (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)
Cailene Kilcoyne as Peter Pan in Peter Pan (San Diego Junior Theatre, CA)
Allyson Lawton as Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden (Poway High School, Poway, CA)
Jessica Lerner as Ariel Moore in Footloose (Coronado School of the Arts, CA)
Kristina Rasband as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Encore/Premiere, Vista, CA)
Kaitlyn Terrill as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables (Christian Youth Theater, El Cajon, CA)
Hayley Steele as Eva Peron in Evita (Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose, CA)
Camille Rene’ Weck as Gabriella Montez in Disney’s High School Musical (ACT I Theatre Arts, Murrieta, CA)

Outstanding Lead Actor (13 and under):
Jackson Lomis as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Jr. (Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids, Denver, CO)

Outstanding Lead Actress (13 and under):
Mackenzie Holets as Annie in Annie (Berrien Springs Middle School, MI)
Bria Maskovich as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Young Star Musical Theater, Prescott, AZ)
Lizzie Pittman as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Jr. (Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids, Denver, CO)
~ California ~
Becca Myers as Ginny the Gingerbread Witch in The Story of Hansel and Gretel (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy or Drama:
~ California ~
Luke Rhoades as Captain Keller in The Miracle Worker (CAT Corona, CA)
Trevor Johnson as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (San Diego Junior Theatre, Chula Vista, CA)
Estevan Montemayor as Khlestakov in The Government Inspector (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
Remy Remigio as Bernard Marx in Brave New World (Madison Theatre Arts Guild, San Diego, CA)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy or Drama:
Catherine Chengery as Alexa Vere de Vere in As Bees in Honey Drown (Horizon High School, Thornton, CO)
Christine Moore as The Little Mermaid in The Little Mermaid (Rainbow Company, Las Vegas, NV)
~ California ~
Emily Green as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker (CAT Corona, CA)
Danae Goward as Star in John Lennon and Me (Granite Hills Acting Workshop, El Cajon, CA)
Katie Nelson as Elizabeth Ann Willow in And They Danced Real Slow in Jackson (Rancho Buena Vista High School, Vista, CA)
Erin Petersen as Jean-Louise in To Kill a Mockingbird (San Diego Junior Theatre, Chula Vista, CA)
Morgan Reeves as Sabina in The Skin of Our Teeth (Coronado School of the Arts, Coronado, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Actor of the Year:
Justin Rapp for Bye Bye Birdie, Cats, Little Women, Narnia, Winnie-the-Pooh
~ California ~
Donny Gersonde for Aladdin, Cats, Footloose, The Skin of Our Teeth, and The Wiz

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:
Steve Casillas as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! (Green Valley High School Theatre, Henderson, NV)
Nick Downs as Mr. Darbus in Disney’s High School Musical (CAPA, Livonia, MI)
Michael Holtzman as Fagin in Oliver! (Youth Theatre Northwest, Mercer Island, WA)
Michael Margetis as Mr. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Brian Wible as Ryan Evans in Disney’s High School Musical (Greasepaint, Scottsdale, AZ)
~ California ~
Sam Floto as Major-General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance (Carlsbad High School, CA)
Brian Jerz as Mr. Darbus in Disney’s High School Musical (Riverside Youth Theatre, CA)
Bryce Payne as Marius in Les Miserables (Hamilton Academy of Music, Los Angeles, CA)
Mitchell Peck as the Minstrel in Once Upon a Mattress (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
Arnel Sancianco as King Sextimus in Once Upon a Mattress (Mission Hills High School, San Marcos, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Actress of the Year:
Michelle Vezilj for Bye Bye Birdie, Cats, and Narnia
~ California ~
Cashae Overton for Aladdin, Madeline’s Christmas, To Kill a Mockingbird, Peter Pan, and The Wiz

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:
Carrie Braver as Beth in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Lisa Fischel as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! (Green Valley High School Theatre, Henderson, NV)
Elizabeth Grant in Godspell (Whidbey Children’s Theater, Langley, WA)
Carly Jonovich as Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (Young Star Musical Theatre, Prescott, AZ)
Alexa Kalasz as Sharpay in Disney’s High School Musical (CAPA, Livonia, MI)
Jane Layoff as Brynn in Godspell (Christian Youth Theater-Chicago, Huntley, IL)
Mary Alice Sandberg as Joanne in Godspell (Prescott High School, AZ)
Charlotte Shipley as Sharpay Evans in Disney’s High School Musical (Young Star Musical Theatre, Prescott, AZ)
Katie Wilson as Sharpay Evans in Disney’s High School Musical (Greasepaint, Scottsdale, AZ)
~ California ~
Jamie Bock as Nancy in Oliver! (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)
Dana Brunstetter as Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (El Camino High School, Oceanside, CA)
Abigail Frisch as Martha in The Secret Garden (Poway High School, Poway, CA)
Zoe Katz as Little Sally in Urinetown (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
Emily Koch as Eponine in Les Miserables (Hamilton Academy of Music, Los Angeles, CA)
Kayla Lauzier as Donna/Oolie in City of Angels (Highland Players, La Mesa, CA)
Cindy Mersten as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
Kristen Mowry as Queen Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
Alexzandra Owner as Grizabella in Cats (Justin-Siena High School, Napa, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Actor (13 and under):
Eric Larson as Professor Kokintz in The Mouse That Roared (The Civic Youth Theatre, Kalamazoo, MI)
Ryan Teich as Ryan Evans in Disney’s High School Musical (Kids on Stage, Stevensville, MI)
~ California ~
Ari Krasner as Lefou in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Actress (13 and under):
Madeleine Rogers as Violet in The Boxcar Children (Oregon Children’s Theatre, Portland, OR)
~ California ~
Giovanna Zavala as Adjectives in School House Rock LIVE! (Christian Youth Theater, San Marcos, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama:
Noah Strozier in As Bees in Honey Drown (Horizon High School, Thornton, CO)
~ California ~
Collin Bell in The Laramie Project (Coronado School of the Arts, CA)
Noah Fish in And They Danced Real Slow in Jackson (Rancho Buena Vista High School, Vista, CA)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama:
Sarah Currin as Ariel in The Tempest (McNary High School, Keizer, OR)
Alex Yarnevich as Meg Magrath in Crimes of the Heart (CAPA, Livonia, MI)
~ California ~
Jennifer Bendelstein as Abigail Williams in The Crucible (La Jolla High School, CA)
Jamie Bock as Grandma in The American Dream (Francis Parker High School, San Diego, CA)

Outstanding Ensemble:
Bye Bye Birdie (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Crimes of the Heart (CAPA, Livonia, MI)
Damn Yankees (Rising Curtain, Denver, CO)
Disney’s High School Musical (Greasepaint, Scottsdale, AZ)
Disney’s High School Musical (Young Star Musical Theatre, Prescott, AZ)
Godspell (Christian Youth Theater-Chicago, Huntley, IL)
Godspell (Whidbey Children’s Theater, Langley, WA)
Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
~ California ~
And They Danced Real Slow in Jackson (Rancho Buena Vista High School, Vista, CA)
Beauty and the Beast (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)
Brave New World (Madison Theatre Arts Guild, San Diego, CA)
City of Angels (Highland Players, La Mesa, CA)
Footloose (Coronado School of the Arts, CA)
Les Miserables (Young Actors Theatre, San Diego, CA)
The Pirates of Penzance (Carlsbad High School, CA)
The Secret Garden (Poway High School, Poway, CA)
To Kill a Mockingbird (San Diego Junior Theatre, CA)
Urinetown (Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA)
The Wiz (San Diego Junior Theatre, CA)
The Wizard of Oz (Christian Youth Theater, El Cajon, CA)

Outstanding Ensemble (13 and under):
Disney's High School Musical (Doug Fordyce-Kids on Stage, Stevensville, MI)
~ California ~
The Story of Hansel and Gretel (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Karol Cooper for Cats (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)
Debbie Faber for The Wizard of Oz (Northglenn Youth Theatre, CO)
~ California ~
Carmen Briwa for Cats (Justin-Siena Theatre, Napa, CA)
Lisa Forrest for The Story of Hansel and Gretel (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)
Cindy Kinnard for The Wiz (San Diego Junior Theatre, CA)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
John Morris for Miss Saigon (Las Vegas Academy, NV)
~ California ~
Andrew Miller for Yours, Anne (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)

Outstanding Set Design:
Kory Klopp and Terry Rohse for The Tempest (McNary High School, Keizer, OR)
~ California ~
Dennis Hollenbeck and Sarah Valecko for Brave New World (Madison Theatre Arts Guild, San Diego, CA)
Syd Stevens for The Story of Hansel and Gretel (J*Company, La Jolla, CA)

Outstanding Choreography:
Marina Sterner for Godspell (Christian Youth Theater, Huntley, IL)
Jenna Thomas for Disney’s High School Musical (Doug Fordyce-Kids on Stage, Stevensville, MI)
~ California ~
Gia Solari for Evita (Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose)

Outstanding Direction:
Sarah Joyce Andrus for Crimes of the Heart (CAPA, Livonia, MI)
Karen Gronowski for Godspell (Christian Youth Theater, Huntley, IL)
~ California ~
Michael Anthony for The Wiz (San Diego Junior Theatre)
Glynn Bedington and Desha Crownover for To Kill a Mockingbird (San Diego Junior Theatre)
Kris McClung and Ray Yannaccone for The Skin of Our Teeth (Coronado School of the Arts, Coronado, CA)