2016-2017 National Youth Arts Awards

The National Youth Arts Awards recognized Spotlight’s 2016-2017 theatre season with 65 nominations. Performers and artists won 15 NYA Awards for their work in Spotlight productions.

Outstanding Production

• Won: Legally Blonde
• Nominated: American Idiot and South Pacific

Artist of the Year

Awarded to outstanding principle performers for multiple productions:

• Addison Bowman for Legally Blonde and School of Rock (in addition to Les Miserables at Theater Works and All Shook Up at Desert Foothills Theatre)
• Lily Castle for Legally Blonde (in addition to All Shook Up at Desert Foothills Theatre, and The Laramie Project and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Brophy/Xavier)
• Sarah Pansing for American Idiot and Legally Blonde (in addition to Les Miserables at Theater Works and The Secret Garden at Valley Youth Theatre)
• Sam Primack for American Idiot and Legally Blonde (in addition to Catch Me If You Can at Chaparral High School and Les Miserables at Theater Works)
• Tiana Marks for South Pacific (in addition to The Fantasticks at Mesa Encore Theatre, and Grease and The Wizard of Oz at Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

• Nominated: Steven Enriquez for South Pacific
• Nominated: Devon Policci for School of Rock
• Nominated: Vincent Pugliese for American Idiot

Outstanding Lead Actor (Junior Division)

• Won: Foster Hilding for Willy Wonka Jr.
• Nominated: Corban Adams for Willy Wonka Jr.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Won: Jeremy Bassham for Legally Blonde
• Won: Spencer Claus for American Idiot
• Won: Devon Policci for South Pacific
• Nominated: Joey Grado for American Idiot
• Nominated: Jacob Herrera for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Vincent Pugliese for South Pacific

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Won: Kialani Mills for School of Rock
• Nominated: Julia Burks for Willy Wonka Jr.
• Nominated: Phoenix Cyphert for School of Rock
• Nominated: Issie Ocampo for South Pacific
• Nominated: Ava Tyson for American Idiot

Outstanding Supporting Actor (Junior Division)

• Nominated: Evan Culbertson for Willy Wonka Jr.
• Nominated: Ian Gray for School of Rock
• Nominated: Matt Huisman for School of Rock
• Nominated: Kai Jinn for School of Rock

Outstanding Supporting Actress (Junior Division)

• Nominated: Katie Calderone for School of Rock
• Nominated: Kiera Crouch for School of Rock
• Nominated: Anna Koth for Willy Wonka Jr.
• Nominated: Kayla Trevino for Willy Wonka Jr.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

• Nominated: Cate Labas for Thumbelina

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

• Nominated: Steven Enriquez for American Idiot
• Nominated: Joey Grado for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Charlie Rabago for South Pacific

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

• Nominated: Alyssa Armstrong for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Jasmine Bassham for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Cate Carlino for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Ava Tyson for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Maya Weber for Legally Blonde

Outstanding Ensemble

• Won: American Idiot
• Nominated: Legally Blonde, School of Rock and South Pacific

Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division)

• Nominated: Willy Wonka Jr.

Outstanding Costume Design

• Nominated: Samantha Utpadel for American Idiot

Outstanding Lighting Design

• Won: Josh Hontz for American Idiot
• Nominated: Josh Hontz for Willy Wonka Jr.

Outstanding Set Design

• Nominated: Mike Armstrong and Bobby Sample for American Idiot
• Nominated: Bobby Sample for Willy Wonka Jr.
• Nominated: Bobby Sample for South Pacific
• Nominated: Bobby Sample for School of Rock

Outstanding Choreography

• Won: Lynzee 4Man for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Lynzee 4man for American Idiot

Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design

• Nominated: Trey DeGroodt for American Idiot 
• Nominated: Trey DeGroodt for Legally Blonde

Outstanding Musical Direction

• Nominated: Mark 4man for American Idiot
• Nominated: Mark 4man for South Pacific
• Nominated: Mark 4man for Legally Blonde

Outstanding Direction

• Won: Mark 4man and Lynzee 4man for Legally Blonde
• Nominated: Kenny Grossman for School of Rock 
• Nominated: Kenny Grossman for South Pacific
• Nominated: Bobby Sample for American Idiot