2017-2018 National Youth Arts Awards

The National Youth Arts Awards recognized Spotlight’s 2017-2018 season with 70 nominations. Performers and artists won 30 NYA Awards for their work in Spotlight productions. An awards ceremony was held Sept. 9 at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

Outstanding Production

• Won: Cabaret
• Won: Jesus Christ Superstar
• Nominated: Pippin and Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Choral Production

• Won: Pitches in Motion
• Nominated: Pitches and Tones Christmas Concert

Artist of the Year

Awarded for outstanding principle performances in multiple productions:

• Addison Bowman for Romeo and Juliet (in addition to The Wedding Singer at Sandra Day O’Connor H.S. and Shrek at Valley Youth Theatre)
• Joey J. Grado for Jesus Christ Superstar (in addition to Rock of Ages at Chandler H.S. and Silk by Belaganas)
• Sarah Pansing for Pippin (in addition to Little Women at Valley Youth Theatre, and Songs from My Closet)
• Vincent Pugliese for Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar (in addition to Little Women at Valley Youth Theatre)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical

• Won: Sophia Donnell for Cabaret
• Won: Sam Primack for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Nominated: Aaron Brown for Cabaret 
• Nominated: Devon Policci for Pippin

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

• Won: Anson Romney for Romeo and Juliet
• Won: Peyton Woolf for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Lead Performance (Junior Division)

• Won: Zoey Waller for Junie B. Jones, The Musical
• Nominated: Jazlynn Damasco for Disney’s Mulan Jr.

Outstanding Lead Performance (College Division)

• Won: Trey DeGroodt for Pippin

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical

• Won: Alyssa Armstrong for Pippin
• Won: Jasmine Bassham for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Won: Isaiah Salazar for Pippin
• Won: Isaiah Salazar for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Nominated: Phoenix Cyphert for Junie B. Jones, The Musical
• Nominated: Steven Enriquez for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Nominated: Savoy Graca for Pippin
• Nominated: Logan Swope for Cabaret
• Nominated: Jack Taylor for Pippin

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play

• Won: Aaron Brown for Romeo and Juliet
• Won: Camden Wawro for Romeo and Juliet
• Nominated: Nick Scaringelli for Romeo and Juliet
• Nominated: Jack Taylor for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Supporting Performance (Junior Division)

• Nominated: Ava Newton for Pippin 
• Nominated: Callista Walker for Disney’s Mulan Jr.

Outstanding Supporting Performance (College Division)

• Won: Joseph Cavazos for Cabaret
• Nominated: Jeremy Bassham for Jesus Christ Superstar 
• Nominated: Jeremy Bassham for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical

• Won: Jack Taylor for Cabaret
• Nominated: Jasmine Bassham for Cabaret 
• Nominated: Noah Lanouette for Jesus Christ Superstar

Outstanding Featured Performance (Junior Division)

• Nominated: Amy Fishencord for Disney’s Mulan Jr.
• Nominated: Samantha Zell for Disney’s Mulan Jr.

Outstanding Ensemble

• Won: Pippin
• Won: Romeo and Juliet
• Nominated: Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar

Outstanding Choreography

• Won: Lynzee 4man for Body of Work (Disney’s Mulan Jr.; Jesus Christ Superstar; Junie B. Jones, The Musical; Pippin; Pitches and Tones Christmas Concert; and Pitches in Motion)
• Won: Tina Caspary-Cyphert for Cabaret

Outstanding Costume Design

• Nominated: Naomi and Andi Jordon for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Nominated: Samantha Essary Utpadel for Cabaret
• Nominated: Audrey Wawro for Disney’s Mulan Jr. 
• Nominated: Audrey Wawro for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Lighting Design

• Nominated: Josh Hontz for Cabaret 
• Nominated: Josh Hontz for Jesus Christ Superstar

Outstanding Set Design

• Nominated: Michael Armstrong and Kenny Grossman for Cabaret
• Nominated: Bobby Sample for Junie B. Jones, The Musical 
• Nominated: Bobby Sample for Pippin

Outstanding Fight Choreography

• Nominated: Ally Baumlin for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Sound Design

• Nominated: Josh Hontz for Jesus Christ Superstar 
• Nominated: Josh Hontz for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Hair/Makeup Design

• Nominated: Trey DeGroodt for Cabaret 
• Nominated: Trey DeGroodt for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Nominated: Angel DeMichael for Romeo and Juliet

Outstanding Musical Direction

• Won: Mark 4man for Jesus Christ Superstar
• Won: Ken Goodenberger for Cabaret
• Nominated: Mark 4man for Pippin

Outstanding Direction

• Won: Kenny Grossman for Romeo and Juliet
• Won: Kenny Grossman for Cabaret
• Won: Bobby Sample for Pippin
• Nominated: Lynzee 4man and Mark 4man for Jesus Christ Superstar