Lake Michigan College announces nominees for WAVE Awards honoring High School Musical Theatre

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department has announced the nominees for its 2024-2025 WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre.

Loosely designed after Broadway's famed Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognizes, encourages, and promotes high school theater. Ten adjudicators evaluated 12 high schools and about 710 students who participated in high school musical productions in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Individuals and productions from participating schools were nominated in 13 acting and technical categories. Winners will be announced during an award ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave. The event is free and open to the public. Parents, friends, fans, teachers, and school administrators are all encouraged to attend.

Now in its fourth year at LMC, the WAVE Awards includes students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana.

“It’s truly inspiring to witness the ongoing development of students and the programs that bring the magic of musical theatre to local high schools,” said Kristopher Zook, Dean of Arts & Sciences at LMC and founder of the WAVE Awards. “Through the Visual & Performing Arts department, LMC remains committed to championing arts education, nurturing creativity, and celebrating the incredible dedication of both students and educators.”

The awards ceremony begins with red carpet arrivals at 6 p.m., followed by the awards, which include musical production numbers from Concord, Edwardsburg, James Whitcomb Riley, Lakeshore, Paw Paw, Penn, and South Haven high schools, as well as an opening number comprised of students from participating schools and LMC.

All students and production staff will receive written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. Nominees may also receive additional performance and scholarship opportunities.

The 2024-2025 WAVE Award nominees are:

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical  

Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Scott Preheim 
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Dwayne Whitmyer
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Emma Hurley 
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Kevin Marek
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Kristofer M. Perkins & Avery McCafferty 
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Suzanne Button

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical  

Hartford High School; “High School Musical 2: Live Onstage”; Joe MacMillian
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph…Dreamcoat”; Paul Milligan
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Lloyd Whitmyer
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Kristofer M. Perkins      
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Scott Bradford
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Mike Springer and Erin O’Neil

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical  

James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Laura Pollock 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph…Dreamcoat”; Barb Stepka & Reta Trux 
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Deb Rancatore 
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Claudia Lee 
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Kathryn Hein 
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Jessica Wiersbe

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical  

Bridgman High School; “The Wizard of Oz”; Caitlyn Lustica
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Heather Schoenherr
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Catherine Wood 
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Nathan Mittleman 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Theresa Graziano
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Jenn Wolfe 
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Allie Ruppert & Brandy Campbell 

Outstanding Orchestra (Band) in a Musical

Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Nicole Knouse 
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Jennifer Gladkowski 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph…Dreamcoat”; Matthew Pagel 
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Sydney Brown
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Zac Coudret 
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Burke Lokey   
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Jeff Bopp

Outstanding Music Direction in a Musical

Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; James Bennett 
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Kyle Rehnlund 
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Kyle Schreiber & John Mink
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Ethan Schopp
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Beth Gray-Roll 
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Katie Hilyard 

Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical

Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; The Cuban Dancers 
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!;” Newsies of New York 
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; The Waiters
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Narrators & Jacob’s Sons
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; The Urchins
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; The Lady of the Lake & Laker Girls
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; The Sardines 
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; The Mersisters & Flounder
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Flotsam & Jetsam
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; 6 Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Prison 

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical  

Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Gen. Cartwright; Ava Peters 
Edwardsburg High School ; “Newsies!”; Hannah; Shaelyn Carrick 
Hartford High School; “High School Musical 2: Live on Stage”; Oberon Fulton; Aiden Apreza 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Levi; Lillian Clark 
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Orin–Dentist; Aaron Ilescas-Villa
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Angel; Kami Crandall 
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Tim; Bryn Carlsen 
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Mayor; Riley Newcomer 
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Chef Luis; Evan Lokey 
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Hunyak; Serenity Scully

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr”; Delia Schlimmer; Emma Husted 
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Crutchie; Lucas Bentzer
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Davey; Aiden Dohm 
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Barnaby; Cristian Samuel Hernandez 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph…Dreamcoat”; Simeon; Ian Sokol 
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Mushnik; Addison Lamport 
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Patsy; Lellani Cowgill 
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Mr. Krabs; Jack Mead 
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Ursula; Sam Schadler 
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Amos; Timothy Knapp 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

Bridgman High School; “Wizard of Oz”; Dorothy; Malia Fast
Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr.”; Beetlejuice; Laycee Ericson
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Sky Masterson; Ed Hernandez Lopez
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Sarah Brown; Sydney Trowbridge 
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Jack Kelly; Brady Leep 
Hartford High School; “High School Musical 2: Live on Stage”; Gabriella Montez; Nevaeh Ledesma
James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Dolly Gallagher Levi; Evangeline Salgado 
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Seymour; Henry Gadiel 
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Arthur; Ben Plested
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; SpongeBob; Ava Gallo 
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Patrick Star; Nix Hardman
St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Sebastien; Seth Martin 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Joseph; Aiden Sokol 
South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Velma Kelly; Claudia Fiedorowicz

Outstanding Direction in a Musical

Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr.”; Patrick Bondy     
Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”; Sam Vaughan 
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”; Kyle Rehnlund 
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Christine Sloan
New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Chris Beushausen      
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Andrew Nemeth 

Outstanding Musical Production

Concord High School; “Guys and Dolls”
Edwardsburg High School; “Newsies!”
Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot” 
Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”
South Haven High School; “Chicago”

For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/wave, email Mindy McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@lakemichigancollege.edu, or call the Visual & Performing Arts office at 269-927-8876.