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…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…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…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; 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…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…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…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.

2025 Wave Awards