Lake Michigan College announces 2025 winners of WAVE Awards celebrating high school musical theatre

June 2, 2025

Edwardsburg High School's "Newsies!" led the way, taking home four awards, during the fourth annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre held May 21 at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre.

Presented by LMC's Visual & Performing Arts Department and loosely designed after Broadway's Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognize high school theater students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana. Ten adjudicators evaluated 12 high schools and approximately 700 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.

"Each year, this celebration of theatrical talent continues to grow in both size and significance," said Kristopher Zook, LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences and founder of the WAVE Awards. "The LMC Visual & Performing Arts team is deeply committed to supporting our artistic community and nurturing the next generation of performers and creative thinkers."

"Newsies!" claimed the night's top honor as Outstanding Musical Production, while also earning awards for Outstanding Set Design for Emma Hurley, Outstanding Choreography for Catherine Wood, and Outstanding Lead Actor for Brady Leep's portrayal of Jack Kelly.

Concord High School's "Guys and Dolls," also earned multiple awards for Outstanding Music Direction for James Bennett and Outstanding Featured Ensemble for The Cuban Dancers.

Cassopolis High School's "Beetlejuice, Jr.," Hartford High School's "High School Musical 2: Live on Stage," James Whitcomb Riley High School's "Hello, Dolly," Lakeshore High School's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," New Buffalo High School's "Little Shop of Horrors," Paw Paw High School's "Spamalot," Penn High School's "The SpongeBob Musical," South Haven High School's "Chicago," and St. Joseph High School's "The Little Mermaid," each took home one award in the nominated categories. Bridgman High School received the Esprit de Corps Award, which celebrates the cast and crew who elevate each other, who understand that true artistry often lies in collective effort, and who create harmony both on stage and behind the scenes.

The evening's event began with red-carpet arrivals, followed by the awards ceremony, which featured several musical production numbers, including "Come Alive!" performed by an all-star cast from participating schools, "Sue Me" from Concord's "Guys and Dolls," "Jacob & Sons/Jacob's Coat" from Lakeshore's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Paw Paw's "Spamalot," "And All That Jazz" from South Haven's "Chicago," "Bikini Bottom Day" from Penn's "The SpongeBob Musical," and "Santa Fe" from Edwardsburg's "Newsies!"

Presenters included Dawn Aulet, Features Editor of the Herald Palladium, Lynnetta Hamstra, Manager of the Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University; Dr. Ken Flowers, Executive Vice President of Lake Michigan College; Leah Steinhiser, WNIT & PBS Michiana's Educational Engagement Liaison; Susan Dietrich-Reed, Executive Director & Director of Music at the Citadel Dance and Music Center; Peggy Harrington, Trustee of Twin City Players; Michael Bond, Acorn Theatre's Senior Production Manager; Shalico Sain, Lake Michigan College Theatre Instructor; Peter Carey, film and voiceover actor; and Cassidy Vlietstra, Program Director of The Drama Spot.

Several awards were announced by pre-recorded videos from theater celebrities, including Broadway star Gavin Lee, Shea Grant from "Stranger Things: The First Shadow," Joanna Gleason, Tony Award-winning actress from "Into the Woods," and Emmy Award-winning animator Dan Povenmire.

All nominees received an LMC Red Hawk Scholarship for a three-credit course taken within the next four academic years and written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. The lead actor recipients, Brady Leep and Evangeline Salgado, received $1,000 Sierra Loughrin Scholarships to participate in LMC Visual & Performing Arts coursework.

The 2024-2025 WAVE Award nominees and winners 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 - WINNER

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 and the Amazing Technicolor 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 - WINNER

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

James Whitcomb Riley High School; “Hello, Dolly!”; Laura Pollock

Lakeshore High School; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Barb Stepka & Reta Trux - WINNER

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 - WINNER

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 and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Matthew Pagel

Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Sydney Brown

Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Zac Coudret - WINNER

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 - WINNER

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 - WINNER

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- WINNER (TIE)

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 - WINNER (TIE)

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(2 actors awarded in this category)

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 and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Simeon; Ian Sokol

New Buffalo High School; “Little Shop of Horrors”; Mushnik; Addison Lamport

Paw Paw High School; “Spamalot”; Patsy; Leilani Cowgill- WINNER

Penn High School; “The SpongeBob Musical”; Mr. Krabs; Jack Mead

St. Joseph High School; “The Little Mermaid”; Ursula; Sam Schadler - WINNER

South Haven High School; “Chicago”; Amos; Timothy Knapp

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical(2 actors awarded in this category)

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 - WINNER

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 - WINNER

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

Esprit d’Corps

Bridgman High School; “Wizard of Oz”

Outstanding Direction in a Musical

Cassopolis High School; “Beetlejuice, Jr.”; Patrick Bondy - WINNER

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!” - WINNER

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.