performance

Wave Awards

Lake Michigan College is excited to announce the fourth annual WAVE Awards, which honor the musical theatre work of high school students and educators throughout Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana. 

Loosely designed after Broadway’s famed Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards is meant to recognize, encourage and promote excellence in high school musical theatre. 

This annual event also offers students and production staff a valuable educational opportunity through written feedback from highly qualified arts professionals, additional performance opportunities, scholarship opportunities, a sense of belonging and value in the local arts community, and public recognition for a job well done.

The Awards Showcase will be held May 21, 2025.

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 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

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 
  • 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 and the Amazing Technicolor 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 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; 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 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”

The event is free and open to the public. Parents, friends, fans, teachers, and school administrators are all encouraged to attend. 

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.  

How It Works

This free recognition program is open to all high schools throughout Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana. Schools interested in participating should complete the WAVE Award Application. The Evaluation Committee, consisting of professional actors, vocal musicians, directors, designers, and choreographers will send evaluators to assess each production. Schools will need to provide LMC with 8 tickets to see the production. There is no other entry fee for participation.

Assessments

The purpose of any kind of assessment is to promote personal development and growth. Student performers will receive written feedback from the evaluation team following the show's run. Our evaluators have a rubric of criteria that includes numerical scoring and written commentary in a wide spectrum of technical and artistic components, but, most importantly, are aware of what cannot be assessed. For example, our evaluators cannot assess any of the following intrinsic benefits of theatre:

  • A stronger sense of self and an increased level of confidence
  • A deeper understanding of the importance of “a team effort”
  • An appreciation for and an improved work ethic
  • The joyous feeling of accomplishment
  • A better understanding of theatre and the arts
  • The gift of lifetime memories and deepened friendships made

We extend our appreciation and accolades to those who have given of themselves so that everyone can reap these profound rewards.

Nominations/Awards

Nominations will be announced in categories similar to Broadway’s Tony Awards on April 29th at both an optional gathering for adult production staff and on this website. Join us on May 21 as we will present the WAVE Awards at the Jenkins Theatre at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center.

The event will include a red-carpet reception and musical production numbers by the schools nominated for Overall Outstanding Musical. Trophies and scholarships will be given at the awards ceremony.  If selected to perform at the WAVE Awards, it is the responsibility of the individual school district to secure licensing for musical numbers from the appropriate performance rights organization.

We are enthusiastic about the ever-growing community of arts advocates and supporters that will contribute to this gala event.

Contact the Producer of the WAVE Awards with questions:
Kristopher Zook, Dean of Arts and Sciences
kzook@lakemichigancollege.edu
(269) 927-6588.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION >>

 

2025 Participating Schools

Please support live theatre in our local schools. We hope you add your production to the list!

The Little Mermaid– St. Joseph High School

November 22 at 7 p.m. & November 23 at 2 & 7 p.m. 

Spamalot School Edition– Paw Paw High School

February 6-8 at 7 p.m. & February 9 at 2 p.m. 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Lakeshore High School

February 14-15 at 7 p.m. & February 16 at 2 p.m. 

Guys-N-Dolls - Concord High School

March 6-7 at 7 p.m. & March 9 at 2 p.m.

Little Shop of Horrors - New Buffalo High School

March 14-15 at 7p.m. &  March 16 at 2 p.m.

Hello Dolly- James Whitcomb Riley High School 

March 14-15 at 7 p.m. & March 16 at 2 p.m.

Beetlejuice, Jr. - Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School

March 7-8 at 7p.m. & March 9 at 2p.m.

Newsies! - Edwardsburg High School

March 21-22 at 7p.m. &  March 23 at 2p.m.

Chicago School Edition - South Haven High School

March 14-15 at 7p.m. & March 16 at 2p.m.

High School Musical 2 On Stage! - Hartford High School

March 21-22 at 7p.m. &  March 23 at 2p.m.

 The Sponge Bob Musical - Penn High School

March 7-8 at 7p.m. & , March 9 at 2p.m.

The Wizard of Oz - Bridgman High School

 March 21-22 at 7p.m. & March 23 at 2p.m.