Starlight Reveals Nominations for 2026 Blue Star Awards

Each year, thousands of high school students across the Kansas City metro wait in anticipation for the announcement of the annual Blue Star Awards nominations. Today, Starlight leadership, staff, and board members revealed this year’s nominees via in school presentations and Starlight’s social media. In the 2025-26 Blue Star Awards season, 66 schools and nearly 5,100 metro area students participated, making the program one of the largest and most respected high school musical awards shows in the nation.

Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards®, Starlight’s annual Blue Star Awards recognize achievement and excellence in musical theatre among Kansas City area high school students. Winners will be announced in 31 categories and $10,000 in monetary prizes will be awarded at the Blue Star Awards Ceremony, which will also feature 10 onstage performances.

The 24th annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Starlight Theatre. Premium seating is available for $20 per ticket. Additional seating is free but will be ticketed. To reserve tickets, click below or call the ticket office at (816) 363-7827. There will be limited concessions available for purchase.

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Community Impact Award
De Soto
Grain Valley
Liberty North
Olathe Northwest
Park Hill
Winnetonka

Creative Contribution Award
Bishop Miege – Nora Butler for Choreography
Central – Macormick Carlson for Choreography
Liberty – Hannah Mees for Direction
Olathe West – Lydia Treff for Choreography
Park Hill South – Evran Allenbrand for Direction
Raymore-Peculiar – Vanessa Diaz for Choreography
Rockhurst – Charlie Tietjen for Direction
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Harper Ward for Choreography

Technical Contribution Award
Blue Springs – Cailey Petersen for Scenic Design and Management
Blue Springs – Nora Letterman, Ava Curp, and Jacquelyn Smith for Costume Design
Blue Valley North – Kennedy Dunbar for Stage Management
Liberty – Abigail Kuhlman for Lighting Design and Master Electrician
Liberty – Mary Brink for Hair and Makeup Design
Olathe North – Lauren Ware for Audio and Scenic Design
Olathe West – Calley Portsche for Props Designer and Manager
Olathe West – Teddy Garcia for Publicity and Marketing
Park Hill South – Madison Mulvaney for Costume Design

Dream Production Award
Blue Valley – Chacey Dollins for Direction
Liberty – Hannah Mees for Direction
Liberty North – Jillian Downing for Choreography
Liberty North – Tony Monaco for Hair & Makeup Design
Mill Valley – Izzy Simms for Choreography
Olathe West – Annabelle Owens for Costume Design
Piper – Payton Flory for Costume Design
Platte County – Colin Bralley for Costume Design

Rising Star Scholarship – Sophomore
Liberty – Adelaide Jurgens
Oak Park – Jazzmine Reid
Olathe Northwest – Hudson Barker
Olathe West – Gage Pfannenstiel
Olathe West – Kate Nickel
Pembroke Hill School – Cecilia Miller
Rockhurst – Charlie Tietjen
St. Teresa’s Academy – Sabine Federlein

Rising Star Scholarship – Junior
Blue Springs South – Camryn Jerome
Blue Valley Southwest – Aliyah Lawrence
Liberty – Maddy Heits
Liberty North – Jillian Downing
Olathe North – LilyAnna Brown
Pembroke Hill School – Evelyn French
Ruskin – Lexi Urias
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Louisa Bartlett

Rising Star Scholarship – Senior
Blue Springs – Cailey Petersen
Central – Macormick Carlson
Lawrence Free State – Piper Northrop
Lee’s Summit North – Jane Hough
Olathe Northwest – Maggie Sykes
Olathe South – Tristan Jenkins
Olathe West – Ashlyn Warren
Raymore-Peculiar – Eli Showen

Student Reporter
Blue Springs – Olivia Meek
Fort Osage – Malia Arnold
Lee’s Summit North – Jake Johnson
Notre Dame de Sion – Adele Milligan
Ruskin – Alexandria Mondaine

Jimmy Awards
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes – Kamryn Henderson as Billy Crocker
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes – Sydney Dilks as Reno Sweeney
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera – Olivia Dolton as Christine Daaé
Park Hill South – Jesus Christ Superstar – Megan Sheehan as Judas
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Charlotte Sweet as Katherine Plumber
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Finley Pennington as Jack Kelly

Orchestra – Tier I
Blue Valley West – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
De Soto – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Kearney – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies
Shawnee Mission East – Bye Bye Birdie
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)
Shawnee Mission West – The SpongeBob Musical

Orchestra – Tier II
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes
Blue Valley North – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera
Liberty North – Mean Girls High School Version
Olathe East – Between the Lines
Olathe Northwest – Mean Girls High School Version
Park Hill – Disney’s Freaky Friday
Park Hill South – Jesus Christ Superstar

Scenic Design – Tier I
Belton – Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
Benton – The Drowsy Chaperone
Excelsior Springs – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Grain Valley – Urinetown
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin
Ruskin – The Prince of Egypt

Scenic Design – Tier II
Bishop Miege – Mamma Mia!
Blue Springs – Guys and Dolls
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes
Blue Valley – Something Rotten!
Central – Footloose
Lee’s Summit – Mystic Pizza
Olathe East – Between the Lines
Staley – Seussical the Musical

Lighting Design – Tier I
Belton – Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
Blue Valley West – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Excelsior Springs – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Grain Valley – Urinetown
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Leavenworth – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Raytown – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Shawnee Mission West – The SpongeBob Musical

Lighting Design – Tier II
Blue Springs – Guys and Dolls
Central – Footloose
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera
Olathe East – Between the Lines
Olathe Northwest – Mean Girls High School Version
Olathe West – Mamma Mia!
Park Hill South – Jesus Christ Superstar
Winnetonka – Little Shop of Horrors

Costume Design – Tier I
Belton – Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
Excelsior Springs – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Leavenworth – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Odessa – Once Upon a Mattress
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin
West Platte – Shrek The Musical

Costume Design – Tier II
Blue Springs – Guys and Dolls
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes
Blue Valley Northwest – Grease
Central – Footloose
Lee’s Summit West – Water for Elephants (High School Edition)
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera
Olathe East – Between the Lines
Olathe Northwest – Mean Girls High School Version

Hair & Makeup Design – Tier I
Belton – Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Leavenworth – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)
Shawnee Mission South – Cabaret
Smithville – Anything Goes

Hair & Makeup Design – Tier II
Blue Springs – Guys and Dolls
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes
Blue Valley Southwest – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Gardner Edgerton – Shrek The Musical
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera
Oak Park – Disney’s Tarzan
Olathe Northwest – Mean Girls High School Version
Park Hill South – Jesus Christ Superstar

Technical Crew – Tier I
Belton – Disney’s Descendants: The Musical – Costume Crew
De Soto – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Sound Crew
Excelsior Springs – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Set Crew
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) – Lighting Crew
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Hair & Makeup Crew
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Set Crew
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin – Costume Crew
Shawnee Mission South – Cabaret – Hair & Makeup Crew

Technical Crew – Tier II
Blue Valley – Something Rotten! – Set Crew
Blue Valley Southwest – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) – Set Crew
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera – Lighting Crew
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera – Set Crew
Olathe East – Between the Lines – Costume Crew
Olathe South – It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman – Set Crew
Olathe West – Mamma Mia! – Set Crew
Staley – Seussical the Musical – Set Crew

Performer in a Lead Role – Tier I
Benton – The Drowsy Chaperone – Dylan McDonald as Man in Chair
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) – Owen Börk as Gomez Addams
Leavenworth – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Devin Kaminski as Willy Wonka
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Finley Pennington as Jack Kelly
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin – Amari Russell as Leading Player
Ruskin – The Prince of Egypt – Desmond Walker III as Moses
Shawnee Mission South – Cabaret – Chet Salsbury as Emcee
Shawnee Mission West -The SpongeBob Musical – Zoe Quick as SpongeBob SquarePants

Performer in a Lead Role – Tier II
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes – Kamryn Henderson as Billy Crocker
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes – Sydney Dilks as Reno Sweeney
Blue Valley Northwest – Grease – Dylan Johnson as Danny Zuko
Lee’s Summit – Mystic Pizza – Ella Jeffries as Kat Arujo
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera – Olivia Dolton as Christine Daaé
Olathe East – Between the Lines – Avery Valentine as Delilah McPhee
Olathe Northwest – Mean Girls High School Version – Paige McCann as Regina George
Park Hill – Disney’s Freaky Friday – Chamberlain Webster as Ellie Blake

Performer in a Supporting Role – Tier I
Belton – Disney’s Descendants: The Musical – Emily Kilpatrick as Maleficent
Grain Valley – Urinetown – Brooklyn Hedrick as Little Sally
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) –
Lily Davis as Wednesday Addams
Leavenworth – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Marley Bergen as Mrs. Teavee
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Owen Guess as Crutchie
Raytown – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Cameron Ritchie as Hermes
Shawnee Mission South – Cabaret – Caroline Shaw as Fraulein Schneider
Smithville – Anything Goes – Sylis Newman as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh

Performer in a Supporting Role – Tier II
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes – Max Bergman as Moonface Martin
Blue Valley – Something Rotten! – Danonn Mwangi as Bea
Blue Valley North – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Cale Fulcher as Ursula
Central – Footloose – Anthony Frump-Halloran as Willard Hewitt
Liberty North – Mean Girls High School Version – Jillian Downing as Janis Sarkisian
Olathe North – Little Shop of Horrors – Charlie Senuta as Mushnik
Olathe West – Mamma Mia! – Addy Davis as Rosie
Olathe West – Mamma Mia! – Ashlyn Warren as Tanya

Performer in a Featured Role – Tier I
Fort Osage – Disney’s High School Musical – Alana Moe as Chorus
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) – Felix Ovsak as Lurch
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) – Harper York as Grandma
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies – Giovanni Cucchiara as Race
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin – Vanessa Diaz as Player
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) –
Ellie Roberts as Grace
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) –
Louisa Bartlett as Joy
Shawnee Mission South – Cabaret – Syriana Sharpe as Texas

Performer in a Featured Role – Tier II
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes – Logan Jones as Purser
Blue Valley North – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Mia Hauschild as Chef Louis
Blue Valley Northwest – Grease – Ryan Peterson as Doody
Blue Valley Northwest – Grease – Wyatt Ricker as Roger
Lee’s Summit West – Water for Elephants (High School Edition) – Brody Smith as Wade
North Kansas City – Chicago: Teen Edition – Kobe Starr as Annie
North Kansas City – Chicago: Teen Edition – Tatum McGinnis-Wood as Mona
Olathe West – Mamma Mia! – Santana Romero as Dance Ensemble

Ensemble – Tier I
Grain Valley – Urinetown
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Leavenworth – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin
Raytown – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Ruskin – The Prince of Egypt
Shawnee Mission South – Cabaret

Ensemble – Tier II
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes
Blue Valley – Something Rotten!
Blue Valley Northwest – Grease
Lee’s Summit West – Water for Elephants (High School Edition)
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera
Olathe West – Mamma Mia!
Park Hill South – Jesus Christ Superstar
Rockhurst – Disney’s Newsies

Overall Production – Tier I
Grain Valley – Urinetown
Lawrence Free State – The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)
Platte County – Disney’s Newsies
Raymore-Peculiar – Pippin

Overall Production – Tier II
Blue Springs South – Anything Goes
Liberty – The Phantom of the Opera
Olathe East – Between the Lines
Olathe West – Mamma Mia!

Starlight Reveals Nominations for 2026 Blue Star Awards

2025-26 Blue Star Awards Nominees