Congratulations to the 2024 Blue Star Award Nominees
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. On Thursday, April 25, Starlight leadership, staff, and board members revealed this year’s nominees via in school presentations and in a premiere video on Starlight’s social media. In the 2023-24 Blue Star Awards season, 58 schools and more than 4,500 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 30 categories and more than $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded at the Blue Star Awards Ceremony, which will also feature 10 onstage performances.
The 22nd annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at Starlight Theatre. Tickets are free but reservations are required. Reserve tickets online, visit kcstarlight.com or call the box office at (816) 363-7827. There will be limited concessions available for purchase.
2023-24 Blue Star Awards Nominees
Ceremony Ensemble
Bishop Miege – Cate Coble
Bishop Miege – Tess Sollars
Blue Valley North – Joaquin Gonzalez Layton
Blue Valley North – Sebastian Gonzalez Layton
Blue Valley Southwest – Mia LeFevre
Central – Lilly Carter
Central – Mac Carlson
Lee’s Summit North – Taylor Bell
Liberty – Bennett Chapman
Liberty – Kate Fisher
Liberty – Maddy Hand
Liberty North – Jillian Downing
Liberty North – Gracie Schwalm
Liberty North – Tony Monaco
Liberty North – Tommy Monaco
Mill Valley – Allyson Makalous
Oak Park – Olin Spencer
Oak Park – Jenna Holland
Olathe East – Delainey Mock
Olathe East – Brianna Frohning
Olathe East – Sydney Carter
Olathe East – Lorien Colucci
Olathe East – Caroline Kelley
Olathe East – Avery Valentine
Olathe Northwest – Maggie Sykes
Olathe Northwest – Sophia Mullinax
Olathe Northwest – Leah Pal
Olathe West – Gen Anderson
Olathe West – Ashlyn Robertson
Olathe West – Amberleigh Worley
Olathe West – Kolby Brown
Olathe West – Ashlyn Warren
Olathe West – Adeline Davis
Park Hill – Rylee Bornheimer
Park Hill – Jalen Mack
Olathe South – Julianna Bowles
Olathe South – Alicen Silva
Park Hill South – Emma Andrews
Platte County – Kaitlyn Seim
Platte County – Finley Pennington
Platte County – Aidan Lindsey
Ruskin – Zoie Harrington
Shawnee Mission West – Faryn Clevenger
Smithville – Sylis Newman
St. James Academy – Sydney Conrad
St. Teresa’s Academy – Sola Owens
Community Impact Award
Blue Springs – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)
Blue Valley Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Leavenworth – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Liberty North – The Wizard of Oz
Notre Dame de Sion – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Olathe East – Sister Act
Olathe West – The Prom
Olathe South – Urinetown
Creative Contribution Award
Leavenworth – Alexa Beaulieu for Direction
Leavenworth – Genevieve Mitchell for Choreography
Olathe East – Alyssa Harris for Choreography
Olathe North – Sydney Culley & Sareena Kandalkar for Direction
Olathe Northwest – Leah Pal for Choreography
Park Hill South – Norah Pruitt for Direction
St. James Academy – Sophia Zacharias for Choreography
St. James Academy – Cristian Valldeperas for Direction
Dream Production Award
Leavenworth – Alexa Beaulieu for Direction
Liberty – Areeb Lodhi for Scenic Design
Liberty – Sophia Sola for Direction
Liberty – Elinor Dow for Hair & Makeup Design
Olathe North – Lauren Ware for Scenic Design
Piper – Payton Flory for Costume Design
Shawnee Mission West – August Croushore for Costume Design
St. James Academy – Sophia Zacharias for Choreography
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Disney’s Newsies
Belton – Anything Goes
Free State – Bright Star
Park Hill South – Into the Woods
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Raymore-Peculiar – Shrek the Musical
Shawnee Mission Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Shawnee Mission West – You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier II
Blue Springs – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Liberty North – The Wizard of Oz
Olathe East – Sister Act
Park Hill – Anything Goes
Smithville – Something Rotten!
Summit Christian Academy – Brigadoon
Outstanding Ensemble, Tier I
Blue Valley Southwest – Mean Girls: High School Version
Free State – Bright Star
Grain Valley – Into the Woods
Harrisonville – Legally Blonde The Musical
Olathe South – Urinetown
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Ruskin – 9 to 5 The Musical
Shawnee Mission West – You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Outstanding Ensemble, Tier II
Blue Springs South – Disney’s High School Musical
Blue Valley Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version
Heritage Christian Academy – Disney’s High School Musical
Lee’s Summit – The Pajama Game
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Olathe West – The Prom
St. James Academy – All Shook Up
Outstanding Hair & Makeup Design, Tier I
Belton – Anything Goes
Fort Osage – Hello, Dolly!
Kearney – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Oak Grove – Disney’s Freaky Friday
Park Hill South – Into the Woods
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Raymore-Peculiar – Shrek the Musical
Shawnee Mission Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Outstanding Hair & Makeup Design, Tier II
Blue Valley Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version
Lee’s Summit North – Zombie Prom
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Olathe East – Sister Act
Olathe West – The Prom
Rockhurst – The Drowsy Chaperone
St. James Academy – All Shook Up
Outstanding Lighting Design, Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Disney’s Newsies
Excelsior Springs – Seussical
Free State – Bright Star
Lee’s Summit West – Mean Girls: High School Version
Olathe South – Urinetown
Park Hill South – Into the Woods
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Raytown – Six the Musical: Teen Edition
Outstanding Lighting Design, Tier II
Blue Springs South – Disney’s High School Musical
Blue Valley North – Monthy Python’s Spamalot School Edition
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Liberty North – The Wizard of Oz
Olathe East – Sister Act
Olathe West – The Prom
Park Hill – Anything Goes
Pembroke Hill – Les Misérables
Outstanding Orchestra, Tier I
Fort Osage – Hello, Dolly!
Free State – Bright Star
Lee’s Summit West – Mean Girls: High School Version
Olathe North – The SpongeBob Musical
Park Hill South – Into the Woods
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Shawnee Mission Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Shawnee Mission West – You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Outstanding Orchestra, Tier II
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version
De Soto – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Lee’s Summit – The Pajama Game
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Olathe East – Sister Act
Park Hill – Anything Goes
St. James Academy – All Shook Up
Staley – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Outstanding Performer in a Featured Role, Tier I
Bishop Miege – All Shook Up – Cate Coble as Trio Singer
Free State – Bright Star – Joy Malin as Spirit Trio/Ola Conklin/Mayor’s Staff #2
Harrisonville – Legally Blonde The Musical – Mya Russell as Enid Hoops
Lee’s Summit West – Mean Girls: High School Version – Robert Dameron as Kevin G
Olathe North – The SpongeBob Musical – Jeffrey Bussanmas as Foley Artist
Olathe South – Urinetown – Rachel Sullivan as Little Becky Two-Shoes/Mrs. Millennium/Cop
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Charlotte Sweet as Flotsam
Shawnee Mission Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition) – Lily Reiff as Grandma
Outstanding Performer in a Featured Role, Tier II
Blue Springs – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version) – Hailee Schick as Charlotte
Blue Springs South – Disney’s High School Musical – Sydney Dilks as Kelsi Nielsen
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version – Ivan Brewer as Kevin G
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition) – Londynn Witherspoon as Ancestor
Olathe Northwest – Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical – Leah Pal as Lavender/Ensemble
Rockhurst – The Drowsy Chaperone – Cate Coble as Trix
St. James Academy – All Shook Up – Sydney Conrad as Lorraine
Staley – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Olivia Canovi as Les Fille De La Ville/Silly Girl/Ensemble
Outstanding Performer in a Lead Role, Tier I
Bishop Miege – All Shook Up – Peter Dessert as Chad
Blue Valley Southwest – Mean Girls: High School Version – Mia Cabrera-Davila as Cady Heron
Excelsior Springs – Seussical – Mac Morris as Horton the Elephant
Fort Osage – Hello, Dolly! – Molly Friel as Dolly Levi
Lee’s Summit West – Mean Girls: High School Version – Cate Marshall as Regina George
Park Hill South – Into the Woods – Artemis Kusters as The Witch
Park Hill South – Into the Woods – Rozella Ranes as Baker’s Wife
Shawnee Mission East – Once Upon a Mattress – Layla Ledford as Princess Winnifred
Outstanding Performer in a Lead Role, Tier II
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version – Lilly Carter as Cady Heron
De Soto – The Addams Family (School Edition) – Brodie Breckenridge as Gomez Addams
Heritage Christian Academy – Disney’s High School Musical – Randall Marcum as Troy Bolton
Lee’s Summit – The Pajama Game – Mara Bannister as Babe
Lee’s Summit North – Zombie Prom – Daniela Segura Conde as Toffee
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition) – Allyson Johnston as Morticia Addams
Olathe East – Sister Act – Sydney Carter as Deloris Van Cartier
Summit Christian Academy – Brigadoon – Hannah Wyssmann as Fiona MacLaren
Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role, Tier I
Blue Valley Southwest – Mean Girls: High School Version – Addi Dearth as Janis Sarkisian
Blue Valley Southwest – Mean Girls: High School Version – Cameron Hargrove as Damian Hubbard
Lee’s Summit West – Mean Girls: High School Version – Ben Bruner as Damian Hubbard
Olathe South – Urinetown – Julianna Bowles as Little Sally
Park Hill South – Into the Woods – Megan Sheehan as Jack
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Finley Pennington as Prince Eric
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Sofia Ramos as Ursula
Shawnee Mission West – You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown – Faryn Clevenger as Sally Brown
Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role, Tier II
Blue Springs – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version) – Xavier Dull as Sebastian
Blue Valley North – Monthy Python’s Spamalot School Edition – Isabelle VanSyckle, Lady of the Lake
Blue Valley Northwest – The Addams Family (School Edition) – Vaughn Hoffman as Uncle Fester
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version – Mac Carlson as Damian Hubbard
Liberty North – The Wizard of Oz – Caden Barner as Hunk/Scarecrow
Olathe East – Sister Act – Caroline Kelley as Sister Mary Robert
Pembroke Hill – Les Misérables – Finn Kuykendall as Marius
Smithville – Something Rotten! – Sylis Newman as William Shakespeare
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier I
Excelsior Springs – Seussical
Free State – Bright Star
Grain Valley – Into the Woods
Harrisonville – Legally Blonde The Musical
Oak Grove – Disney’s Freaky Friday
Olathe South – Urinetown
Park Hill South – Into the Woods
Ruskin – 9 to 5 The Musical
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier II
Blue Springs – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)
Blue Springs South – Disney’s High School Musical
Liberty North – The Wizard of Oz
Olathe East – Sister Act
Olathe West – The Prom
Park Hill – Anything Goes
Smithville – Something Rotten!
Winnetonka – The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Technical Crew, Tier I
Belton – Anything Goes – Costume Crew
Fort Osage – Hello, Dolly! – Costume Crew
Park Hill South – Into the Woods – Costume Crew
Park Hill South – Into the Woods – Lighting Crew
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Hair & Makeup Crew
Platte County – Disney’s The Little Mermaid– Set Crew
Raytown – Six the Musical: Teen Edition – Lighting Crew
Ruskin – 9 to 5 The Musical – Set Crew
Outstanding Technical Crew, Tier II
Blue Springs South – Disney’s High School Musical – Lighting Crew
Blue Valley – Disney’s Newsies – Set Crew
Blue Valley North – Monthy Python’s Spamalot School Edition – Lighting Crew
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version – Set Crew
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version – Lighting Crew
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition) – Hair & Makeup Crew
Olathe East – Sister Act – Set Crew
Olathe West – The Prom – Sound Crew
Sophomore Rising Star Scholarship
Blue Springs South – Sydney Dilks
Central – Lilly Carter
Free State – Ebi Hegeman
Lee’s Summit North – Alex Gaughran
Olathe West – Adeline Davis
Olathe West – Ashlyn Warren
Olathe South – Tristan Jenkins
Raymore-Peculiar – Eli Showen
Junior Rising Star Scholarship
Liberty – Makenna Dohrmann
Olathe East – Lizzie Hoedl
Olathe West – Roux Harper
Park Hill – Jalen Mack
Park Hill South – Emma Andrews
Pembroke Hill – Ray Lepentis
Platte County – Kaitlyn Seim
The Barstow School – Lauren Rothhaas
Senior Rising Star Scholarship
Blue Valley Southwest – Mia Cabrera-Davila
Blue Valley Southwest – Emma Smith
Grain Valley – Elizabeth Molina
Liberty North – Gracie Schwalm
Oak Park – Jenna Holland
Olathe West – Leo Steger
Summit Christian Academy – Hannah Wyssmann
Winnetonka – Charlie Vitale
Technical Contribution Award
Blue Springs – Jordan Blackburn for Stage Management & Scenic Design
Liberty – Samantha Taylor for Hair & Makeup
Olathe East – Rylee Carney for Scenic Design & Painting
Olathe North – Darby Kelley, Max Purcell, & Brittney Wright for Stage Management
Olathe South – Michael Rathman for Sound Design & Audio Engineering
Olathe West – Isys Haynes for Stage Management
Park Hill – Alessandra Rossi & Jalen Mack for Costumes
Park Hill South – Claire Richardson for Technical Direction & Lighting
Jimmy Awards
Bishop Miege – All Shook Up – Peter Dessert as Chad
Blue Valley Southwest – Mean Girls (High School Version) – Mia Cabrera-Davila as Cady Heron
Olathe East – Sister Act – Caroline Kelley as Sister Mary Robert
Olathe South – Urinetown – Tristan Jenkins as Caldwell B. Cladwell
Park Hill South – Into the Woods – Megan Sheehan as Jack
Rockhurst – The Drowsy Chaperone – Riley Moore as The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Overall Production, Tier I
Blue Valley Southwest – Mean Girls: High School Version
Park Hill South – Into the Woods
Raytown – Six the Musical: Teen Edition
Shawnee Mission West – You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Outstanding Overall Production, Tier II
Central – Mean Girls: High School Version
Liberty – The Addams Family (School Edition)
Olathe East – Sister Act
Olathe West – The Prom