
2025 Blue Star Nominations Announced
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 2024-25 Blue Star Awards season, 66 schools and nearly 5,300 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 23rd annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 15, 2025, 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, call the box office at (816) 363-7827. There will be limited concessions available for purchase.
Students were justifiably excited. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees!




2024-25 Blue Star Awards Nominees
Ceremony Ensemble
Bishop Miege – Isaac Frenzel
Blue Valley – Theshiona Fleming
Blue Valley – Clara Thompson
Blue Valley Southwest – Madeline Hendricks
Blue Valley Southwest – Kellen Serrano
Central – Macormick Carlson
Grain Valley – Ayannah Vaughn
Grain Valley – Dylan Rucinski
Lee’s Summit North – Taylor Bell
Lee’s Summit North – Rowan Sopher
Liberty – Maddy Hand
Liberty – Maddy Heits
Liberty North – Jillian Downing
Liberty North – Gillian Miller
Liberty North – Hunter Anderson-Jones
Liberty North – Caden Barner
Liberty North – Cole Herrig
Liberty North – Tony Monaco
Liberty North – Tommy Monaco
Liberty North – Zack DeWet
Mill Valley – Allyson Makalous
Olathe East – Lorien Colucci
Olathe East – Delainey Mock
Olathe East – Caroline Kelley
Olathe East – Avery Valentine
Olathe East – Avery Satterfield
Olathe East – Max Haney
Olathe Northwest – Maggie Sykes
Olathe West – Jameson Mangold
Olathe West – Addy Davis
Olathe West – Aaron Shirley
Olathe West – Gage Pfannenstiel
Park Hill – Chamberlain Webster
Park Hill – Rylee Bornheimer
Park Hill – Jalen Mack
Park Hill South – Rozella Ranes
Platte County – Kaitlyn Seim
Platte County – Charlotte Sweet
Platte County – Kendall Heckman
Platte County – Finley Pennington
Platte County – Aidan Lindsey
Rockhurst – Delilah Pellow
Rockhurst – George Nessinger
Rockhurst – Charlie Tietjen
Saint Thomas Aquinas – Hailey Selock
Saint Thomas Aquinas – Matthew Fortino
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Louisa Bartlett
Shawnee Mission South – Katie Hull
Shawnee Mission West – Amarie Brown
Shawnee Mission West – Sutton Claycamp
Smithville – Sylis Newman
St. Teresa’s Academy – Andie Bradley
St. Teresa’s Academy – Sola Owens
St. Teresa’s Academy – Sabine Federlein
Staley – Olivia Canovi
Community Impact Award
Liberty North
Olathe East
Olathe South
Olathe West
St. James Academy
Creative Contribution Award
Blue Valley – Clara Thompson for Choreography
Central – Macormick Carlson for Choreography
Mill Valley – Allyson Makalous for Choreography
Olathe East – Delainey Mock for Choreography
Olathe East – Sara Slade and Paige Schmidtberger for Music Direction
Olathe West – Lydia Treff for Choreography
Park Hill South – Rozella Ranes for Choreography
St. James Academy – Cristian Valldeperas for Direction
Technical Contribution Award
Liberty – Mary Brink for Hair and Makeup Design
Liberty – Iris Vallier for Sound Design
Olathe East – Rylee Carney for Scenic Design
Olathe North – Lauren Ware for Sound Design
Olathe West – Harper Adams for Sound Design
Park Hill South – Maya Villanueva for Technical Direction and Costume Lead
Raytown – Lucas McCarroll for Lighting Design
Rockhurst – Aldric Yang for Stage Management and Sound Design
Dream Production Award
Blue Springs South – Sydney Dilks for Costume Design
Blue Valley – Clara Thompson for Choreography
Liberty North – Tony Monaco for Hair and Makeup Design
Liberty North – Violet Sudholt for Choreography
Liberty North – Elizabeth Spangler for Costume Design
Olathe Northwest – Maggie Sykes for Choreography
Olathe West – Ashlyn Warren for Direction
St. James Academy – Will Book for Direction
Sophomore Rising Star Scholarship
Blue Valley North – Soren Petrikin
Liberty – Maddy Heits
Liberty – Lauryn Anspaugh
Liberty North – Kennisyn Nanninga
North Kansas City – Esther Taylor
Oak Park – Kennedie Holland
Olathe North – Kennedy Pence
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Louisa Bartlett
Junior Rising Star Scholarship
Central – Macormick Carlson
Central – Lilly Carter
Lawrence Free State – Piper Northrop
Olathe Northwest – Maggie Sykes
Olathe South – Tristan Jenkins
Olathe West – Addy Davis
Olathe West – Ashlyn Warren
Olathe West – Lily Smith
Senior Rising Star Scholarship
Blue Springs South – Audrey Legg
Blue Valley Southwest – Cameron Hargrove
Blue Valley Southwest – Sophie Ermgodts
Liberty – Iris Vallier
Park Hill – Jalen Mack
Raytown – Lucas McCarroll
Staley – Olivia Canovi
The Barstow School – Lauren Rothhaas
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Anastasia The Musical
Blue Springs – Into the Woods
Blue Springs South – Fiddler on the Roof
Blue Valley North – Chicago: Teen Edition
Excelsior Springs – Mamma Mia!
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Ruskin – Pippin
Spring Hill – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier II
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Central – Elf The Musical
Liberty North – Anastasia The Musical
Olathe East – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Olathe North – Hairspray
Park Hill – Sister Act
Park Hill South – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Winnetonka – 9 to 5 The Musical
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier I
Cameron – Disney’s Newsies
Excelsior Springs – Mamma Mia!
Harrisonville – Mamma Mia!
Kearney – Into the Woods
Piper – Sister Act
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Raytown – Little Shop of Horrors
Ruskin – Pippin
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier II
Belton – Disney’s Mary Poppins
Blue Valley Northwest – Mamma Mia!
Central – Elf The Musical
Liberty – Anything Goes
Liberty North – Anastasia The Musical
Oak Park – School of Rock
Park Hill – Sister Act
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Chicago: Teen Edition
Outstanding Hair & Makeup Design, Tier I
Bishop Miege – She Loves Me
Blue Springs South – Fiddler on the Roof
Fort Osage – The SpongeBob Musical
Leavenworth – The Addams Family Musical: School Edition
Piper – Sister Act
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Ruskin – Pippin
Truman – Little Women
Outstanding Hair & Makeup Design, Tier II
Belton – Disney’s Mary Poppins
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Central – Elf The Musical
North Kansas City – The Music Man
Olathe South – The Pirates of Penzance
Park Hill – Sister Act
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Chicago: Teen Edition
Shawnee Mission South – Six: Teen Edition
Outstanding Lighting Design, Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Anastasia The Musical
Blue Springs – Into the Woods
Blue Valley North – Chicago: Teen Edition
Excelsior Springs – Mamma Mia!
Piper – Sister Act
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Raytown – Little Shop of Horrors
Ruskin – Pippin
Outstanding Lighting Design, Tier II
Central – Elf The Musical
Lee’s Summit West – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Liberty – Anything Goes
Liberty North – Anastasia The Musical
Olathe East – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Olathe West – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Park Hill South – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Shawnee Mission East – Zombie Prom
Outstanding Orchestra, Tier I
Blue Springs – Into the Woods
Blue Valley North – Chicago: Teen Edition
Blue Valley West – Mean Girls: High School Version
Fort Osage – The SpongeBob Musical
Kearney – Into the Woods
Lawrence – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Smithville – Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Orchestra, Tier II
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Blue Valley Northwest – Mamma Mia!
North Kansas City – The Music Man
Olathe East – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Olathe South – The Pirates of Penzance
Park Hill South – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Raymore-Peculiar – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Shawnee Mission Northwest – Chicago: Teen Edition
Outstanding Technical Crew – Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Anastasia The Musical – Lighting Crew
Blue Valley North – Chicago: Teen Edition – Lighting Crew
Blue Valley West – Mean Girls: High School Version – Costume Crew
Excelsior Springs – Mamma Mia! – Lighting Crew
Excelsior Springs – Mamma Mia! – Set Crew
Harrisonville – Mamma Mia! – Costume Crew
Harrisonville – Mamma Mia! – Sound Crew
Piper – Sister Act – Lighting Crew
Outstanding Technical Crew – Tier II
Belton – Disney’s Mary Poppins – Costume Crew
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Sound Crew
Liberty – Anything Goes – Lighting Crew
Olathe Northwest – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Costume Crew
Olathe Northwest – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Hair & Makeup Crew
Olathe South – The Pirates of Penzance – Costume Crew
Park Hill South – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lighting Crew
Shawnee Mission South – Six: Teen Edition – Lighting Crew
Outstanding Ensemble – Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Anastasia The Musical
Blue Springs South – Fiddler on the Roof
Harrisonville – Mamma Mia!
Lee’s Summit – May We All
Piper – Sister Act
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Ruskin – Pippin
Smithville – Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Ensemble – Tier II
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Blue Valley Northwest – Mamma Mia!
Blue Valley Southwest – The Wedding Singer
Liberty – Anything Goes
North Kansas City – The Music Man
Olathe East – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Park Hill – Sister Act
Raymore-Peculiar – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Outstanding Performer in a Featured Role, Tier I
Bishop Miege – She Loves Me – Isaac Frenzel as Arpad Laszlo
Blue Springs South – Fiddler on the Roof – Kody Paris as Lead Russian
Blue Valley West – Mean Girls: High School Version – Katie Coughlin as Ms. Norbury
Blue Valley West – Mean Girls: High School Version – Noah Ledom as Glen C.
Mill Valley – Footloose – Izzy Simms as Ensemble
Ruskin – Pippin – Syerra Funderburke as Berthe
Saint Thomas Aquinas – Footloose – Harper Wright as Principal Clark/Featured Dancer
Summit Christian Academy – The Music Man – Abby Gleason as Zaneeta Shinn
Outstanding Performer in a Featured Role, Tier II
Central – Elf The Musical – Anthony Frump-Halloran as Charlie/Manager
De Soto – Disney’s Mary Poppins – Savannah Hendry as Miss Andrew
Lee’s Summit West – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Brody Smith as LeFou
Lee’s Summit West – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Lauren Knight as Madame de la Grande Bouche
Olathe West – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Santana Romero as Judah
Park Hill – Sister Act – Angela Villamayor as Sister Mary Lazarus
Park Hill – Sister Act – Claira Pearson as Sister Mary Patrick
Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Isis Raspberry as Beggar/Enchantress
Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role – Tier I
Blue Springs South – Fiddler on the Roof – Sydney Dilks as Hodel
Blue Valley North – Chicago: Teen Edition – Drew Squire as Amos Hart
Lawrence – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Giulia Ventello as Fate 1
Lawrence Free State – Footloose – Liv Brack as Rusty
Platte County – Mamma Mia! – Charlotte Sweet as Rosie Mulligan
Platte County – Mamma Mia! – Finley Pennington as Sam Carmichael
Smithville – Little Shop of Horrors – Dom Santulli as Mr. Mushnik
Truman – Little Women – Ivy Brillhart as Marmee
Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role – Tier II
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Sarah Tonkin as Persephone
Blue Valley Southwest – The Wedding Singer – Emily Chipak as Rosie
North Kansas City – The Music Man – Zion Edwin as Winthrop Paroo
Olathe East – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Devin Cunagin as Hermes
Olathe Northwest – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Max Elmore as Lumiere
Park Hill – Sister Act – Jalen Mack as Eddie Souther
Park Hill – Sister Act – Rylee Bornheimer as Mother Superior
Pembroke Hill – Something Rotten! – Gabe Calvert as Nostradamus
Outstanding Performer in a Lead Role, Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Anastasia The Musical – Colton Longstaff as Dmitry
Bishop Miege – She Loves Me – Tess Sollars as Amalia Balash
Blue Valley North – Chicago: Teen Edition – Cam Moore as Roxie Hart
Fort Osage – The SpongeBob Musical – Supha Yates as SpongeBob SquarePants
Lawrence – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Adelle Spiess as Eurydice
Platte County – Mamma Mia! – Kaitlyn Seim as Donna Sheridan
Ruskin – Pippin – Desmond Walker III as Pippin
Smithville – Little Shop of Horrors – Sylis Newman as Seymour
Outstanding Performer in a Lead Role, Tier II
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Jenna Hass as Eurydice
Blue Valley Southwest – The Wedding Singer – Cameron Hargrove as Robbie Hart
Central – Elf The Musical – Macormick Carlson as Buddy
Liberty North – Anastasia The Musical – Ava Powers as Anya/Anastasia
Liberty North – Anastasia The Musical – Caden Barner as Dmitry
Olathe East – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Caroline Kelley as Eurydice
Park Hill – Sister Act – Chamberlain Webster as Deloris Van Cartier
Park Hill South – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Megan Sheehan as Orpheus
Jimmy Awards
Blue Springs South – Fiddler on the Roof – Sydney Dilks as Hodel
Blue Valley Northwest – Mamma Mia! – Hadley Wilson as Donna Sheridan
Lee’s Summit North – Legally Blonde The Musical – Rowan Sopher as Paulette
Lee’s Summit West – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Keaton Bradford as Beast
Liberty North – Anastasia The Musical – Caden Barner as Dmitry
Olathe Northwest – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Jac Davies as Beast
Outstanding Overall Production, Tier I
Basehor-Linwood – Anastasia The Musical
Harrisonville – Mamma Mia!
Platte County – Mamma Mia!
Ruskin – Pippin
Outstanding Overall Production, Tier II
Blue Valley – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Central – Elf The Musical
Park Hill – Sister Act
Park Hill South – Hadestown: Teen Edition