Rounds of applause filled the air at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre as more than two hundred students from 37 Northeast Ohio high schools showcased their talents at the annual Dazzle Awards presented by Pat and John Chapman on Saturday, May 18. This regional program, which offers arts education opportunities throughout the school year, is affiliated with The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® presented by The Broadway League Foundation.
Ceremony highlights included showstopping opening and closing numbers directed by Broadway director/choreographer Connor Gallagher, performances from six schools nominated for Best Musical, medleys from the Best Actor and Actress nominees and the announcement of the coveted Dazzle Awards winners. Top honors were presented to outstanding musical theater productions and students in 13 categories.
The hard work and dedication didn’t end with the performances on stage as students who were selected as Technical Apprentices worked backstage to ensure a flawless show, while Musical Apprentices performed alongside professional musicians during the ceremony. All of the excitement was captured by the Dazzle Awards Student Reporters who worked the “PNC Red Carpet” before the show, as well as backstage at the Dazzle Awards social station. One of the student reporters, Ella Modarelli of Magnificat High School, is now a finalist in The Jimmy Awards Student Reporter Search. Visit @JimmyAwards on Facebook and Instagram to like, comment and share Ella’s video before May 31 to help her be chosen to cover The Jimmy Awards.
The 2024 Dazzle Awards recipients are:
Best Student Orchestra
Hudson High School, Into the Woods
Hudson also won this category in 2022 and 2023.
Best Technical Execution
Lutheran High School West, Curtains (School Edition)
Best Scenic Design
Hudson High School, Into the Woods
Best Costume Design
Avon Lake High School, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Best Choreography Execution
Magnificat High School, The Addams Family (School Edition)
Magnificat also won this category in 2017, 2022 and 2023.
Best Ensemble/Chorus
Magnificat High School, The Addams Family (School Edition)
Magnificat also won this category in 2017, 2022 and 2023.
Best Supporting Actor
TIE
Aidan Moll, University School (‘Douglas Panch’ in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
Charlie Pinter, Magnificat High School (‘Lurch’ in The Addams Family (School Edition))
Best Supporting Actress
Ananya Yadati, Hathaway Brown School (‘Glinda’ in The Wiz)
The Spirit of the Dazzle Awards
This award goes to the student who most embodies camaraderie, passion and an infectiously positive attitude throughout rehearsal week as identified by the Dazzle Awards creative team.
Rylee Horowitz, The Akron School for the Arts at Firestone CLC
Best Actor
Kyle McFalls, The Akron School for the Arts at Firestone CLC (‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ in The SpongeBob Musical)
Best Actress
Lindsey Ross, Hudson High School (‘Baker’s Wife’ in Into the Woods)
Best Musical (Tier 1 – Budget less than $13,000)
Lutheran High School West, Curtains (School Edition)
Best Musical (Tier 2 – Budget $13,000 or more)
Hudson High School, Into the Woods
The winners of the Best Musical categories, Lutheran High School West and Hudson High School, each received a $1000 award for use toward their next high school musical productions.
As recipients of the Best Actor and Actress Awards, Kyle McFalls (junior) and Lindsey Ross (senior) will represent Northeast Ohio at The Jimmy Awards on June 24. Playhouse Square presented Kyle and Lindsey each with checks for $1500. Travel to The Jimmy Awards is made possible by a gift from The Weisenberg Family Broadway National High School Musical Theatre Awards Fund.
Public and private high schools located in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties were invited to apply for participation in the Dazzle Awards. Information and applications for the 2025 Dazzle Awards will be available at playhousesquare.org/dazzleawards in late summer.