Paw Paw’s ‘Curtains’ the big winner at LMC’s WAVE Awards honoring Excellence in High School Musical Theatre
Paw Paw High School's production of "Curtains: Student Edition" was the big winner on Tuesday, May 17, as Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv's Visual & Performing Arts Department presented its inaugural WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre at the Mendel Center Mainstage on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave.Ìý
Paw Paw took home seven of the 14 awards, including Outstanding Musical Production and acting nods for lead actors Madison Vogel and Sierra Loughrin, supporting actor Abelardo Muñoz, and featured actor Jaxon Curry.Ìý
The remaining awards were spread across the nominees, which in addition to Paw Paw, included Bridgman's production of "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Dowagiac's "Ranked: The Musical," and St. Joseph's "The Sound of Music."Ìý
All nominees received an LMC Red Hawk Scholarship good for a three-credit course taken within the next four academic years and written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. The two lead actor recipients also received $1,000 WAVE Award Scholarships to participate in LMC Visual & Performing Arts coursework.Ìý
"It was a fantastic night to celebrate and honor high school musical theatre in our community," LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences Kristopher Zook said. "We want to foster the talent of these students and give them even more opportunities to learn and grow while building a sense of community in the arts that lasts well beyond high school."Ìý
Tuesday's event began with red carpet arrivals, followed by the awards ceremony, which included several musical production numbers. Children's Music Workshop performed "Rotten to the Core" from their recent production of "Disney's The Descendants." St. Joseph High School performed "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" from "The Sound of Music." Paw Paw performed "What Kind of Man?" from "Curtains." Dowagiac performed "Everything's Changing" from "Ranked." Bridgman performed "Happily Ever After" from "Once Upon a Mattress." And members of LMC's Visual & Performing Arts Department performed "Gimme, Gimme" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie."Ìý
Presenters included LMC President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke, LMC Theatre Instructor Pat King, LMC Wind Ensemble Director Danny Lopez, Children's Music Workshop Executive Director Adrienne Glisson, Krasl Art Center Executive Director Julia Gourley-Donohue, Citadel Dance & Music Center Instructor Paige Mulick, All God's Children Community Choir Co-Founder Larry Feldman, Twin City Players' John Taylor, WSJM Vice President of Business Development & Innovation Zack East, and Midwest Family Broadcasting Director of Marketing Development Pat Moody.Ìý
Laura Boyd, who is currently playing the role of Peggy Schuyler in the New York City production of "Hamilton," joined the event via video to help present the final award of the night for Outstanding Musical Production.Ìý
The WAVE Awards are set to become an annual event. To learn how schools can participate or for more information, visitÌýlakemichigancollege.edu/wave, email Mindy McCaffrey atÌýmmccaffrey@lakemichigancollege.edu, or call the Visual & Performing Arts office at 269-927-8876.ÌýÌýÌý
Here is the complete list of the 2021-2022 WAVE Award winners and nominees:ÌýÌý
Outstanding Set Design in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Carrie NollÌýÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical," Lincoln Clark & Tammy MammelÌýÌýÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Isabella Hameed & Kristofer M. Perkins-WINNERÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," Ed BrunnerÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Lighting Design in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Marty GolobÌýÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical," Lincoln ClarkÌýÌýÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Kristofer M. Perkins-WINNERÌýÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," Scott BradfordÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Costume Design in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Marsha Pinkowski-WINNERÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical," Ravan BakemanÌýÌýÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Claudia LeeÌýÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," Lindsay GaspariÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Choreography in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Caitlyn LustilaÌýÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical," Tammy Mammel-WINNERÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Sofia Marie LoudenÌýÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," Cassidy VanGilderÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Musical Direction in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Caitlyn LustilaÌýÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical," Hunter SchuurÌýÌýÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Maxwell WagnerÌýÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," Beth Gray-Roll-WINNERÌýÌý
Outstanding Orchestra in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Sydney HeasleyÌýÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," Burke Lokey -WINNERÌýÌý
Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition," Knights & Ladies in WaitingÌýÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical," The Bad KidsÌýÌýÌý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition," Cast of "Robbin' Hood"ÌýÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," The von Trapp Children-WINNERÌýÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music," The Nuns of Nonnberg AbbeyÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Jaxon Curry as Christopher Belling; Paw Paw High School-WINNERÌýÌý
- Amelia Gibbs as Bambi Bernet; Paw Paw High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Mya Dixson as Mother Abbess; St. Joseph High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Alex Hodges as Daryl Grady; Paw Paw High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Braden Miesse as Rolf Gruber; St. Joseph High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Carri Willer as Wizard; Bridgman High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (Two awards given in the category)ÌýÌý
- Alivia Abram as Sir Harry; Bridgman High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Abby Berry as Liesl von Trapp; St. Joseph High School-WINNERÌýÌýÌý
- Keelin McCafferty as Georgia Hendricks; Paw Paw High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Abelardo Muñoz as Aaron Fox; Paw Paw High School-WINNERÌýÌýÌý
- Kat Paloyan as Elsa Schraeder; St. Joseph High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Ryan Robison as Ryan; Dowagiac High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Two awards given in the category)ÌýÌý
- Summer Fast as Lady Larken; Bridgman High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Emalie Nelson as Princess Winnifred, the Woebegone; Bridgman High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Amelia Jones as Jordan; Dowagiac High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Andrew Brown as Lt. Frank Cioffi; Paw Paw High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
- Madison Vogel as Niki Harris; Paw Paw High School-WINNERÌý
- Sierra Loughrin as Carmen Berstein; Paw Paw High School-WINNERÌýÌýÌý
- Hannah Bogner as Maria Rainer von Trapp; St. Joseph High SchoolÌýÌýÌý
Outstanding Direction in a MusicalÌýÌýÌý
- Jennifer Ammerman, Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition"-WINNERÌý
- Tammy Mammel, Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical"Ìý
- Kristofer M. Perkins, Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: Student Edition"ÌýÌý
- Cassidy VanGilder, St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music"ÌýÌý
Outstanding Musical ProductionÌýÌýÌý
- Bridgman High School; "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition"ÌýÌý
- Dowagiac High School; "Ranked: The Musical"Ìý
- Paw Paw High School; "Curtains: School Edition"-WINNERÌý
- St. Joseph High School; "The Sound of Music"Ìý