LMC celebrates excellence in high school musical theatre at annual WAVE Awards

Summer 2024

June 20, 2024

Concord High School's "Fiddler on the Roof" and Penn High School's "The Music Man" were the big winners, each taking home three awards, on May 22, during the third annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre held at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre.

Presented by LMC's Visual & Performing Arts Department and loosely designed after Broadway's Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognize high school theater students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana. Seven adjudicators evaluated 10 high schools and about 630 students who participated in high school musical productions in the 2023-2024 academic year. Individuals and productions from participating schools were nominated in 13 acting and technical categories.

“Each year, this event keeps getting bigger, and the stakes for the talent keep getting higher," said Kristopher Zook, LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences and founder of the WAVE Awards. "The LMC Visual & Performing Arts team is thrilled to be able to support our arts community and help to foster the next generation of performers and creative thinkers."

"Fiddler on the Roof" was crowned Outstanding Musical Production, adding Outstanding Orchestra in a Musical for Nicole Knouse and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for Ed Hernandez's portrayal of Perchick.

"The Music Man" received awards for Outstanding Direction in a Musical for Danielle Black, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for Lucas Robertson's portrayal of Harold Hill, and Outstanding Choreography in a Musical for Jenn Wolfe.

Lakeshore and Edwardsburg each took home two awards. Lakeshore's "Newsies!" won Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for Vivian Rose. Edwardsburg's "Beauty and the Beast" won Outstanding Musical Direction in a Musical for Kyle Rehnlund and the other Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical award for Tianna Crook's portrayal of Belle.

St. Joseph's "Oklahoma," New Buffalo's "Willie Wonka," Bridgman's "Seussical Jr.," and Hartford's "Mamma Mia!" all took home one award in the nominated categories. New Buffalo also received the Esprit de Corps Award, which recognizes the spirit of support and unity a school demonstrates in its shows.

Wednesday's event began with red-carpet arrivals, followed by the awards ceremony, which featured several musical production numbers, including "Carrying the Banner" from Lakeshore's "Newsies!"; "Lost," from LMC's production of "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical"; "Notice Me Horton," from Bridgman's "Seussical, Jr."; and "Sabbath Prayer," from Concord's "Fiddler on the Roof."

Presenters included South Bend Civic Theatre Executive Director Aaron Nichols, LMC President Dr. Trevor A. Kubatzke, LMC Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Linwood B. Whitten, LMC Director of Music and Visual & Performing Arts Chair Dr. Robert Lunn, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Jessica Ishmael, Andrews University Director of Choral Studies Stephen Zork, Indiana University South Bend Director of Choirs and Grammy Award winner Juan Carlos Alarcon, Acorn Theater Artistic & Creative Director Nikki Gauthier; Acorn Theater Senior Production Manager Michael Bond; Co-Founder & Executive Director, DEI and Development of the Performing Arts Workshop August Garritano, and Twin City Players Board President Peggy Harrington.

Several awards were announced by pre-recorded videos from theater celebrities, including Jay Baeri, the Olympic lighting designer; Marcy DeGonge-Manfredi, from the original Broadway cast of "Cats;" two-time Tony Award-nominated actor Kevin Chamberlin; Broadway star Liana Hunt; and Abby Mueller from "Six the Musical."

All nominees received an LMC Red Hawk Scholarship for a three-credit course taken within the next four academic years and written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. The lead actor recipients received $1,000 WAVE Award Scholarships to participate in LMC Visual & Performing Arts coursework.[ZK1] During the awards ceremony, this scholarship was renamed posthumously as the Sierra Loughrin Scholarship after its first recipient, who attended both Paw Paw High School and Lake Michigan College.

Here is the complete list of the 2023-2024 WAVE Award winners and nominees:

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Scott Preheim
Dowagiac High School; “Oliver!”; Lincoln Clark
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast”; Dylan Cour & Kyle Rehnlund
Lakeshore High School; “Newsies!”; Paul Milligan
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Marcus Roll & Ed Brunner – WINNER

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

Bridgman High School; “Seussical, Jr.”; Marty Golob
Dowagiac High School; “Oliver!”; Lincoln Clark & Nick Saltzman
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast”; Dylan Cour
Hartford High School; “Mamma Mia!”; Hailey Cunningham – WINNER
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Kristofer M. Perkins

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

Bridgman High School; “Seussical, Jr.”; Marsha Pinkowski
Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Stephanie Vaughan
New Buffalo High School; “Willie Wonka”; Deb Rancatore – WINNER
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Claudia Lee
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Kathryn Hein

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical

Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Colleen Molnar
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast”; Catherine Wood
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Jenn Wolfe – WINNER
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Cassidy Vlietstra
Lakeshore High School; “Newsies!”; Theresa Graziano

Outstanding Orchestra (Band) in a Musical

Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Nicole Knouse – WINNER
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast; Jennifer Gladkowski
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Zac Coudret
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Burke Lokey
Lakeshore High School; “Newsies!”; Matthew Pagel

Outstanding Musical Direction in a Musical

Bridgman High School; “Seussical, Jr.”; Caitlyn Lustila & Jennifer Ammerman
Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; James Bennett
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast”; Kyle Rehnlund – WINNER
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Andrew Nemeth
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Beth Gray-Roll

Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical

Bridgman High School; “Seussical, Jr.”; Mayzie La Bird & Her Bird Girls – WINNER
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast;” Cronies
New Buffalo High School; “Willie Wonka”; Mrs. Bucket & the Grandparents
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Barbershop Quartet
Lakeshore High School; “Newsies!” Newsies of New York – WINNER

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Grandma Tzeitel/Beggar; Rowan Finnigan
Edwardsburg High School; “Beauty & the Beast”; Gargoyle; Lily Schinbeckler
Edwardsburg High School ; “Beauty & the Beast”; LeFou; Luke Kish
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Mr. D; Ben Plested
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Charon; Mayeli Diaz
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Hades; Bryn Carlsen
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Amaryllis; Cailyn Freeman
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Gertie Cummings; Lilly Dahlke
Lakeshore High School; “Newsies!”; Les; Vivian Rose – WINNER

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Bridgman High School; “Seussical, Jr.”; Sour Kangaroo; Audrey Bomar
Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Perchick; Ed Hernandez – WINNER
Concord High School; “Fiddler on the Roof”; Tzeitel; Paige Martin
Dowagiac High School; “Oliver!”; The Artful Dodger; Chris Mottweiller
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Grover; Carter Buck
Paw Paw High School; “The Lightning Thief”; Mr. Brunner/Chiron; Noah McCrossin – WINNER
Penn High School; “The Music Man”; Mayor Shinn; Justin Meacham
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Ali Hakim; Alex Kwon
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Will Parker; Braden Miesse
St. Joseph High School; “Oklahoma!”; Aido Annie; Rose Lawrence