Theatre Under the Stars
Tommy Tune Awards
ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OFTHE 2023 TOMMY TUNE AWARDS!
Outstanding Musical:
Tier 1: G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Tier 2: Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Jimmy Awards® Nominee Winner:
Nic Rhew, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Jimmy Awards® Nominee Winner:
Makenzie Woolridge, Cypress Ranch High School, Into The Woods
Jimmy Awards® Nominee Runner Up:
Taylor McMullen, The Kinkaid School, The Hello Girls
Jimmy Awards® Nominee Runner Up:
Jackson Nichols, Bridgeland High School, Damn Yankees
North Star Award:
Kira Sledge, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Congeniality Award:
Jackson Nichols, Bridgeland High School, Damn Yankees
Spirit Award:
Julius Bob, Clear Creek High School, Big Fish
Outstanding Ensemble:
Tier 1: Klein Cain High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Tier 2: Kingwood High School, Les Misérables and Clear Springs High School, Oliver!
Outstanding Technical Achievement:
Tier 1: C.E. King High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Technical Achievement:
Tier 2: Houston Christian High School, Guys and Dolls
Outstanding Orchestra:
Tier 1: Klein Forest High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Tier 2: Cypress Ranch High School, Into the Woods and Klein High School, Matilda
Outstanding Director:
Tier 1: Roshunda Jones-Koumba, G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Tier 2: Bobby Linhart and Allen Currier, Houston Christian High School, Guys and Dolls
Outstanding Music Direction:
Tier 1: Pamela Dickson, G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Tier 2: Gyasi Blanton and Marcie Baker, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Choreography:
Tier 1: Drew Doyle, Madison Herbert and Gracie Morgan, Dulles High School, All Shook Up
Tier 2: Bobby Linhart, Melissa Tyler and Anoushka Patel, Houston Christian High School, Guys and Dolls
Outstanding Lighting Design:
Tier 1: Chris Pruett, Caden Leonard and Mary Kennedy, Klein Cain High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Tier 2: Sophia Rowles, Seven Lakes High School, Cinderella
Outstanding Scenic Design:
Tier 1: Chris Pruett, Gavin Newton and Lilly Zapata, Klein Cain High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Tier 2: David Clayton and Garrett Sugg, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Costume Design:
Tier 1: Bailey Day and Cora Frasier, G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Tier 2: Sammer Ali and Emma Whitton, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Sound Design:
Tier 2: Alex Borg, Henry Cohen and Josh Humel, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Stage Management:
Tier 1: Emani Caston and Niya Kelly, G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Tier 2: Kate Diers, Stratford High School, Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Supporting Lead:
Landon Rouse, Cypress Ranch High School, Into the Woods
Michael Karash, Kinder HSPVA, Mamma Mia!
Lucius Watt, Kingwood High School, Les Misérables
Outstanding Singer:
Mallory Migi, Friendswood High School, The Music Man
Cortlandt Barrett, Kinder HSPVA, Mamma Mia!
Outstanding Actor:
Faith Jackson, Bridgeland High School, Damn Yankees
Ryan Randolph, G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Ephraim Iwama, Concordia Lutheran High School, Tarzan
Charley Schwinger, Second Baptist School, Guys and Dolls
Demi Briggs, Second Baptist School, Guys and Dolls
Alee Blanter, St. Agnes Academy, Bright Star
Greyson Guzman, Klein High School, Matilda
Outstanding Dancer:
Drew Doyle, Dulles High School, All Shook Up
Faith Bumper, G.W. Carver High School, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Anoushka Patel, Houston Christian High School, Guys and Dolls
Outstanding Honorable Mention:
Camila Horberg-Perez, Cypress Ranch High School, Into the Woods
BROADWAY STAR MICHAEL JAMES SCOTT TO HOST THE 2023 TOMMY TUNE AWARDS!
Broadway star Michael James Scott is going to be making some very special wishes come true when he hosts the 2023 Tommy Tune Awards at Theatre Under The Stars on May 4, 2023. Tickets to the Tommy Tune Awards will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, April 18 at 4 p.m.
ANNOUNCING THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2023 TOMMY TUNE AWARDS!
Congratulations to all the finalists! We are so excited to have the Tommy Tune Awards back live, in-person on May 4 at 7 p.m.
Outstanding Musical Finalists:
G.W. Carver High School — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Clear Creek High School — Big Fish
Clear Springs High School — Oliver!
Houston Christian High School — Guys and Dolls
Kingwood High School — Les Misérables
Seven Lakes High School — Cinderella
Stratford High School — Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Ensemble Finalists:
Dickinson High School — The Drowsy Chaperone
G.W. Carver High School — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Klein Cain High School — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Bridgeland High School — Damn Yankees
Clear Springs High School — Oliver!
Friendswood High School — The Music Man
Houston Christian High School — Guys and Dolls
Kinder HSPVA — The Wiz
Kingwood High School — Les Misérables
Stratford High School — Young Frankenstein
Outstanding Technical Achievement Finalists
C.E. King High School — Little Shop of Horrors
Klein Cain High School — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Clear Springs High School — Oliver!
Houston Christian High School — Guys and Dolls
Stratford High School — Young Frankenstein
Kinder HSPVA — The Wiz
Outstanding Orchestra Finalists:
Klein Forest High School — Little Shop of Horrors
Northland Christian School — The Addams Family
Cypress Ranch High School — Into the Woods
Kinder HSPVA — The Wiz
Klein High School — Matilda
Outstanding Director Finalists:
Laurel Powell — The Drowsy Chaperone — Dickinson High School
Nichole Duga — All Shook Up — Dulles High School
Roshunda Jones-Koumba — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Bobby Linhart and Allen Currier — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Camee Faulk — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Julia Carrington, Avery Meyer and Charlotte Zoeller-McCarthy — Cinderella — Seven Lakes High School
Mark Stonebarger — Oliver! — Clear Springs High School
Tracy McGarity — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Allan Currier — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Outstanding Music Director Finalists:
Pamela Dickson — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Paul Jurick — The Addams Family — Northland Christian High School
Adam Bishea, Cynthia Douglas and Stefanie Stephens — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Brian Brown, Elizabeth Shurtz and Brian Minson — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Gyasi Blanton and Marcie Baker — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Jason Watt — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Marcus J. Jauregui — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Outstanding Choreographer Finalists:
Reese McGrenera, Patrick Cashion, Emily Wendt — Big Fish — Ridge Point High School
Drew Doyle, Madison Hebert and Gracie Morgan — All Shook Up — Dulles High School
Denzel Taylor and Cameron Lettries — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Courtney D. Jones — The Wiz/Mamma Mia! — Kinder HSPVA
Melissa Tyler, Bobby Linhart and Anoushka Patel — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Macey Vasquez — Matilda — Klein High School
Outstanding Stage Management Finalists:
Caidence Foster, Danae Dever, Ashley Sherk and Haedyn Lynch — Disney’s Beauty and the Beast — Dickinson High School
Bella Andrepont — Big Fish — Clear Creek High School
Emani Caston and Niya Kelly — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Charlotte Russell, Beatriz Serna and Spencer Elliot — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Kate Diers — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Tess Reed — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Outstanding Lighting Design Finalists:
Caden Leonard, Mary Kennedy, and Chris Pruett — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Klein Cain High School
Josephine Gonzalez Clawson — Little Shop of Horrors — C.E. King High School
Tyler McCoy — All Shook Up — Dulles High School
Erin Yarbrough — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Layla Harris — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Sophia Rowles — Cinderella — Seven Lakes High School
Stephen Cupitt — Oliver! — Clear Springs High School
Outstanding Scenic Design Finalists:
Gavin Newton, Lilly Zapata and Chris Pruett — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Klein Cain High School
Hugo Palacios and Kelyn Amaya — Little Shop of Horrors — C.E. King High School
Julie Megason and Dave Clark — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Brittany Baugh, Karli Parkins and Nathan Tumbleso — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Garrett Sugg and David Clayton — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Houston Christian Scenic Department: Bobby Linhart, Brian Brown, Kyle Helberg, Davis Miller, Taylor Lankford and William Malin — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Outstanding Costume Design Finalists:
Bailey Day and Cora Frazier — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Valeria Gordillo, Ava Blackhurst and Yizel Estrada — How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying — Klein Cain High School
Cypress Ranch Costuming Department: Tracy McGarity, Breanna Bush, Parker Edwards, Tallulah Maloy, Sehr Armani Pandit and Aditi Sudharsen — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Joscelyne Oktabetz and Bella Burkhardt — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Layla Crear — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Samer Ali and Emma Whitton — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Outstanding Sound Design Finalists:
Aiden Hemphill — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Alex Borg, Henry Cohen and Josh Hummel — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Lexie Carty — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Outstanding Lead Finalists:
Alee Blatner as “Alice Murphy” — Bright Star — St. Agnes Academy
Alek Moya as “Nicely Nicely Johnson” — Guys and Dolls— Second Baptist School
Alexandra Cordova as “Audrey” — Little Shop of Horrors — C.E. King High School
Alexandra King as “Grace Banker” — The Hello Girls — The Kinkaid School
Alyssa Dorsey as “Diva Donna/Mama” — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Anna Kovacik as “Eponine” — Les Miserables – Kingwood High School
Asher Rigo as “Igor” — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Bob Beathard as “Topher” — Cinderella — Seven Lakes High School
Brianna Delaney as “The Drowsy Chaperone” — The Drowsy Chaperone — Dickinson High School
CJ Friend as “The Baker’s Wife” — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Cooper George as “J. Pierrepont Finch” — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Klein Cain High School
Ennis Watt as “Jean Valjean” — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Evin Davis as “Effie White” — Dreamgirls — Hightower High School
Gracen Barrett as “The Witch” — Into the Woods — William B. Travis High School
Jackson Nichols as “Applegate” — Damn Yankees — Bridgeland High School
Jamie Hollins as “Tin Man” — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Julius Bob as “Edward Bloom” — Big Fish — Clear Creek High School
Kira Sledge as “Frau Blucher” — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Lauren Jean Townsend as “Miss Adelaide” — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Leyla Ruiz as “Nancy” — Oliver! — Clear Springs High School
Madalina Velasquez as “Little Red Riding Hood” — Into The Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Mackenzie Woolridge as “The Witch” — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Morgan Childs as “Disco Donna” — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Myranda Sanchez as “Sophie Sheridan” — Mamma Mia! — Kinder HSPVA
Nic Rhew as “Frederick Frankenstein” — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Olivia Shoemaker as “Sarah Brown” — Guys and Dolls — Second Baptist
Taylor McMullen as “Bertha Hunt” — The Hello Girls — The Kinkaid School
Tyler Warnie as “Ariel” — Disney’s The Little Mermaid — Klein Oak High School
Outstanding Supporting Lead Finalists:
Alexander Lagos as “J.B. Biggley” — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Klein Cain High School
Bailey Boles as “Sister Mary Robert” — Sister Act — Klein Collins High School
Carter Hall as “Marcellus Washburn” — The Music Man — Friendswood High School
Eric Jackson II as “James Thunder Early” — Dreamgirls — Hightower High School
Gabi McGregor as “Mrs. Paroo” — The Music Man — Friendswood High School
Gelila Habte as “Mama Euralie” — Once On This Island — Shadow Creek High School
Haley Prince as “Addaperle” — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Hudson Perroni as “The Monster” — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Jerome Johnson as “Marty Madison” — Dreamgirls — Hightower High School
Kennedy Thompson as “Pinocchio” — Shrek The Musical — Clear Falls High School
Landon Rouse as “Narrator/Mysterious Man” — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Lucius Watt as “Enjorlas” — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Michael Flores as “Cogsworth” — Disney’s Beauty and the Beast — Dickinson High School
Michael Karash as “Harry Bright” — Mamma Mia! — Kinder HSPVA
Nathan Flato as “Joey Biltmore” — Guys and Dolls — Second Baptist
Nic Pizzuti as “Amos Calloway” — Big Fish — Ridge Point High School
Nic Schweers as “Benny Southstreet” — Guys and Dolls — Second Baptist
Rodrigo Gutierrez as “Coach Van Burren” — Damn Yankees — Bridgeland High School
Sydney Raney as “Madam Thenardier” — Les Misérables: School Edition — Kingwood High School
Ugo Obudulu as “Ton Ton Julian” — Once On This Island — Shadow Creek High School
Outstanding Singer Finalists:
Anna Rigo as “Inga” — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Cortlandt Barrett as “Donna Sheridan” — Mamma Mia! — Kinder HSPVA
Jake Ulanday as “Joe Hardy” — Damn Yankees — Bridgeland High School
Jayla Cork as “Natalie Haller/Ed” — All Shook Up — Dulles High School
Kendale Walker as “Bird Woman” — Mary Poppins — Cypress Woods High School
Kendall Gillpatrick as “Rapunzel” — Into the Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Mallory Migi as “Marian Paroo” — The Music Man — Friendswood High School
Mya Wiggins as “Rosemary Pilkington” — How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Klein Cain High School
Outstanding Actor Finalists:
Alee Blatner as “Older Alice” — Bright Star — St. Agnes Academy
Charley Schwinger as “Sky Masterson” — Guys and Dolls — Second Baptist
Dami Briggs as “Calvin” — Guys and Dolls — Second Baptist
Ephraim Iwama as “Tarzan” — Tarzan — Concordia Lutheran High School
Faith Jackson as “Sister” — Damn Yankees — Bridgeland High School
Greyson Guzman as “Miss Trunchbull” — Matilda — Klein High School
Ryan Randolph as “Duckling Donna/Mimi” — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Outstanding Dancer Finalists:
Anoushka Patel as “Featured Havana Dancer” — Guys and Dolls — Houston Christian High School
Drew Doyle as “Chad” — All Shook Up — Dulles High School
Faith Bumper as “Ensemble” — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Gabby Frugoni as “Alice” — Bright Star — St. Agnes Academy
Giovanni Gonzalez-Cisneros as “Giorgio” — Summer: The Donna Summer Musical — G.W. Carver High School
Jai Foster as “Zaneeta Shinn” — The Music Man — Friendswood High School
Jackson Luikens as “Ensemble” — Sister Act — Klein Collins
Jon’Eric Wright as “Ensemble” — The Wiz — Kinder HSPVA
Karaline Focke as “Rat Captain” — Shrek The Musical — Clear Falls High School
Katelyn Hurst as “Sabor The Leopard/Ape/Jungle Chorus” — Tarzan — Concordia Lutheran High School
Kaylie Dyer as “Dream Laurie” — Oklahoma! — Spring Woods High School
Lindsey Walding as “Lola” — Damn Yankees — Bridgeland High School
Outstanding Honorable Mention Finalists:
Callan Reimann as “Inspector Kemp” — Young Frankenstein — Stratford High School
Camila Horberg-Perez as “Jack’s Mother” — Into The Woods — Cypress Ranch High School
Jordon Harrold as “Mr. Twimble” — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Klein Cain High School
Ricky Ragazzo as “Max/Ensemble” — Bright Star — St. Agnes Academy
Sebastian Tate as “Pugsley” — The Addams Family — Northland Christian School
2023-2024 Student Reporter*:
Natalia Vazquez – Klein Oak High School
MISSION
Theatre Under The Stars, Houston’s non-profit home for musical theatre, is dedicated to enriching lives through innovative musical theatre, inclusive educational curriculums and dynamic community engagement.
VALUES
- WE ARE ENGAGING
- WE ARE INCLUSIVE
- WE ARE COLLABORATIVE
- WE ARE RESILIENT
- WE ARE TRANSPARENT
- WE ARE INSPIRED
TOMMY TUNE AWARDS
The Tommy Tune Awards (TTA) Program celebrates the educational value, artistry and community of high school musical theatre in the Greater Houston Area.
Education: No matter the role in the creative process, experiences in the arts cultivate confidence, spark creative thinking, and inspire life-long learning.
Artistry: The arts are a safe haven for exploration, reflection, and innovation. TTA is as an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments as individuals, collaborators and members of the greater Houston community.
Community: We believe in the power of learning, collaborating, and growing together. As we celebrate shared experiences of this transformative artform, we as an artistic and educational community enhance the future of our students, our art, and our city.
Houston area high schools produce a full-length musical to compete in over 15 TTA categories. Each school is adjudicated by a team of volunteer, professional Houston-based music/theatre artists. This process runs October to March with top scorers receiving nominations and a finalist announcement on April 7, 2023. After a rehearsal period involving TTA finalists, along with a student representatives from each participating school, an awards show will be presented to the community in celebration of the participant’s artistic accomplishments.
- Monday, October 3, 2022: Tommy Tune Award Adjudication Starts
- Wednesday, February 22, 2023: Tommy Tune Awards School Director’s Meeting #2
- Sunday, April 3, 2023: Tommy Tune Award Adjudication Closes
- Friday, April 7, 2023: Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced
- Friday, April 14, 2023: Tommy Tune Award Information Due
- Monday, April 24, 2023: Tommy Tune Rehearsals (5-9 p.m.)
- Tuesday, April 25, 2023: Tommy Tune Rehearsals (5-9 p.m.)
- Wednesday, April 26, 2023: Tommy Tune Rehearsals (5-9 p.m.)
- Thursday, April 27, 2023: Tommy Tune Rehearsals (5-9 p.m.)
- Friday, April 28, 2023: Tommy Tune Rehearsals (5-9 p.m.)
- Saturday, April 29, 2023: Tommy Tune Rehearsals (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Tuesday, May 2, 2023: Tommy Tune Tech #1
- Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Tommy Tune Tech #2
- Thursday, May 4, 2023: Tommy Tune Ceremony
TTA MASTERCLASS SERIES
Throughout the year, masterclass opportunities with Theatre Under The Stars mainstage productions will be offered for students participating in Tommy Tune Awards. These masterclasses will vary in genre depending on show and artist availability. Participating students will be selected at the discretion of each school’s directors.
- Friday, September 30th, 2022: TTA Masterclass Series #1 (5-6 p.m.)
- Friday, November 4th, 2022: TTA Masterclass Series #2 (5-6 p.m.)
- Friday, February 10th, 2023: TTA Masterclass Series #3 (5-6 p.m.)
- Friday, April 14th, 2023: TTA Masterclass Series #4 (5-6 p.m.)
More masterclasses may become available throughout the year.
Theatre Under The Stars acts as the administrative body of the Tommy Tune Awards, coordinating school and adjudicating schedules, facilitating the scholarship award process, and producing the awards show.