Local high school musicals awarded at LMC’s WAVE Awards

Dwayne Whitmyer, director of the New Buffalo Performing Arts Center, received the “Outstanding Set Design in a Musical” award at the second annul WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre at the Mendel Center Mainstage on the Benton Harbor Campus Wednesday, May 24.

Nine local high Schools participated in the awards ceremony.

This year’s WAVE Awards had grown to include students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph County in Indiana. The participating schools were evaluated by 12 adjudicators, and about 550 students participated in the musicals that were reviewed.

“It is astonishing how the arts community has rallied around this idea. In just one year, we have almost tripled the number of participating schools and have seen tremendous growth in returning schools,” said Kristopher Zook, LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences and founder of the WAVE Awards. “It was a fantastic night to celebrate and honor high school musical theatre in our community. 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.”

All nominees received an LMC Red Hawk Scholarship good for a threecredit course taken within the next four academic years and written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. The lead actor recipients also received $1,000 WAVE Award Scholarships to participate in LMC Visual & Performing Arts coursework.

The Esprit de corps Award recognizes the spirit of support and unity that a school demonstrates in its shows.

“The Esprit de corps Award honors those who go above and beyond, working hard to bring theatre to their students and community. It is a reminder that rolling up our sleeves, giving our time and support, and lifting one another up are important parts of the arts and are needed in the world today,” said King.

“It is astonishing how the arts community has rallied around this idea. In just one year, we have almost tripled the number of participating schools and have seen tremendous growth in returning schools,” said Kristopher Zook, LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences and founder of the WAVE Awards.

“It was a fantastic night to celebrate and honor high school musical theatre in our community. 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.”

Loosely designed after Broadway’s famed Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognizes, encourages, and promotes high school theater. Individuals and productions from participating schools were nominated in 14 acting and technical categories. Two of those categories, Outstanding Featured “Special Cast Member” in a Musical and the Esprit de corps Award, were new for this year.

The Outstanding Featured “Special Cast Member” in a Musical recognizes students and advisors who create memorable characters for the shows using carpentry, puppetry and robotics.

The following is list of the other 2022-2023 WAVE Award winners: Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical - Dowagiac High School, “The SpongeBob Musical”, Lincoln Clark; Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical - Dowagiac High School, “The SpongeBob Musical”, Ravan Bakeman and Paige Behnke; Outstanding Choreography in a MusicalPaw Paw High School, “Footloose: The Musical”, Sophia Marie Louden; Outstanding Musical Direction in a Musical - Penn High School, “Cinderella”, Andrew Nemeth; Outstanding Orchestra (Band) in a Musical - Lakeshore High School, “Legally Blonde: The Musical”, Matthew Pagel; Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical - Bridgman High School, “Shrek, Jr.”, Fairytale characters; Outstanding Featured “Special” Cast Member - Dowagiac High School, The SpongeBob Musical”, Gary; Dowagiac Robotics Club operated by Olivia Stockwell; Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School, My Fair Lady”, Alfred P. Doolittle, Ethan Pflug; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (two awards were given in this category) - Dowagiac High School, “The SpongeBob Musical”, Squidward Q. Tentacles, Jessica Schrader and Penn High School - “Cinderella”, Gabrielle, Tess Kavadas; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (three awards were given in this category)Bridgman High School, “Shrek, Jr.”, Fiona, Summer Fast; Paw Paw High School - “Footloose: The Musical”, Ren McCormack, Max Crawford; St. Joseph High School, “Mamma Mia!”, Donna Sheridan, Abby Berry; Esprit de corps Award - Hartford High School, “Shrek: The Musical;” Outstanding Direction in a Musical - Paw Paw High School,” Footloose: The Musical” Kristofer M. Perkins and Outstanding Musical Production: Penn High School; “Cinderella.” —