The Spotlight Awards are dedicated to supporting the talents, educational endeavors, and friendships of high school theatre students in Tennessee to build a strong and inclusive theatre community.
Every year Tennessee high school theatre programs can apply to participate in the three-part program comprised of recognition, exclusive learning opportunities, and community building. Events and opportunities offered throughout the year are designed to help students and directors hone their skills and advance their understanding of the craft. Schools can participate in the Adjudication Level to have a panel of arts professionals attend each school’s musical and provide feedback on the performance. Schools receive awards that honor achievements in performance, technical and creative categories, at a professionally produced Awards Ceremony held in TPAC’s Jackson Hall.
TPAC’s membership in The Broadway League, allows the two Spotlight Award Outstanding Lead Performer winners to attend The Jimmy Awards®, a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance and elevating the importance of theatre arts education in schools.
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BATTLE GROUND ACADEMY All Shook Up School Edition April 17-19, 2026 |
BEECH HIGH SCHOOL Show TBD April 16-18, 2026 |
BLACKMAN HIGH SCHOOL Ragtime March 18-23, 2026 |
BRENTWOOD ACADEMY Mary Poppins April 16-19, 2026 |
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BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Hello, Dolly! February 26-March 1, 2026 |
CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL Alice by Heart February 26-March 1, 2026 |
COFFEE COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Urinetown March 6-15, 2026 |
COLUMBIA ACADEMY Little Shop of Horrors January 15-18, 2026 |
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CREEK WOOD HIGH SCHOOL Disney’s Descendants March 13-22, 2026 |
DICKSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Into the Woods April 10-12, 17-19, 2026 |
EZELL-HARDING CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL The Audition...The Musical November 14-15, 2025 |
FAIRVIEW HIGH SCHOOL Disney’s The Little Mermaid March 26-28, 2026 |
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FATHER RYAN HIGH SCHOOL Into the Woods April 9-11, 2026 |
FRANKLIN CLASSICAL SCHOOL Much Ado About Nothing November 20-22, 2025 |
FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella March 26-28, 2026 |
FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY Grease: School Edition November 13-15, 2025 |
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GALLATIN HIGH SCHOOL Sister Act March 26-28, 2026 |
GOODPASTURE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hadestown Teen Edition February 28-March 1, 2026 |
GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mary Poppins March 19-21, 2026 |
GREEN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL The Lightning Thief March 26-29, 2026 |
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GREEN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL The Importance of Being Earnest (STUDENT DIR Lily Berruto) November 6-9, 2025 |
HARPETH HIGH SCHOOL Freaky Friday (One Act) November 20-24, 2025 |
HENDERSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Little Shop of Horrors March 26-29, 2026 |
HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL Hello, Dolly! February 27-March 2, 2026 |
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HUME-FOGG ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOL Anything Goes November 6-8, 2025 |
INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL Chicago: Teen Edition February 26-March 1, 2026 |
JAMES LAWSON HIGH SCHOOL Little Women November 6-10, 2025 |
JOHN OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL Damn Yankees April 9-13, 2026 |
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LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL Shrek the Musical March 26-29, 2026 |
LIBERTY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL Sweeney Todd School Edition November 19-23, 2025 |
LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Newsies November 20-23, 2025 |
LIPSCOMB ACADEMY You Can’t Take It With You December 5-7, 2025 |
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LIPSCOMB ACADEMY Oklahoma! March 27-29, 2026 |
NOLENSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Into the Woods March 26-29, 2026 |
MT. JULIET HIGH SCHOOL Disney’s The Little Mermaid March 26-29, 2026 |
NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version) April 9-11, 2026 |
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NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying November 13-17, 2025 |
PAGE HIGH SCHOOL Amelie: Teen Edition April 2-11, 2026 |
RAVENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Sunday in the Park with George March 26-29, 2026 |
ROCKVALE HIGH SCHOOL Mary Poppins April 17-19, 2026 |
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SIEGEL HIGH SCHOOL Hadestown Teen Edition March 19-23, 2026 |
SMITH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Shrek the Musical March 6-15, 2026 |
SMYRNA HIGH SCHOOL Disney’s The Little Mermaid March 15-22, 2026 |
ST. CECILIA ACADEMY Hello, Dolly! November 7-9, 2025 |
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STATION CAMP HIGH SCHOOL The Lightning Thief April 10-12, 2026 |
STEWARTS CREEK HIGH SCHOOL The Hunchback of Notre Dame March 19-22, 2026 |
SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL Disney's Frozen March 26-29, 2026 Clue October 16-18, 2025 |
TULLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL Once Upon a Mattress April 16-19, 2026 |
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UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NASHVILLE Into the Woods November 20-23, 2025 |
UPPERMAN HIGH SCHOOL The Outsiders April 21-May 1, 2026 |
UPPERMAN HIGH SCHOOL Little Women November 18-22, 2025 |
WHITE HOUSE HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL Into the Woods April 10-12, 2026 |
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WHITE HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL Once Upon a Mattress March 27-29, 2026 |
WILSON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Big Fish School Edition March 26-29, 2026 |
WILSON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Radium Girls November 6-9, 2025 |
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ALGOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr. April 10-18, 2026 |
ELLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL The Addams Family: Young@Part April 10-12, 2026 |
FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. February 26 - March 1, 2026 |
HARPETH HALL The Wizard of Oz - Youth Edition January 30-31, 2026 |
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MILL CREEK MIDDLE Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas - The Musical Jr. December 4-13, 2025 |
OAKLAND MIDDLE Madagascar Jr. November 13-16, 2025 |
OLIVER MIDDLE Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr. November 13-15, 2025 |
OLIVER MIDDLE Mamma Mia! April 23-25, 2026 |
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ROCKVALE MIDDLE SCHOOL Frozen, Jr. December 5-7, 2025 |
School and Individual Students - Community Participation |
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Carpe Artista |
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Currey Ingram Academy |
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Donelson Christian Academy |
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Ensworth School |
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Fort Campbell High School |
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Oakland High School |
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Page Middle School |
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Perform Murfreesboro |
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Providence Christian Academy |
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Spring Hill High School |
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The Curve Homeschool |
The Spotlight Awards celebrates high school musical theatre by recognizing achievements in performance, technical excellence, and creativity through professional adjudication and teacher nominations. Culminating in a celebratory awards ceremony at TPAC, the program honors growth, artistry, and the transformative impact of arts education in an inclusive and supportive community setting.
All participants gain access to exclusive, year-round learning opportunities designed to enhance their skills and understanding of the craft. Through master classes, workshops with industry professionals, panel discussions, job shadowing, and professional development for teachers, students and directors are empowered to grow as artists and leaders in the performing arts.
The Spotlight Awards strengthens community by fostering artistic excellence, creativity, collaboration, and a growth mindset among participants. Through engaging community events that blend fun with learning, we bring together students, educators, and supporters to celebrate the arts and enrich the cultural landscape of Tennessee.
Special recognition to our Founding Sponsor, Lipscomb University’s College of Entertainment and the Arts.
Thank you to our sponsors Vanderbilt University, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Nissan North America – Official Education Partner.
Follow @SpotlightAwards on Instagram for program news, learning opportunities, and inspiring and creative posts.
