Best Actress and Best Actor finalists for the 2018 Spotlight Awards, featuring students from Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee high schools, include Tiyanna Gentry of Hillsboro High School (Davidson), Addison McFarlin of Lipscomb Academy (Davidson) and Hannah Sloas of Grace Christian Academy (Knox); as well as Sevon Askew of Central Magnet School (Rutherford), Michael Dunaway of Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Davidson) and Will Ryan of Brentwood High School (Williamson).

Kathleen O’Brien, President and CEO for Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and Mike Fernandez, Dean of Lipscomb’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts, announced the finalists today along with the nominees for 12 individual awards and 13 school awards to be awarded on May 12 at the fifth annual Nashville High School Musical Theater Awards, or Spotlight Awards. Founded in 2013 by Fernandez, the awards program is presented now in partnership with TPAC and is one of the nonprofit center’s arts education programs.

Based on the feedback from adjudicators comprised of Lipscomb faculty, TPAC staff and local theater professionals, the awards recognize artistic and technical talent in a variety of categories, including Best Direction and Best Show. The Tony Awards-style ceremony at TPAC’s Jackson Hall features performances from the Top 10 schools competing for Best Show and from the six Best Actress/Actor finalists.

Through TPAC’s connection to The Broadway League, the two students chosen as Best Actress and Best Actor will travel to New York in June to participate in The Jimmy Awards. Named in honor of legendary Broadway theater owner and producer, James M. Nederlander, the 10-day program celebrates the most talented high school actors from across the nation.

Tony-nominated Elizabeth A. Davis to lead workshops, host awards ceremony at TPAC’s Jackson Hall on May 12

Actress and musician Elizabeth A. Davis.

Tony Award nominee Elizabeth A. Davis, a veteran of stage and screen, will lead a day of performance workshops on May 12 at the Lipscomb campus and host the Spotlight Awards ceremony. An Innovative Theater Award and NYMF Award winner, Davis has originated 11 roles in plays and musicals and is known for her experience performing diverse roles in Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway shows and on television.

General admission tickets to the Spotlight Awards ceremony are on sale now at TPAC.org, by phone at 615-782-4040, and at the TPAC Box Office, 505 Deaderick St.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Best Actress Finalists
Tiyanna Gentry – Hillsboro High School
Addison McFarlin – Lipscomb Academy
Hannah Sloas – Grace Christian Academy

Best Actor Finalists
Sevon Askew – Central Magnet School
Michael Dunaway – Hume-Fogg Academic High School
Will Ryan – Brentwood High School

Standout Female Dancer
Cassidy Alexander – Franklin High School
Robin August Fristch – Nashville School of the Arts
Madeleine Hall – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Olivia Hendrix – Independence High School
Avery Howell – Hendersonville High School

Standout Male Dancer
Henry Fenton – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Avery Frierson – Hillsboro High School
Braeden Mahabir – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
Jack Roden – Chattanooga Christian School
Lelan Wilhoite – Siegel High School

Standout Female Soloist
Natalie Dinkins – Page High School
Diamond Goins – Siegel High School
Jessica Hixson – Columbia Academy
Abigail Wilson – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
Katie Yeomans – Franklin High School

Standout Male Soloist
Michael Dunaway – Hume-Fogg Academic High School
Nathan Keffer – Ravenwood High School
Trent McCrary – Overton High School
Keller Montgomery – Lipscomb Academy
Austin Powell – Creek Wood High School

Standout Supporting Actress
Jess Clements – Overton High School
Lauren Howell – Page High School
Lorelei McDaniel – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Grace Patterson – Hume-Fogg Academic High School
Cladie Pollard – Columbia Academy

Standout Supporting Actor
Zeth Dixon – Hume-Fogg Academic High School
Jacob Jernigan – Lipscomb Academy
Ezekiel Poole – Cane Ridge High School
Ethan Robbins – Monterey High School
Brenden Stoops – Hendersonville High School

Standout Ensemble Actress
Savannah Falcone – Independence High School
Destiny Neal – Nashville School of the Arts
Cami Norman – Ravenwood High School
Genesis Santamaria – Cane Ridge High School
Kaitlyn Sumner – Franklin High School

Standout Ensemble Actor
John Bottei – Father Ryan High School
Jesse Damer – Davidson Academy
Michael Dinkins – Page High School
Keegan Spurr – Grace Christian Academy
Shreesha Yelameli – Ravenwood High School

Standout Comedic Actress
Makayla Boyd – Independence High School
Emma Harvey – Station Camp High School
Jaden Limbaugh – St. Cecilia Academy
Olivia McMurtry – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
Emme Teller – Christ Presbyterian Academy

Standout Comedic Actor
Dominick Dilleha – Station Camp High School
Easton Freeze – Brentwood High School
Liam Jenkins – Battle Ground Academy
Mason Tabor – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
David Torres – Nashville School of the Arts

Standout Dramatic Actress
Kiona Carter – Monterey High School
Ayla David – Davidson Academy
Carlye Morris – Hendersonville High School
Grace Penner – Ravenwood High School
Abigail Wilson – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy

Standout Dramatic Actor
Luke Filson – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Braeden Mahabir – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
Christian Peterson – Father Ryan High School
Tim Russell – Hillsboro High School
Will Ryan – Brentwood High School

SCHOOL AWARDS

Best Show
Battle Ground Academy – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Brentwood High School – “The Sound of Music”
Chattanooga Christian School – “Meet Me in St. Louis”
Christ Presbyterian Academy – “Oklahoma”
Father Ryan High School – “Seussical”
Hillsboro High School – “Into the Woods”
Hume-Fogg Academic High School – “Hello, Dolly!”
Independence High School – “Legally Blonde”
Lipscomb Academy – “Cinderella”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”

Best Choreography
Chattanooga Christian School – “Meet Me in St. Louis”
Franklin High School – “Grease”
Independence High School – “Legally Blonde”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”
St. Cecilia Academy – “The Wizard of Oz”

Best Vocals
Battle Ground Academy – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Brentwood High School – “The Sound of Music”
Independence High School – “Legally Blonde”
Lipscomb Academy – “Cinderella”
Siegel High School – “Hairspray”

Best Orchestra
Franklin High School – “Grease”
Hendersonville High School – “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Hillsboro High School – “Into the Woods”
Hume-Fogg Academic High School – “Hello, Dolly!”
Nashville School for the Arts – “Hairspray”

Best Music Direction
Battle Ground Academy – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Brentwood High School – “The Sound of Music”
Hume-Fogg Academic High School – “Hello, Dolly!”
Independence High School – “Legally Blonde”
Siegel High School – “Hairspray”

Best Costume Design
Davidson Academy – “The Wizard of Oz”
Hendersonville High School – “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Lipscomb Academy – “Cinderella”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”
Station Camp High School – “On the Town”

Best Hair and Makeup Design
Battle Ground Academy – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Lipscomb Academy – “Cinderella”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”
Page High School – “Shrek the Musical”
Station Camp High School – “On the Town”

Best Lighting Design
Brentwood High School – “The Sound of Music”
Grace Christian Academy – “Beauty and the Beast”
Hendersonville High School – “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Overton High School – “Urinetown”
Page High School – “Shrek the Musical”

Best Set Design
Central Magnet School – “The Fantasticks”
Chattanooga Christian School – “Meet Me in St. Louis”
Creek Wood High School – “Grease”
Father Ryan High School – “Seussical”
Hillsboro High School – “Into the Woods”

Best Overall Design Concept
Central Magnet School – “The Fantasticks”
Christ Presbyterian Academy – “Oklahoma”
Hillsboro High School – “Into the Woods”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”
Ravenwood High School – “Catch Me if You Can”

Best Overall Tech
Battle Ground Academy – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Chattanooga Christian School – “Meet Me in St. Louis”
Creek Wood High School – “Grease”
Lipscomb Academy – “Cinderella”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”

Best Ensemble
Chattanooga Christian School – “Meet Me in St. Louis”
Christ Presbyterian Academy – “Oklahoma”
Father Ryan High School – “Seussical”
Overton High School – “Urinetown”
Siegel High School – “Hairspray”

Best Direction
Battle Ground Academy – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Chattanooga Christian School – “Meet Me in St. Louis”
Hume-Fogg Academic High School – “Hello, Dolly!”
Independence High School – “Legally Blonde”
Lipscomb Academy – “Cinderella”
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy – “Singin’ in the Rain”