Awards & Nominations
EVCT Awards
East Valley Children’s Theatre is proud to be a part of the ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence, an organization that promotes excellence in theatre in the metropolitan Phoenix area.
EVCT is also recognized by the National Youth Arts Awards every year for outstanding achievement in children’s theatre.
Congratulations to all the great performers and designers we had at East Valley Children’s Theatre in 2022-2023 season. You were all amazing!
A special congratulations to the award winners and nominees for the 15th Annual National Youth Arts Awards (EVCT earned 5 awards and 15 nominations!) and ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence, we are all very proud you were a part of our tremendous season.
EVCT Awards
ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence (2022-2023)
Best Actor in a Major Roll, youth play
Beauty and the Beast, Brody Willette-Zebell, as Beast
Best Director of a Youth Play
Beauty and the Beast, Bryanna Patrick Blanco
Best Original Script, youth musical
The Frog Prince, by Marcus Yi
Best Original Score, youth musical
The Frog Prince, by Marcus Yi
EVCT Nominations
ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence (2022-2023)
- Best Overall Production, youth play Beauty and the Beast
- Best overall Production, youth musical Disney The Lion King, Jr.
- Actress in a Major Role, youth play Beauty and the Beast, Hailey Merkley
- Actor in a Major Role, youth play Beauty and the Beast, Brody Willette-Zebell
- Actress in a Supporting Role, youth play Beauty and the Beast, Bryghton Tauscher
- Actor in a Supporting Role, youth musical Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, Westley Armbrust
- Director, youth play Beauty and the Beast, Bryanna Patrick Blanco
- Director, youth musical Disney The Lion King, Jr., Joel Cranson
- Choreography, youth theatre The Frog Prince, Lauren Kobza
- Specialized Choreography, youth theatre Beauty and the Beast, Aaron Blanco (fight choreo)
- Costume Design, youth theatre Beauty and the Beast, Nicole Tatro & Disney The Lion King, Jr., Patti Dugger
- Hair/Makeup Design, youth theatre Disney The Lion King, Jr., Ellie Lagergren & The Frog Prince, Cori L. Johnson
- Lighting Design, youth theatre Beauty and the Beast, Zane Petiford
- Property Design, youth theatre Disney The Lion King, Jr., Shyanne French
- Artistic Specialization, youth theatre Beauty and the Beast, Erica Connell: Mask/Head Piece Design
- Original Script, youth theatre The Frog Prince, Marcus Yi
- Original Score, youth theatre The Frog Prince, Marcus Yi
EVCT Awards
National Youth Arts Awards (2019-2020)
Artist of the Year
Kylie Burge
Anna in EVCT’s Frozen Jr., Toffee in Zombie Prom and Katherine Blake in Freaky Friday @ Perry High School
Lead Performance in a Play
Kassandra Diaz
as Alejandra in Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
Lead Performance (Junior Division)
Ashley Gebhard
Anna in EVCT’s Frozen Jr., Toffee in Zombie as RJ in Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
Supporting Performance (Junior Division)
Marco Velasquez
as Olaf in Frozen Jr.
Sound Design
Karen Rolston
for Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
EVCT Nominations
National Youth Arts Awards (2019-2020)
- Lead Performance in a Play: Tré Moore as Kristoff in Frozen Jr.
- Lead Performance (Junior Division): Moranda Smith as Virginia in Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
- Supporting Performance in a Play: Logan Aryes as Gamma in Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Supporting Performance in a Play: Grace Kuhn as Alpha in Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Supporting Performance in a Play: Rylee Scott as Wolf in Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Supporting Performance (Junior Division): Marco Velasquez as Nugget in Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Featured Performance (Junior Division): Morgan Anderson as Middle Elisa in Frozen Jr.
- Ensemble: Frozen Jr.
- Ensemble: Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Costume Design: Barbara Jakucki for Frozen Jr.
- Costume Design: Barbara Jakucki for Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Set Design: Dori Brown for Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Hair/Makeup Design: Cori L. Johnson for Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- Direction: Karen Rolston for Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada
- New Works: Laura Winters for Space Mission #5379: Saving Rachel Nevada