National Youth Arts Awards
(2019-2020)
Awards
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 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
Nominations
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
ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence
(2022-2023)
Nominations
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
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 Annual 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 also is recognized by the National Youth Theatre every year for outstanding achievement in children’s theatre.