Awards & Nominations
EVCT Awards
East Valley Children’s Theatre is honored to be associated with the ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence, a group that supports theatrical quality throughout the greater Phoenix area.
Congratulations to each and every one of the outstanding actors and designers that East Valley Children’s Theatre featured in the 2023–2024 season. All of you were incredible!
We would especially like to congratulate the nominees and winners of the AriZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence. Being a part of our amazing season makes us all very proud.
EVCT Awards
ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence (2023-2024)
Actor in a Major Role, youth play
A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness, and a Very Very Small Bird., Beni Bermudez
Actor in a Major Role, youth musical
Xanadu, Jr. Brody Willette-Zebell
Specialized Choreography, youth theatre
The Three Musketeers; Aaron Blanco for Fight Choreography
Original Script, youth theatre
A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird by Nikki Harmon
EVCT Teacher/Director
Original Score, Fountain Hills Theater
The Great Gatsby; Peter J. Hill, James Melberg
Lexi Leibrand, Beni Bermundez, Brody Willette-Zebell and Aaron Blanco
EVCT Nominations
ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence (2023-2024)
EVCT Alumni
- Actor in a Major Role, musical, ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre – Music Theatre and Opera: Pippin; Tre Moore
- Actress in a Supporting Role, MCC Musical Theatre: Anything Goes; Suzy Olson
- Best Overall Production, youth play: A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird
- Best overall Production, youth musical: Anastasia the Musical (Youth Edition)
- Actress in a Major Role, youth play: A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird; Lexi Leibrand
- Actor in a Major Role, youth play: A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird; Beni Bermundez
- Actor in a Major Role, youth musical: Xanadu JR; Brody Willette-Zebell
- Actor in a Supporting Role, youth play: A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird; Logan Nelson
- Actor in a Supporting Role, youth play: The Three Musketeers; Albert Mendoza
- Actor in a Supporting Role, youth play: The Three Musketeers; Brody Willette-Zebell
- Director, youth play: A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird; Tanner Morris
- Director, youth play: The Three Musketeers; Aaron Blanco
- Choreography, youth theatre: Anastasia the Musical (Youth Edition); Lauren Kobza
- Specialized Choreography, youth theatre: The Three Musketeers; Aaron Blanco for Fight Choreography
- Costume Design, youth theatre: Xanadu JR; Nicole Tatro
- Hair/Makeup Design, youth theatre: Xanadu JR: Ellie Lagergren
- Lighting Design, youth theatre: Anastasia the Musical (Youth Edition); Chenoa Baker, Zane Petiford
- Lighting Design, youth theatre: Xanadu JR; Zane Petiford
- Sound Design, youth theatre: Xanadu JR; Tanner Morris
- Property Design, youth theatre: Anastasia the Musical (Youth Edition); Brenda Cranson
- Artistic Specialization, youth theatre: Xanadu JR; Joel Cranson, Brenda Cranson: Moving Phone Booth and Mural
- Original Script, youth theatre: A Tale of Bravery of a Zebra, a Lioness and a Very Very Small Bird; Nikki Harmon
- Rising Star, youth theatre: Xanadu JR; Brayden Gleave
EVCT Teacher/Director
- Actress in a Major Role in a Play, Southwest Shakespeare Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Breona Conrad
- Original Score, Fountain Hills Theater, The Great Gatsby; Peter J. Hill, James Melberg
EVCT Awards
ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence (2022-2023)
Best Actor in a Major Role, 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 (NYA) (2022-2023)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Marco Velasquez, Jr. as Prince Harris in The Frog Prince
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Penny Ellis as Mary Lou in Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Outstanding Costume Design
Nicole Tatro for The Frog Prince
Outstanding Hair/Makeup Design
Cori L. Johnson for The Frog Prince
Outstanding New Works
Marcus Yi for The Frog Prince
EVCT Nominations
National Youth Awards (NYA) (2022-2023)
- Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical: Marco Velasquez, Jr. as Prince Harris in The Frog Prince
- Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Wylie Hawkes as Queen Mabo in The Frog Prince
- Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Grace Kuhn as Rafiki in Disney The Lion King, Jr.
- Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Marco Velasquez Jr. as Danny in Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
- Outstanding Supporting Performance: Penny Ellis as Mary Lou in Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
- Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Westley Armbrust as Postman in Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
- Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Benicio Bermudez as Douglas in Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
- Outstanding Ensemble: The Frog Prince
- Outstanding Costume Design: Nicole Tatro for The Frog Prince
- Outstanding Costume Design: Patti Dugger for Disney The Lion King, Jr.
- Outstanding Choreography: Lauren Kobza for Disney The Lion King, Jr.
- Outstanding Hair/Makeup Design: Cori L. Johnson for The Frog Prince
- Outstanding Hair/Makeup Design: Ellie Lagergren for Disney The Lion King, Jr.
- Outstanding New Works: Marcus Yi for The Frog Prince
