WCS Theater Students Primed for Spotlight

The 2026 Spotlight Award nominees have been announced, and dozens of WCS students have made the cut.

The Spotlight Awards are dedicated to supporting the talents, education and friendships of high school theater students in Tennessee. On May 24, students from around the state will travel to Nashville to attend the ceremony at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

"The recognition and the awards are nice, but what I truly love about how we treat the Spotlight Awards at Summit High is watching our students support and celebrate each other," said SHS theater director Annie Rice. "Having four of our students recognized as lead performer nominees is an incredible honor and such a testament to their talent and hard work."

At the ceremony, two Outstanding Lead Performers will be named. Those students will have the opportunity to attend the Jimmy Awards in New York City at the end of June.

Congratulations to the nominees listed below. 

Brentwood High

• Micah Foote and Montgomery Cate Hamburg - All-Star Cast
• Wylie Donald and Ayan Shah - All-Star Crew
• Ayan Shah - Outstanding Technical Achievement
• Wylie Donald - Outstanding Student Stage Manager
• Hank Glascock - Outstanding Comedic Performer
• Mia Saliba - Outstanding Vocalist
• Hallie Mae Kirk - Encore Ensemble
• Mia Saliba - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Large Ensemble
• Outstanding Set Design
• Outstanding Music Direction
• Outstanding Orchestra
• Outstanding Choreography
• Outstanding Design Concept
• Outstanding Direction
• Outstanding Musical

Centennial High

• Lucy Boyd and Madison Scales - All-Star Cast
• Levi McCreary and Charlotte Driver - All-Star Crew
• Jack Ives - Outstanding Technical Achievement
• Tia Jones, Addison Lindsey and Regan Lanigan - Outstanding Original Design Creation
• Carter Miller - Outstanding Comedic Performer
• Jack Ives - Outstanding Dancer
• Laila Dean - Encore Ensemble
• Bennett Miller - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Caroline Christian - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Mark Dilling - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Small Ensemble
• Outstanding Community Engagement
• Outstanding Lighting Design

Fairview High

• Rylie Holt and Rosa Watson - All-Star Cast
• Spencer Vaughan and Ben Mitchell - All-Star Crew
• Adleigh Worden - Outstanding Technical Achievement
• Sunny Davidson - Outstanding Student Designer
• Sunny Davidson and Jackson Eatherly - Outstanding Original Design Creation
• Hudson Mangrum - Outstanding Dramatic Performer
• Ava Schuster - Outstanding Comedic Performer
• Rylie Holt - Encore Ensemble
• Rylie Holt - Founder's Award
• Hudson Mangrum - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Maddie Bartee - Outstanding Lead Performer

Franklin High

• Brown McCall and Sophie Staggs - All-Star Cast
• Josephine Fitzgerald and Houston Veile - All-Star Crew
• Jacob MacBrair - Outstanding Scene Partner
• Joyce Odeyemi - Outstanding Supporting Performer
• Morgan Walker - Outstanding Comedic Performer
• Ronember Quintero Galeano - Outstanding Solo Vocalist
• Jacob MacBrair - Encore Ensemble
• Annabelle Gaut - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Morgan Walker - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Ronember Quintero Galeano - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Large Ensemble
• Outstanding Orchestra
• Outstanding Cast Vocals
• Outstanding Community Engagement

Independence High

• Aiden Harper and AnnaClare Wadsworth - All-Star Cast
• Yenna Curtis and Carson Dilliard - All-Star Crew
• Aiden Harper - Outstanding Ensemble Performer
• Sam Maynord for Mr. Cellophane - Outstanding Solo Performance
• Elliot Child - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Maddie Phillips - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Owen Sower - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Sam Maynord - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Large Ensemble
• Outstanding Cast Vocals
• Outstanding Direction
• Crowd-Pleaser Performance

Nolensville High

• Kristyn Dunn and JT McCoy - All-Star Cast
• Millie Dowling and Emma Dickerson - All-Star Crew
• Ben Sailer - Outstanding Technical Achievement
• Emma Dickerson - Outstanding Student Stage Manager
• Will Brown - Outstanding Student Designer
• Isabella Barnes - Outstanding Original Design Creation
• JT McCoy - Outstanding Vocalist
• James Tomlin for Giants in the Sky - Outstanding Solo Performance
• Jacob Gray - Encore Ensemble
• Elia Pyper - Outstanding Lead Performer
• JT McCoy - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Costume Design
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Community Engagement

Page High

• Sophia Giannotti and Allie Duke - All-Star Cast
• Molly Schmalz and Aaliyah Hicks - All-Star Crew
• Molly Schmalz - Outstanding Student Stage Manager
• Eleanor Mobley - Outstanding Ensemble Performer
• Vismaya Channappa - Outstanding Dramatic Performer
• Chloe Campbell - Outstanding Vocalist
• Vismaya Channappa - Outstanding Vocalist
• Brody Rozen for Three Figs - Outstanding Solo Performance
• Chloe Campbell - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Vismaya Channappa - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Small Ensemble
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Cast Vocals
• Outstanding Choreography
• Outstanding Design Concept
• Outstanding Direction
• Outstanding Musical

Ravenwood High

• Ashley Dengate and Eli Miller - All-Star Cast
• Jack Poladian and Kadence Robinson - All-Star Crew
• Jack Poladian - Outstanding Technical Achievement
• Jameson Mackey - Outstanding Supporting Performer
• Eli Miller - Outstanding Dramatic Performer
• Ashley Dengate - Outstanding Vocalist
• Ashley Dengate - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Eli Miller - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Small Ensemble
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Sound Operation
• Outstanding Orchestra
• Outstanding Cast Vocals
• Outstanding Design Concept
• Outstanding Direction
• Outstanding Musical

Summit High

• Lilly Miller and Kylie Tumbleson - All-Star Cast
• Jovi Taddeo and Taylor Terry - All-Star Crew
• Lucy Swendsen - Outstanding Scene Partner
• Bellarose Dunlap - Outstanding Scene Partner
• Kaydence Arora - Outstanding Dramatic Performer
• Kaydence Arora - Outstanding Vocalist
• Aiden Lee Johnson - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Bellarose Dunlap - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Cody Mayes - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Kaydence Arora - Outstanding Lead Performer
• Outstanding Music Direction
• Special Recognition - Applause Award