Blumenthal Arts announces the 12th annual Blumey award winners

CHARLOTTE, NC – The 12th annual Blumenthal Arts High School Musical Theater Awards culminated Sunday, May 18, at a gala award celebration where winners in 15 categories were announced and nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Bank of America Best Musical performed live on stage at the Belk Theater. The Blumey Awards are presented by Bank of America.

Weddington High School won the Tier 1 Bank of America Best Musical Award for its production of Chicago: Teen Edition. North Lincoln High School won the Tier 2 Bank of America Best Musical Award for its production of Pippin. Haley Ciaramella from Central Academy of Technology and Arts won Best Actress for her portrayal as “Eponine” in Les Misérables School Edition. Alex Board from Central Academy of Technology and Arts won Best Actor for his portrayal of “Javert” in Les Misérables School Edition.

Blumenthal Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard said, “The Blumey Awards are one of the most joyful and uplifting moments of the year as it celebrates the incredible talent, passion, and hard work of our community’s high school performers. We’re deeply grateful to the students, teachers, parents, and supporters who worked together to make this night so inspiring. Congratulations to everyone involved for your amazing achievement.”

Performer Warren Egypt Franklin (Hamilton Broadway national tour, TV’s American Sports Story and Grown-ish) hosted the black-tie event. Among the presenters and special guests were last year’s Best Actress and Best Actor winners, Lainey Gaston and Rylan Lowe, Blumey Awards Gordon Hay Scholarship recipient Ash Hernick, Ryann Redmond (Broadway’s Once Upon a One More Time, Disney’s Frozen, Escape to Margaritaville, and others), Sterling Masters-Deeny (Broadway and national tours of Wicked, A Chorus Line, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and others), WFAE reporter Nick de la Canal, and Portia Sherman MacKinnon (Senior Vice President, Head of Enterprise Digital Operations, Bank of America).

2025 Blumey Award winners:

Bank of America Best Musical – Tier 1

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

Bank of America Best Musical – Tier 2

North Lincoln High School – Pippin

Best Actor

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Alex Board as Javert – Les Misérables School Edition

Best Actress

Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Haley Ciaramella as Eponine –

Les Misérables School Edition

Best Supporting Actor

William A. Hough High School – Jack McRee as Uncle Fester – The Addams Family

Best Supporting Actress

North Lincoln High School – Emma Rogne as Fastrada – Pippin

Best Featured Performer
Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Garrett Dwiggins as Bishop of Digne/Legles

– Les Misérables School Edition

Best Overall Direction

North Lincoln High School – Pippin

Best Ensemble/Chorus
Concord Academy – Guys and Dolls

Best Choreography Execution

Weddington High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

Best Student Orchestra

Central Academy of Technology and Arts– Les Misérables School Edition

Best Student Costume Designer

Concord Academy – Lexi LaCroix – Guys and Doll

Best Student Set Designer

William A. Hough High School – Dylan Vezendy – The Addams Family

Best Student Stage Manager

William A. Hough High School – Gavin Vezendy – The Addams Family

Best Student Reporter

Weddington High School – Hayden Kocur

Along with the Blumey Awards, five students were awarded college scholarships.

The Mary Doctor Fine Arts Scholarship annually benefits two graduating high school seniors within the Charlotte region who are preparing to pursue a degree in the arts. Scholarships are awarded at $10,000 and are annually renewable during a student’s four-year undergraduate program. This year, the Mary Doctor scholarship committee selected Elijah Phillips and Maria Nicoleta Cutitaru. Elijah, a senior at Northwest School of the Arts, will attend Shenandoah University in the fall to pursue a BFA in Acting. North Carolina School of the Arts High School senior Maria Nicoleta will attend Boston University in the fall.