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.
