It’s almost time for the 2026 Freddy Awards!
State Theatre Center for the Arts President and CEO, Shelley Brown, and FREDDY© Awards Coordinator, Kori Lotito, revealed the nominees of the 24th annual FREDDY© Awards live on WFMZ on Thursday at noon.
The Freddy Awards recognize and reward exceptional accomplishments in the production and performance of musical theater in high schools in Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, and in Warren County, New Jersey.
State Theatre Center for the Arts President and CEO, Shelley Brown, and FREDDY© Awards Coordinator, Kori Lotito, revealed the nominees of the 24th annual FREDDY© Awards during 69 News at noon.
The live broadcast of the awards ceremony is set for Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. It will be available to watch on 69 WFMZ and on the WFMZ + app.
From February 26 through April 26, 2026, students from 31 schools – a record number of participating high schools – across Northampton, Lehigh, and Warren Counties presented their spring musicals to thousands of spectators across the region, according to a news release by the State Theatre.
The State Theatre says people can experience the show before the show at FREDDY Preview Night on Wednesday, May 20. The event offers the opportunity to attend the live-television dress rehearsal for the 2026 Freddy Awards and see the full-scale performances from nominees before they air to the public. For more information and to purchase tickets, people can visit statetheatre.org.
2026 FREDDY© Awards Nominations
Outstanding Technical Design by a Smaller School
Allentown Central Catholic – “Disney’s Frozen”
Belvidere – “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”
Catasauqua – “Seussical”
Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver”
Northwestern Lehigh – “Something Rotten!”
Saucon Valley – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Warren County Technical – “Working (Localized Version)”
Wilson Area – “Anastasia The Musical”
Outstanding Technical Design
Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Northern Lehigh – “Anastasia The Musical”
Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Southern Lehigh – “Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway Version)”
Outstanding Use of Costumes
Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Catasauqua – “Seussical”
Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS – “Bye Bye Birdie”
Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member
Joseph Gambale as Monsieur Firmin, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Miles Lezama as UPS Guy Kyle/Grandmaster Chad, Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Leo McCabe as Spider, Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Quincy West as Brother Jeremiah, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Jacob Piccini as Jean-Michel, Liberty – “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)”
Danial Siddiqui as Herbert Parchester, Moravian Academy – “Me And My Girl”
Carlo Igot as Doody, Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Jack Binder as Ares/Medusa/Hades, Pen Argyl Area – “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member
Ella Muckey as Young Anna, Allentown Central Catholic – “Disney’s Frozen”
Dess Moya-Diaz as Serena, Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Kiersten Rubery as Minstrel, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Mya Angel Heard as Doris MacAfee, Lehigh Valley Academy RCS – “Bye Bye Birdie”
Stella Georgalas as Charlotte, Liberty – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)”
Riya Sanan as Patty, Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Lila Furst as Miss Jones, Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance
Mckayla Angus, Nathan Deeney in “All I Ask of You,” Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Rosalynda Garcia, Zoey Lambert in “My Own Best Friend,” Dieruff – “Chicago: Teen Edition”
Abigail Holtz, Noah Hover, Charles Kenney, Benjamin Wilks in “His Work and Nothing More,” Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Julia Fiorini, Paige Haas, Leah Majumdar, Mariyah Russel, Lucas Yaguez in “Hard to Be the Bard,” Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Jaslene Ortiz, Benjamin Smith, Graham Webb in “Right Hand Man,” Northwestern Lehigh – “Something Rotten!”
Quinn Fucci, Riley Merker in “I Can’t Lose You,” Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Olivia Betancourt, Julia Cagnassola, Natalie Trawin in “Little Lamb From Alabama,” Warren Hills Regional – “Big Fish: School Edition”
Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Northampton Area – “Newsies”
Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Warren Hills Regional – “Big Fish: School Edition”
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Fiona Flatt as Carlotta Giudicelli, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Lucinda Loftus as Gertrude McFuzz, Catasauqua – “Seussical”
Cassie Schleich as Paulette, Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Hailey Ferguson as Portia, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Abby Jamer as The Artful Dodger, “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Addison Giesler as Rizzo, Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Angelina Zaiter as Smitty, Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Mia Millen as Holly, Whitehall – “The Wedding Singer”
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Noah Hover as Gabriel John Utterson, Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Lucas Yaguez as Shakespeare, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Evan Stitt as Kenickie, Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Gavin Sachse as Bud Frump, Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Daniel Thompson as Olaf – Phillipsburg, “Disney’s Frozen”
Ryan Pakzad as Aldolpho, Saucon Valley – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Malakai Lemmons as Orin Scrivello, DDS/Mrs. Luce, Southern Lehigh – “Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway Version)”
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer
Julianne Gallagher as Prima Ballerina, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Callahan Karner as Hannibal Solo Dancer, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Ruby Romero as Gloria Rasputin, Bethlehem Catholic, “Bye Bye Birdie”
Madilyn Osher as Featured Dancer, Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Hailey Laury as Finch, Northampton Area – “Newsies”
Sarah Cooperman as “Her Voice” Soloist, Notre Dame – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Sophia Merker as Oaken, Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Outstanding Stage Crew
In memory of Capt. Christopher Seifert
Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Whitehall – “The Wedding Singer”
Outstanding Technical Contribution by a Student
Julianne Gallagher, Choreographer, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Alexa Ebeling, Lighting Designer, Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Madilyn Osher, Choreographer, Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Ila (Harvey) Morrow, Costume Designer, Moravian Academy – “Me And My Girl”
Vincent Phillip, Technical Director, Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Zander Kirkwood, Lighting Designer, Warren Hills Regional – “Big Fish: School Edition”
Greyson Moretz, Lighting Designer, William Allen – “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance
Mckayla Angus, “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Charles Kenney, “The Confrontation,” Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Adriana Danyluk, “Journey to the Past,” Northern Lehigh – “Anastasia The Musical”
Anysha Teleo, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” Notre Dame – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Madelyn Wascura, “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm,” Parkland – “How to Succeed…”
Riley Merker, “Let It Go,” Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Patrick D’Amico, “Grow For Me,” Southern Lehigh – “Little Shop of Horrors”
Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging
Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Nazareth Area – “Grease”
Northampton Area – “Newsies”
Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Whitehall – “The Wedding Singer”
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor
Daniel Rivera as Nostradamus, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Kayden Taylor as Nigel Bottom, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Samuel Lazarus as Ramses, Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Cameron Dunham as Topher, Liberty – “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)”
Luke Hauck as JB Biggley, Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Jaxon Beke as Man In Chair, Saucon Valley – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Noah Schafer as Audrey II, Southern Lehigh – “Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway Version)”
Patrick Walworth as Vlad, Wilson Area – “Anastasia the Musical”
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress
Rosalynda Garcia as Velma Kelly, Dieruff – “Chicago: Teen Edition”
Abigail Holtz as Emma Carew, Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Kensington Matol as Bea, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Naomi Schicker as Nancy, Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Kayla Kinney as Nostradamus, Northwestern Lehigh – “Something Rotten!”
Ainsley Quay as Hedy LaRue, Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Riley Merker as Elsa, Phillipsburg – “Disney’s Frozen”
Naomi Herrera as Lucy Van Pelt, William Allen – “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
Outstanding Production Number
Bangor Area, “Masquerade” – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Easton Area, “Omigod You Guys” – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Emmaus, “Murder, Murder” – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Freedom, “A Musical” – “Something Rotten!”
Lehigh Christian Academy, “Faster” – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Nazareth Area, “Greased Lightnin’” – “Grease”
Parkland, “Brotherhood of Man” – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Whitehall, “Saturday Night in the City” – “The Wedding Singer”
Outstanding Ensemble
Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Northampton Area – “Newsies”
Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Whitehall – “The Wedding Singer”
lehighvalleylive.com Student Achievement Award
Arden Henley, Theatre President, Belvidere – “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”
Kamryn Rex, Theatre President, Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Amy Illescas, Stage Manager, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Sarah Carter, Stage Manager, Moravian Academy – “Me And My Girl”
McKenna Kirk, Theatre President/Stage Crew Manager, Northern Lehigh – “Anastasia The Musical”
Michael Naomi, Stage Manager, North Warren Regional – “Sleeping Beauty The Musical”
Anthony Jarjous, Production Designer, Salisbury – “The Prom”
Julia Cagnassola, Theatre President, Warren Hills Regional – “Big Fish: School Edition”
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Briana Bauer as Anna, Allentown Central Catholic – “Disney’s Frozen”
Mckayla Angus as Christine Daaé, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Zoey Lambert as Roxie Hart, Dieruff – “Chicago: Teen Edition”
Celia Moutselou as Elle Woods, Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Persia Mullay as Lucy, Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Emma Hartzell as Ella, Liberty – “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)”
Emerson Tyrell as Audrey, Southern Lehigh – “Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway Version)”
Kalla Barrett as Anya, Wilson Area – “Anastasia The Musical”
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Nicholas Janneck as The Phantom, Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Charles Kenney as Jekyll/Hyde, Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Cole Faccinetto as Nick Bottom, Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Eli DiPaolo as Fagin, Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Joshua Vazquez as Moses, Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Jordan Silver as J. Pierrepont Finch, Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Patrick D’Amico as Seymour Krelborn, Southern Lehigh – “Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway Version)”
Milo Dominguez as Edward Bloom, Warren Hills Regional – “Big Fish: School Edition”
Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School
Allentown Central Catholic – “Disney’s Frozen”
Catasauqua – “Seussical”
Hackettstown – “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”
Lehigh Christian Academy – “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”
Northwestern Lehigh – “Something Rotten!”
Saucon Valley – “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Wilson Area – “Anastasia The Musical”
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Bangor Area – “The Phantom of the Opera”
Easton Area – “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Emmaus – “Jekyll & Hyde”
Freedom – “Something Rotten!”
Parkland – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”