Theatre Under The Stars is excited to introduce the finalists for the 2025 Tommy Tune Awards!
The stage is set, the lights are up, and the energy is electric—it’s time for the Tommy Tune Awards, where Houston’s most talented high school performers, designers, and directors take center stage! This annual celebration isn’t just about trophies—it’s about passion, creativity, and the magic of live theatre. For students and educators alike, it’s an opportunity to shine, connect, and embrace the performing arts as a lifelong journey.
The 2025 Tommy Tune Awards will be held on June 6 at 7 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the public April 21, and will be available for purchase online, by phone at 713-558-8887 or by visiting the TUTS Box Office at 800 Bagby.
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce the 2025 Tommy Tune Awards finalists! Each year, the talent, dedication and passion these students bring to the stage continues to inspire us, and this year is no exception. We can’t wait to celebrate their incredible achievements.”,” said Jacob Shideler, TUTS Director of Education.
Education, creativity, and community take center stage at the Tommy Tune Awards, where high school students from across Greater Houston come together to showcase their talent and passion for theatre. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, a panel of 40+ Houston-based theatre pros reviewed 66 high school productions, ultimately nominating standout students in 18 award categories.
The finalists for the 2025 Tommy Tune Awards are:
Outstanding Musical Finalists
- Clear Springs High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School – Dreamgirls
- Houston Christian High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Cypress Ranch High School – Sweeney Todd
- Kingwood High School – The Phantom of the Opera
- Second Baptist School – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
- Seven Lakes High School – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
- Stratford High School – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Outstanding Ensemble Finalists
- Clear Springs High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
- Dulles High School – Legally Blonde The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School – Dreamgirls
- Kerr High School – Matilda The Musical
- Second Baptist School – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
- Stratford High School – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
- The Emery/Weiner School – Footloose
- The John Cooper School – Anything Goes
Outstanding Technical Achievement Finalists
- B.F. Terry High School – Rodger’s & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
- Clear Springs High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
- Dulles High School – Legally Blonde The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School – Dreamgirls
- Kerr High School – Matilda The Musical
- Second Baptist School – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
- Stratford High School – Disney’s The Little Mermaid
- The Emery/Weiner School – FootlooseThe John Cooper School – Anything Goes
Outstanding Orchestra Finalists
- Cypress Park High School – Little Shop of Horrors
- Klein Collins High School – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music
- Morton Ranch High School – Sister Act
- Clear Creek High School – The Music Man
- Cypress Ranch High School – Sweeney Todd
- Friendswood High School – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
- Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts – 9 to 5 and Sister Act
- Klein High School – Anastasia
- Memorial High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
- Obra D. Tompkins High School – The Wizard of Oz
Outstanding Director Finalists
- Mark Stonebarger – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Roshunda Jones-Koumba – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Tracy McGarity, Seth Bales and Cheryl Bradford – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Camee Faulk – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Cindy Blades and Zoe Chapman – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- CeCe Prudhomme and Lizzie Picott – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Jennifer Bauer-Conley – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
Outstanding Music Director Finalists
- Alexa Thibodeaux – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music – Klein Collins High School
- Donte Wright– Dreamgirls, G.W. Carver High School – Outstanding Music Director Finalist
- Lauren Suchy and Travis Falknor – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Claire Westmoreland, Kambel Crites and Jacqueline Lunsford – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Jason Watt – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Kathy Clarke – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
- Marcie Baker – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Marcus J. Jauregui – Sister Act – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Sean Stultz and Rebecca Berger – Anastasia – Klein High School
Outstanding Choreographer Finalists
- Cole Montgomery and Nicole Hiemstra – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Houston Christian High School
- Denzel Taylor – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Chatham Carlson, EK Brown and Tessa Garcia – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Courtney D. Jones – 9 to 5 – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Melissa Tyler, Kenny Erler and Dr. Bobby Linhart – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – Houston Christian High School
Outstanding Stage Management Finalists
- Daniela Leal, Isabella Valerio and Heidy Serrano – Matilda The Musical – Kerr High School
- Niya Kelly – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Sophia Carbajal, Julianne Garcia and Abbie Kaydahzinne – The SpongeBob Musical – J. Frank Dobie High School
- Taylor Spence, Katie Pisklak and Megan Hyzak – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Houston Christian High School
- Avery Glauser, Sara Griffin and Avelynn Stovall – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Ari Tran – Anastasia – Klein High School
- Bethany Maynard – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Felix Riley, William Hannah and Khloe Rendon – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – The Kinkaid School
- Natasha Machnizh, Zuri Bryson and Sarah Pomasl – Anything Goes – The John Cooper School
- Raelyn Mosley – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Marvel High School
Outstanding Lighting Design Finalists
- Aria Bouchard and Hailey Hawk – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Nina Brunello – Legally Blonde The Musical – Dulles High School
- Colin Burke and Matthew Murphy – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
- Griffin Ferguson and Carleigh Nickel – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Joshua Heerssen – Anything Goes – The John Cooper School
- Ryan Hulse – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
Outstanding Scenic Design Finalists
- Bryan Hamlin – The SpongeBob Musical – J. Frank Dobie High School
- Jabari Collins – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Cole Ryden and Avelynn Stovall – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- David Clayton, Sophie Myers and Meredith Avery – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Lauren Taylor and Joanna Box – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Matthew Mosher, Brianna Miles and David Palmer – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Steven Bogard – Anything Goes – The John Cooper School
- Walker Fair – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
Outstanding Costume Design Finalists
- Amber Young, Terry Hibbert and Clark McCormick – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Houston Christian High School
- Angel Torres – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – B.F. Terry High School
- Aspen Keyes and Leah Zinkle – The Addams Family: School Edition – Lamar Consolidated High School
- Clear Springs Costume Department – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Jamar Hawkins – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Jordyn Lunkwitz and Hannah Rader – The SpongeBob Musical – Oak Ridge High School
- Frances Guerrero – The Wiz – Yates High School
- Kelsey DePree – SIX: Teen Edition – The Village School
- Joscelyne Oktabetz and Percy Vojnovich – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Laura Targett – Anything Goes – The John Cooper School
- Jackie Adickes and Sara Griffin – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Renee Young, Anna Craig and Mawara Kahn – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Cypress Ranch Costume Department – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Jennifer Bauer-Conley – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
Outstanding Sound Design Finalists
- Anna Longacre – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Zariah Tatum – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Garrett Vinas and Maxwell Sullivan – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Grace Abdelnour – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Mac Brown and Caroline Morrisett – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Reece DeAlmeida. – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Friendswood High School
Outstanding Lead Finalists
- Alyssa Dorsey as “Effie” – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Andrew Knobbe as “Joseph” – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Houston Christian High School
- Aniya Rojas as “Dorothy” – The Wiz – Yates High School
- Anna Kovacik as “Christine Date” – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Aubree Hurst as “Anita Bath” – Rock of Ages: Teen Edition – Jordan High School
- Carlos Garza as “Frank Abagnale Jr.” – Catch Me if Your Can – Pearland High School
- Charles Palacios as “Fester” – The Addams Family – Pasadena Memorial High School
- Elijah Iwama as “Quasimodo” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Concordia Lutheran High School
- Elyse Simmons as “Ariel” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Ella Farias as “Martha Watson” – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Emma Vogelsang as “Roxie Hart” – Chicago: Teen Edition – Memorial High School
- Gabriel Bouleau as “Bert” – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Seven Lakes High School
- Griffin Bale as “Vlad” – Anastasia – Bridgeland High School
- Haley Griffin as “Mrs. Lovett” – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Holden Hageleberger as “Scuttle” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Ivan Davidson as “Curtis” – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Jerome Johnson as “Mister” – The Color Purple – Hightower High School
- Jonathan Edwards as “Emmett Forrest” – Legally Blonde The Musical – Cypress Woods High School
- Kiersten Mares as “Eurydice” – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Lili Cates as “Countess Lilly” – Anastasia – Bridgeland High School
- Liliana Santos as “Mary Poppins” – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Seven Lakes High School
- Lucius Watt as “The Phantom” – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Madelynn Hunt as “Anya” – Anastasia – Bridgeland High School
- Madison Weaston as “Winifred Banks” – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Seven Lakes High School
- Major Meyer as “Claude Frollo” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Concordia Lutheran High School
- Marie Popp as “Carlotta” – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Nic Schweers as “Phil Davis” – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Ogechi Nwachukwu as “Deloris Van Cartier” – Sister Act – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Patrick Cashion as “Squidward Q. Tentacles – The SpongeBob Musical – Ridge Point High School
- Payton Daly as “Ursula” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – The Kinkaid School
- Reagan Wilson as “Deena” – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Savera Karia as “Ursula’ – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Victoria Vicuna as Sherrie Christian – Rock of Ages: Teen Edition – Jordan High School
- Zach Lester as “Ren McCormack” – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
- Zeina Montifar as “Eva Peron” – Evita – Bridgeland High School
Outstanding Supporting Lead Finalists
- Abby Deloney as “Marget” – 9 to 5 – Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts
- Aida Joy as “Sister Mary Lazarus” – Sister Act – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Alexia Alla as “Lies Von Trapp” – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music – Klein Collins High School
- Andrew Dybala as “Jetson” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Andrew Knobbe as “Bud Frump” – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – Houston Christian High School
- Braylon McMorris as “Eugene H. Krabs” – The SpongeBob Musical – Ridge Point High School
- Chloe Petterson as “Madam Giry – The Phantom of the Opera – Kingwood High School
- Cooper Clarke as “Reuben” – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Houston Christian High School
- Dash Leonard as “Flotsam” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- David Gipson as “CC” – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Gabriella Snider as “Herald” – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – B.F. Terry High School
- Haley Setoudeh as “Jane Banks” – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Friendswood High School
- Hana Riley as “Flounder” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Stratford High School
- Isabella Fontanez as “Fate” – Hadestown: Teen Edition – Clear Springs High School
- Jacey Rangel as “Enid Hoopes” – Legally Blonde The Musical – Dulles High School
- Kasean Francis as “Jimmy Early” – Dreamgirls – G.W. Carver Magnet High School
- Kayshia Flores as “Grandma” – The Addams Family – Pasadena Memorial High School
- MaKenzie Walker-Pierson as “Flounder” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Marvel High School
- Matthew Perkins as “Monsignor O’Hara” – Sister Act – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Maureen Min as “Flounder” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – The Kinkaid School
- Paige Garcia as “Miss Andrew” – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Friendswood High School
- Reese McMullen as “Aquata” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – The Kinkaid School
- Vanessa Salas as “Mistress” – Evita – Bridgeland High School
Outstanding Singer Finalists
- Alaina Martinez as “Fairy Godmother” – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – B.F. Terry High School
- Allison Sievers as “Beggar Woman” – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Amiah Atkinson as “Pearl Krabs” – The SpongeBob Musical – South Houston High School
- Cadence Manning as “Ursula” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – William B. Travis High School
- Kailey Cavazos as “Anya” – Anastasia – Klein High School
- Mabyn Coleman as “Doralee Rhodes” – 9 to 5 – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Meagan Edwards as “Pearl Krabs” – The SpongeBob Musical – Ridge Point High School
- Natalie Rangel as “Morticia Addams” – The Addams Family – Pasadena Memorial High School
- Olivia Shoemaker as “Judy Haynes” – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
- Rogina Niroomand as “Vivienne Kensington” – Legally Blonde The Musical – Dulles High School
- Sophia Guillory as “Donna” – Mamma Mia! – Clear Springs High School
- Victoria Martinez as “Judy Beryl” – 9 to 5 – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Outstanding Actor Finalists
- Avery Buras as “Mary Poppins” – Disney’s & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – Friendswood High School
- Alex Levy as “Rev. Shaw Moore” – Footloose – The Emery / Weiner School
- Ella Fox as “Ariel” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – The Kinkaid School
- Harrison Kulis as “Elisha Whitney” – Anything Goes – The John Cooper School
- Ian Endom as “Moonface Martin” – Anything Goes – The John Cooper School
- Isabella Ramirez as “Portia” – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – B.F. Terry High School
- Siena Hill as “Scuttle” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – William B. Travis High School
Outstanding Dancer Finalists
- Angel Battad as “Tina” – Sister Act – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Irene Pletcher as “Scuttle” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – The Kinkaid School
- Jermya Sanders as “Michelle” – Sister Act – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Kaelyn Scott as “Ensemble” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Marvel High School
- Olivia Shoemaker as “Judy Haynes” – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Second Baptist School
Outstanding Honorable Mention Finalists
- Arianna George as “Louise Sneed-Hill” – The Unsinkable Molly Brown – Clear Brook High School
- Camryn Dallas as “Violet Newstead” – 9 to 5 – Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Ethan Rodriguez Torres as “Pirelli” – Sweeney Todd – Cypress Ranch High School
- Hezekiah Mayers as “Mr. Duvall” – Mean Girls: High School Edition – Summer Creek High School
- Josephine Hutchinson as “Hunyak” – Chicago: Teen Edition – Memorial High School
The Tommy Tune Awards spotlight more than performers—they showcase rising storytellers too! Each year, select Student Reporters cover the event through social media and behind-the-scenes content, bringing fresh takes from journalism, film, and media programs. Partnering with the Marketing Team, they capture everything from red carpet interviews to key show moments. One standout even earns the chance to cover the Jimmy Awards in New York City on June 23, taking their talents to a national stage. It’s a front-row pass to live theatre—and a chance to share the magic with the world!
The 2024/25 Student Reporters are:
- Annika Srivastava from Obra D. Tompkins High School
- Camila Delgado from Jordan High School
In addition to these awards, the Tommy Tune Awards Program awards scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to pursue a career in the arts.
Each year, high schools across the Houston area bring full-scale musicals to life, competing for top honors in 18 thrilling categories—from Outstanding Musical to Outstanding Choreographer, Director, Orchestra, and more. Over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, a panel of seasoned theatre professionals evaluated every production, carefully reviewing performances, technical achievements, and standout moments that made each show unforgettable. These adjudicators—directors, designers, choreographers, and musicians with deep roots in arts education—bring their expertise and passion to the judging process, recognizing excellence on and off the stage.
Named after Broadway icon and Houston native Tommy Tune, the awards honor the legacy of a performer, director, and choreographer whose dazzling career has earned nine Tony Awards. A proud Lamar High School alum, Tune has left an indelible mark on Broadway with legendary productions like Seesaw, My One and Only, Nine, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies. In 2003, his contributions to the arts were further recognized with the National Medal of Arts.
Jimmy Awards®
Of the 34 Tommy Tune Award nominees for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role, two will be selected via a rigorous audition process adjudicated by a panel of industry professionals ultimately winning an opportunity to represent Houston and TUTS at the Jimmy Awards. The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® are a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance and elevating the importance of theatre arts education in schools. The Jimmy Awards are presented by The Broadway League Foundation.
Theatre Under The Stars is grateful to our Tommy Tune Awards sponsor, H-E-B.
