5/6/2026
Education and Outreach
(From left) 2025 Jimmy Awards winner Chis Hayes, Spotlight Award winner Gavin Rodriguez, Outstanding Lead Actor Micah Giron, Outstanding Lead Actress Emily Leonard, Spotlight Award winner Eliana Abramson and Smith Center President and CEO Myron Martin
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts announced winners in 23 award categories at its 2026 Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards on May 3, 2026, held inside majestic Reynolds Hall.
Leading the way were Micah Giron from Carson High School and Emily Leonard from Spring Valley High School as this year’s Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Lead Actress respectively.
In recognition of their dedication and talent, both will receive a complimentary 10-day trip to New York City, where they will perform on a Broadway stage in June and represent Nevada in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, also known as the Jimmy Awards®, named after legendary theater producer James M. Nederlander.
Created by The Smith Center to recognize the state’s top musical theater students, this year’s event featured dazzling singing and acting performances by musical theater students from 27 Nevada high schools, including 10 finalists selected to perform solo routines. The event also showcased ensemble performances from high school theater productions by students from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, Faith Lutheran Conservatory of the Fine Arts, Green Valley High School and Liberty High School.
Las Vegas composer Keith Thompson and KTNV anchor Justin Hinton served as hosts for this year’s event.
To celebrate the many collaborative efforts involved with high school productions, The Smith Center presented a wide variety of awards this year, honoring performers and talents from high school theater programs across Southern Nevada.
The 2026 Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards recipients:
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Outstanding Lead Actor: Micah Giron, Carson High School
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Outstanding Lead Actress: Emily Leonard, Spring Valley High School
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Spotlight Award (Lead Actor Runner-Up): Gavin Rodriguez, Lake Mead Christian Academy
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Spotlight Award (Lead Actress Runner-Up): Eliana Abramson, Liberty High School
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Spirit of Broadway Award (Chosen by Peers): Brady Rotello, Doral Academy Red Rock High School
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Spirit of Broadway Award (Chosen by Peers): Shaylee Cooley, Centennial High School
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Spirit of Broadway Award (Chosen by Creative Team): Michael Biasella, Centennial High School
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Spirit of Broadway Award (Chosen by Creative Team): Devyn Kellner, Carson High School
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Outstanding Supporting Performer: David Lee, Doral Academy Red Rock High School
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Outstanding Supporting Performer: Kaylee Grewe, Lake Christian Academy
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Outstanding Student Lighting Technician: Aria Quesada-Mathis, Bishop Gorman High School
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Outstanding Student Stage Manager: Henry White, Bishop Gorman High School
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Outstanding Student Stage Manager: Ioanna Ge, The Meadows School
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Outstanding Student Audio Technician: Olivia Pusateri, Bishop Gorman High School
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Outstanding Student Reporter: Autumn Grace Tabb, Palo Verde High School
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Outstanding Costume Design and Creation: Centennial High School
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Outstanding Set Design and Construction: Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts
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Outstanding Lighting Design and Execution: Sierra Vista High School
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Outstanding Direction: Bishop Gorman High School
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Outstanding Ensemble: Faith Lutheran Conservatory of the Fine Arts
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Outstanding Choreography Execution: Doral Academy Red Rock High School
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Outstanding Audio Design and Execution: Coronado High School
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Outstanding Student Orchestra: The Meadows School
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Outstanding Overall Musical: Spring Valley High School
In the months leading up to the event, The Smith Center enlisted a team of impartial theater professionals to serve as judges. Panels of three judges attended the productions of nominated high schools to adjudicate the shows in the eligible award categories.
On Sunday, five judges completed the process – Patrick Bryant, a dancer and performer who recently appeared in Hamilton; Paul Canaan, a Broadway performer and the founder of Take It From the Top, which provides professional mentoring to aspiring young artists; Jacquelyn Holland-Wright, a Las Vegas local and Broadway veteran who performed in Mamma Mia and currently stars in Menopause The Musical; Noah Rivera, an actor, dancer and choreographer whose credits include Wicked and Jersey Boys; and Jacob Yandura, a New York City-based composer best known for his musical How to Dance in Ohio – scoring the 10 finalists’ solo performances to award the Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress awards to Giron and Leonard.
Chris Hayes, the 2025 Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards Lead Actor who went on to become Nevada’s first-ever Jimmy Awards winner for Best Performance by an Actor, was on hand to address the crowd about his experience and present the 2026 Lead Actor and Actress awards to Giron and Leonard.
Giron delivered a powerful performance of “His Kiss, the Riot” from Hadestown and Leonard demonstrated her dynamic vocal range with “Flowers,” also from Hadestown.
Their trip to New York will include private coaching, master classes and rehearsals with renowned professionals. Participants in the national event will also receive opportunities for merit scholarships and professional advancement, along with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform onstage at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. The event will culminate with a panel of industry experts selecting two exceptional students for the Jimmy Award® for Best Performance.
On Sunday, Gavin Rodriguez from Lake Mead Christian Academy and Eliana Abramson from Liberty High School each earned a Spotlight Award. They will serve as alternates at the national competition, in case Giron and/or Leonard are unable to attend.
Explore the full Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards gallery on Facebook.
For more information about the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards and to learn how to participate during the 2026-2027 school year, visit TheSmithCenter.com/Education/ or call 702-749-2538.
UMC is a proud community supporter of the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards.