2015 Show of the Year JRAY Winner for Dramatic Musical, Miss Saigon, performed by Huntington Beach APA.
2015 Show of the Year JRAY Winner for Comedic Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, performed by Mira Costa High School.
Kelsey Kato, 2015 JRAY Actor of the Year.
Nicole Morris, 2015 JRAY Supporting Actress of the Year.
HUNTINGTON BEACH APA AND ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS STUDENTS WIN TRIP TO NEW YORK AT JOHN RAITT AWARDS FOR YOUTH
Kelsey Cato, who played the Engineer in Huntington Beach APA’s “Miss Saigon”, and Nicole Morris, who played Diana in OCSA ‘s “A Chorus Line”, each won $1500 cash and a trip to New York where they will undergo four days of intensive training with Broadway Professionals and be showcased before Broadway and National Tour Casting Directors. The awards were presented by the John Raitt Awards for Youth (JRAY) event held in Fullerton’s Plummer Auditorium Saturday, May 23, 2015.
The JRAY also presented $1000 college scholarship assistance to four Orange County students: Fernando Cardenas, Yorba Linda High School; Kelsey Gagen, OCSA; Jacquelyn Cutts, Tri-School; Lulu Pellizzari, La Habra High School.
In the first five years of the National High School Theatre Awards competition in New York, the JRAY had two first place winners and one second place winner—more than any other program in the entire USA. 2014, the first year of affiliation with Broadway Artists Alliance, Kyra Johnson,the JRAY Actress of the Year winner, was singled out by one of the casting directors and signed to play Sophie the daughter in the national tour of ‘Momma Mia” starting August 2015.
The JRAY, sponsored by FCLO Music Theatre, presented over 200 awards to deserving theatre students from twenty-four high schools Saturday, May 23, 2015. Below is a list of the winners and nominees in each award category.
| INDIVIDUAL AWARDS | ||
| ACTOR OF THE YEAR | SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Cameron Boyer | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Fernando Cardenas | Yorba Linda High School | Bells Are Ringing |
| Nick Ferguson | Citrus Valley High School | Shrek, The Musical |
| Max Havas | Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| Kelsey Kato WINNER |
Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon |
| Jackson Prince | Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls |
| Anthony Skillman | Orange Lutheran High School | Footloose |
| Andy Sligh | Village Christian School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Sean Soper | Mater Dei High School | Little Shop of Horrors |
| Tyler Swires | Marina High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Nicholas Welter | San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown |
| ACTRESS OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Emily Abeles | Marina High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Molly Billman | LACHSA Musical Theatre Department. | A Little Night Music |
| Lily Buonocore | Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon |
| Mary Desmond | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Kyra Johnson | Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| Julia McDermott WINNER | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Zoya Martin | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Kyla Stone | SOCSA, at Dana Hills High School | Aida |
| Jordan Wilhelm | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| Valerie Williams | Fullerton Union HS Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun |
| FEATURED ACTOR OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Cale Airey | Laguna Beach High School | Bye Bye Birdie |
| Charlie Battaglia | Orange Lutheran High School | Footloose |
| Xavier Castanada WINNER |
Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Austin Christensen | Newport Harbor High School | You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown |
| Jason Marrs | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Matt Moore | Mater Dei High School | Little Shop of Horrors |
| Gino Roberto | Yorba Linda High School | Bells Are Ringing |
| Steve Wehner | Tri-School Theatre | Grease, School Version |
| FEATURED ACTRESS OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Stephanie Argent | SOCSA, at Dana Hills High School | Aida |
| Kaylee Bashor | San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown |
| Marlena Becker | Laguna Beach High School | Bye Bye Birdie |
| Hannah Butler | Tri-School Theatre | Grease, School Version |
| Jenna Luck | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Katy Mayhew | Poly High School, Riverside | The Spitfire Grill |
| Daisy Pacheco | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Annie Reznik WINNER |
LACHSA Musical Theatre Department | A Little Night Music |
| Bailey Beaudoin-Scanlan | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Annemarie Werthwein | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Jacob Bernal | Poly High School, Riverside | The Spitfire Grill |
| Chris Carranza | Citrus Valley High School | Shrek, The Musical |
| Zach Estrada | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Zane Fair | Laguna Beach High School | Bye Bye Birdie |
| Zach Fogel | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Jeremy Ingraham | SOCSA, at Dana Hills High School | Aida |
| Chris Lowery | LACHSA Musical Theatre Department | A Little Night Music |
| Terren Mueller WINNER |
Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| James Olivas | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Cole Wachman | Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon |
| SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Audrey Bivens | Orange Lutheran High School | Footloose |
| Abby Bush | LACHSA Musical Theatre Dept. | A Little Night Music |
| Calyssa Frankel | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Abigail Halverson | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| Kymberlin Martin | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Nicole Morris Winner | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Paige Parker | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Ashley Patrick | SOCSA, at Dana Hills High School | Aida |
| Sabrina Von Bogenberg | Newport Harbor High School | You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown |
| Ellie Walters | Poly High School, Riverside | The Spitfire Grill |
| COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Matthew Arthur | Marina High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Davis Ferrero | Mater Dei High School | Little Shop of Horrors |
| Alex Gordillo | Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| Ron Gutterman | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Jacob Hall | Citrus Valley High School | Shrek, The Musical |
| Tristan McIntyre WINNER |
Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls |
| Brandon Martinez | Tri-School Theatre | Grease, School Version |
| James Ripple | Village Christian School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Matthew Shoup | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Jeremy Thulemeyer | Orange Lutheran High School | Footloose |
| COMEDIENNE OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Rebecca Anderson | Marina High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Jessica Martin | Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| Emily Relph | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Hadley Thomas | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Lynn Valkov | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| Macy Warner WINNER |
Yorba Linda High School | Bells are Ringing |
| CAMEO OF THE YEAR – FEMALE |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Sarah Colen | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Kira Del Toro Rubeshaw | Tri-School Theatre | Grease, School Version |
| Hallie Kostrencich | Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| Sue Ann Lin | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| Caitlyn McCain | Poly High School, Riverside | The Spitfire Grill |
| Rachel Umana WINNER |
Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| CAMEO OF THE YEAR – MALE |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Daniel Chaderjian | Fullerton Union HS Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun |
| Joseph F.P. Galandeynes | Village Christian School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Rigo Gonzales | Poly High School, Riverside | The Spitfire Grill |
| Patrick Gray WINNER |
La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Connor Hill | San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown |
| Tyler Lloyd | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Xeno Muller | Corona del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical |
| John Reed | Walnut High School | Oliver! |
| Ethan Schlatter | Laguna Beach High School | Bye Bye Birdie |
| Cooper Summers | Yorba Linda High School | Bells are Ringing |
| SOLOIST OF THE YEAR – FEMALE |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Amanda Harris | LACHSA Musical Theatre Dept. | A Little Night Music |
| Rachel Kamran | Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical |
| Yassi Noubahar WINNER |
Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls |
| Madeline Reynolds | Orange Lutheran High School | Footloose |
| Heidi Salas | Walnut High School | Oliver! |
| Isabella Wouters | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| SOLOIST OF THE YEAR – MALE |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Max Remington | Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical |
| Andrew Rudy | Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls |
| Austin Tebay | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Adrian Villegas WINNER |
Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon |
| DANCER OF THE YEAR – FEMALE |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Gracie Benward | Village Christian School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Natalie Conn WINNER |
Orange Lutheran High School | Footloose |
| Abigayle Du Chateau | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Erica Hodges | Tri-School Theatre | Grease, School Version |
| Sara Katz | Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls |
| Morgan Nostrand | Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, the Musical |
| Kalena Tamura | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Emily Taylor | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Ruby Wilson | Marina High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Karen Wu | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| DANCER OF THE YEAR – MALE |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Coleton Falke | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Kenley Farance | San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown |
| Ryan Fiene | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Sean Gibson | Mater Dei High School | Little Shop of Horrors |
| Palo Hernandez | LACHSA Musical Theatre Department | A Little Night Music |
| Michael Laverde | Fullerton Union HS Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun |
| Michael Reehl | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Lorenzo Rangel-Santos WINNER |
Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Isaac Spector | Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls |
| SCHOOL AWARDS | ||
| STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Hector Aguirre & Seamus Geoghegan | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Katya Beener & McKenna Vargas | Fullerton Union HS Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun |
| Raven Chatt WINNER |
Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon |
| Eric Depalma | Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical |
| Ryan Farhat | Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical |
| Kelsey Gagen | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Austin Kendrick | Mater Dei High School | Little Shop of Horrors |
| Lauren Spera | Laguna Beach High School | Bye Bye Birdie |
| McKenzie Stephens & Caroline Wilkes | Newport Harbor High School | You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown |
| Sara Stickler | San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown |
| ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR (shared) |
SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical | Jacqueline Jecmen |
| Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon | Tim Nelson |
| La Habra High School | In The Heights | Brian Johnson |
| Mira Costa High School WINNER |
Thoroughly Modern Millie | Cary Jordahl/Carol J. Mathews |
| Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical | Kathy Cannarozzi Harris |
| Orange County School of the Arts WINNER |
A Chorus Line | Krysta Rodriguez |
| Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition | Nicole Thompson |
| San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown | Cambria Beilstein |
| Temple City High School | 42nd Street | Matthew G. Byers |
| Village Christian School | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Thom Babbes |
| Yorba Linda High School | Bells are Ringing | Cathy Petz |
| STUDENT ORCHESTRA OF THE YEAR (shared) |
SHOW | CONDUCTOR |
| Beverly Hills High School WINNER |
Guys and Dolls | Bill Bradbury |
| Citrus Valley High School | Shrek, The Musical | Scott Nelson |
| Fullerton Union High School Academy of the Performing Arts | Annie Get Your Gun | Scott Hedgecock |
| Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts WINNER |
Miss Saigon | Gregg Gilboe |
| LACHSA Musical Theatre Department | A Little Night Music | Alan Mautner |
| Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Mark McCormick |
| Newport Harbor High School | You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown | Kevin Weed |
| Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line | Amy Eklund |
| SOCSA, at Dana Hills High School | Aida | Steve Wade |
| Temple City High School | 42nd Street | Bert Ferntheil |
| Walnut High School | Oliver! | Corey Wicks |
| CHOREOGRAPHY | SHOW | CHOREOGRAPHER |
| Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical | Jacqueline Jecmen & Cami Marseilles |
| Fullerton Union High School Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun | Michele Stevens |
| La Habra High School | In the Heights | Annie Lavin |
| Mira Costa High School WINNER |
Thoroughly Modern Millie | Christopher M. Albrecht |
| Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical | Kristi Davar |
| San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown | Melissa Staub |
| Temple City High School | 42nd Street | Jennifer McCrary |
| Village Christian School | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Julietta Corti |
| Yorba Linda High School | Bells Are Ringing | Frankie Marrone |
| COSTUMES | SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Citrus Valley High School | Shrek, The Musical | Elena Villa |
| Fullerton Union High School Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun | Michael Despars |
| Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts | Miss Saigon | Tim Nelson |
| Mater Dei High School | Little Shop of Horrors | Joe Alanes |
| Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical | Kathy Cannarozzi Harris |
| San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown | Cambria Beilstein |
| SOCSA, Dana Hills High School WINNER |
Aida | Brittany Casey |
| CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION |
SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical | Jacqueline Jecmen |
| Fullerton Union High School Academy of the Performing Arts | Annie Get Your Gun | Michael Despars |
| Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts Winner | Miss Saigon | Tim Nelson |
| Laguna Beach High School | Bye Bye Birdie | Mark Dressler |
| Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Cary Jordahl/Carol J. Mathews |
| Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical | Kathy Cannarozzi Harris |
| Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line | Krysta Rodriguez |
| San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown | Cambria Beilstein |
| Temple City High School | 42nd Street | Matthew G. Byers |
| Walnut High School | Oliver! | Joanne F. Karr |
| SOUND/AUDIO | SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Beverly Hills High School WINNER |
Guys and Dolls | Brad Vincent |
| Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical | Jacqueline Jecmen |
| Newport Harbor High School | You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown | Amy Poe |
| LIGHTING | SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts WINNER |
Miss Saigon | Tim Nelson |
| Newport Harbor High School | You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown | Amy Poe |
| Poly High School, Riverside | The Spitfire Grill | Chris MarkerMorse |
| San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown | Cambria Beilstein |
| SETS (shared) |
SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Citrus Valley High School WINNER |
Shrek, The Musical | Elena Villa |
| Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts | Miss Saigon | Tim Nelson |
| Mission Viejo High School – Stage Craft Class | Legally Blonde, The Musical | Kathy Cannarozzi Harris |
| San Juan Hills High School WINNER |
Urinetown | Cambria Beilstein |
| SOCSA, at Dana Hills High School | Aida | Brittany Casey |
| DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR |
SCHOOL | SHOW |
| Cambria Beilstein | San Juan Hills High School | Urinetown |
| Matthew G. Byers | Temple City High School | 42nd Street |
| Michael Despars | Fullerton Union HS Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun |
| Jacqueline Jecmen | Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical |
| Brian Johnson | La Habra High School | In the Heights |
| Cary Jordahl/Carol J. Mathews | Mira Costa High School | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Tim Nelson | Huntington Beach APA | Miss Saigon |
| Cathy Petz | Yorba Linda High School | Bells are Ringing |
| Krysta Rodriguez WINNER | Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line |
| Nicole Thompson | Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition |
| DRAMATICAL MUSICAL OF THE YEAR |
SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts WINNER | Miss Saigon | Tim Nelson |
| Los Angeles County High School for the Arts – Musical Theatre Department | A Little Night Music | Stephanie Vlahos |
| La Habra High School | In the Heights | Brian Johnson |
| Orange County School of the Arts | A Chorus Line | Krysta Rodriguez |
| MUSICAL COMEDY OF THE YEAR |
SHOW | DIRECTOR |
| Beverly Hills High School | Guys and Dolls | Brad Vincent |
| Corona Del Mar High School | Seussical, The Musical | Jacqueline Jecmen |
| Fullerton Union High School Academy of the Arts | Annie Get Your Gun | Michael Despars |
| Mira Costa High School WINNER | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Cary Jordahl/Carol J. Mathews |
| Mission Viejo High School | Legally Blonde, The Musical | Kathy Cannarozzi Harris |
| Palos Verdes High School | Avenue Q, School Edition | Nicole Thompson |
| Temple City High School | 42nd Street | Matthew G. Byers |
| Yorba Linda High School | Bells are Ringing | Cathy Petz |
