Blue Star Awards Winners Honored at Starlight Theatre

The 2021 winners of Starlight's Blue Star Awards were recently revealed in a ceremony held on Thursday, May 20. A year of many firsts, the 19th annual Blue Star Awards granted more than $10,000 in scholarships-the most ever awarded in the program-and introduced a new category, the Dream Production Award.

For the 2020-21 Blue Star Awards, Starlight made adjustments to highlight broader work of schools and students with the opportunity to submit materials in seven categories. Categories ranged from areas of performance, technical achievement and theatre program support. More than 90 students in musical theatre received nominations.

Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, some of Starlight's 19th annual Blue Star Award winners are Millie Bell of Olathe East High School-the first ever recipient of the Dream Production Award, which highlights the creativity of students working in the areas of design, direction and choreography. Elaine Watson and Nadia Higareda each received a Rising Star Scholarship, and Justin Cooley took home the Blue Star Award for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role with Ava Wolesky receiving the award for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role. See below for a full list of 2020-21 Blue Star Awards winners.

The 2021 Blue Star Awards are sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and CommunityAmerica.

2020-2021 Blue Star Awards Winners

Dream Production Award
Millie Bell for Choreography
Olathe East High School

Rising Star Scholarship
Elaine Watson
Lee's Summit North High School

Rising Star Scholarship
Nadia Higareda
Liberty North High School

Community Impact Award
Winnetonka High School

Technical Achievement Award
Breanna Kristian for Stage Management and Properties Design
Olathe East High School

Technical Achievement Award
Grant Martin for Costume Design
Olathe East High School

Technical Achievement Award
Nathan Caskey for Lighting Design and Scenic Construction
Raymore-Peculiar High School

Performance Scholarship
Darcie Hingula
St. Teresa's Academy

Performance Scholarship
Elaine Watson
Lee's Summit North High School

Performance Scholarship
Emily Clark
Platte County High School

Performance Scholarship
Maddy Terril
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School

Performance Scholarship
Madelynn Darst
Platte County High School

Performance Scholarship
Sydney Nicks
Olathe East High School

Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role
Justin Cooley as Dmitry - Olathe East - Anastasia

Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role
Ava Wolesky as Esmeralda - Liberty North - The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Congratulations to all of the winners. For information regarding all of Starlight's community engagement programs, visit kcstarlight.com/engage.

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