2026 Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced | News Detail
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:31
2026 Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced | News Detail
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2026 Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced
2026 Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced
Jennifer LaRocca
Mar
25
2026
For the first time in school history, Fort Bend Christian Academy participated in the Tommy Tune Awards, the official regional program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®). The Tommy Tune Awards represent public and private high schools across the Greater Houston area, with over 6,000 students and 70+ shows competing in 28 musical theatre performance and technical categories.
After 26 preliminary nominations announced in the fall, we were honored to be recognized as FINALISTS in the following 5 categories:
1. OUTSTANDING MUSICAL FINALIST
(the highest group honor of the Tommy Tune Awards): 1 of 8 finalists across 70+ shows. The cast of 23 Honors Theatre Production students will perform a number from Hadestown: Teen Edition on the mainstage at the Hobby Center on Friday, May 8, 2026 and are eligible to win overall Best Musical.
2. OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR
:
Sarah Patterson
. One of 10 director finalists across 70+ productions, eligible to win Best Director.
3. OUTSTANDING LEAD FINALIST
:
Gabby Anthony as EURYDICE.
One of 17 Lead Performer Finalists. Gabby will undergo a rigorous, nearly three-week audition process along with other Lead Performer Finalists to determine which two students will represent the Greater Houston area at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®) in New York City this summer. Gabby will also perform as a soloist in medleys on the main-stage at the Hobby Center for the Tommy Tune Awards on May 8. Gabby is eligible to win Best Lead Performer along with other individual recognitions as part of this prestigious Lead Performer Finalist experience.
4.
OUTSTANDING DANCER FINALIST
:
Joellie Cadiz as WORKER/ENSEMBLE/YOUNG
PERSEPHONE. One of just 9 Outstanding Lead Dancer Finalists, eligible to win Outstanding Dancer. In addition to being eligible for this award, Joellie will perform alongside fellow nominees in a dance medley on the mainstage at the Hobby Center for the Tommy Tune Awards on May 8. Joellie also co-choreographed Hadestown: Teen Edition.
5. OUTSTANDING HONORABLE MENTION FINALIST
:
Harper Brown as WORKER/ENSEMBLE
. One of just 7 Honorable Mention Finalists, eligible to win Outstanding Honorable Mention. In addition to being eligible for this award, Harper will perform alongside fellow finalists in a musical theatre medley on the mainstage at the Hobby Center for the Tommy Tune Awards on May 8.
In addition,
Zachary Rudge
was selected as the troupe's "Show Shirt Performer" and will perform on the mainstage alongside one representative from each Tommy Tune Award-participating school at the ceremony. Six FBCA technical theatre students and TUTS Teen Apprentices were selected to work behind the scenes at the Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony:
Zac Chen, Carmela Cordova, Abigale Hutchens, Aislinn Molinos, Austin Norton, and Rebecca Wijnja.
This achievement represents the tremendous work of the 23 student performers, 12 student technical crew, and Stagecraft students who began work over the summer to conceive, design, and create the world of Hadestown: Teen Edition. We felt it was something very special last fall, and it is a true honor to be able to "sing it again" while representing our school and Creator among the region's best high school musical theatre programs.
The Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 8 at 7pm at the Hobby Center in Downtown Houston. Tickets will be on sale to the public on March 25 @ TUTS.COM
NewsHub
Skip To Main Content
2026 Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced
2026 Tommy Tune Award Finalists Announced
Jennifer LaRocca
Mar
25
2026
For the first time in school history, Fort Bend Christian Academy participated in the Tommy Tune Awards, the official regional program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®). The Tommy Tune Awards represent public and private high schools across the Greater Houston area, with over 6,000 students and 70+ shows competing in 28 musical theatre performance and technical categories.
After 26 preliminary nominations announced in the fall, we were honored to be recognized as FINALISTS in the following 5 categories:
1. OUTSTANDING MUSICAL FINALIST
(the highest group honor of the Tommy Tune Awards): 1 of 8 finalists across 70+ shows. The cast of 23 Honors Theatre Production students will perform a number from Hadestown: Teen Edition on the mainstage at the Hobby Center on Friday, May 8, 2026 and are eligible to win overall Best Musical.
2. OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR
:
Sarah Patterson
. One of 10 director finalists across 70+ productions, eligible to win Best Director.
3. OUTSTANDING LEAD FINALIST
:
Gabby Anthony as EURYDICE.
One of 17 Lead Performer Finalists. Gabby will undergo a rigorous, nearly three-week audition process along with other Lead Performer Finalists to determine which two students will represent the Greater Houston area at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®) in New York City this summer. Gabby will also perform as a soloist in medleys on the main-stage at the Hobby Center for the Tommy Tune Awards on May 8. Gabby is eligible to win Best Lead Performer along with other individual recognitions as part of this prestigious Lead Performer Finalist experience.
4.
OUTSTANDING DANCER FINALIST
:
Joellie Cadiz as WORKER/ENSEMBLE/YOUNG
PERSEPHONE. One of just 9 Outstanding Lead Dancer Finalists, eligible to win Outstanding Dancer. In addition to being eligible for this award, Joellie will perform alongside fellow nominees in a dance medley on the mainstage at the Hobby Center for the Tommy Tune Awards on May 8. Joellie also co-choreographed Hadestown: Teen Edition.
5. OUTSTANDING HONORABLE MENTION FINALIST
:
Harper Brown as WORKER/ENSEMBLE
. One of just 7 Honorable Mention Finalists, eligible to win Outstanding Honorable Mention. In addition to being eligible for this award, Harper will perform alongside fellow finalists in a musical theatre medley on the mainstage at the Hobby Center for the Tommy Tune Awards on May 8.
In addition,
Zachary Rudge
was selected as the troupe's "Show Shirt Performer" and will perform on the mainstage alongside one representative from each Tommy Tune Award-participating school at the ceremony. Six FBCA technical theatre students and TUTS Teen Apprentices were selected to work behind the scenes at the Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony:
Zac Chen, Carmela Cordova, Abigale Hutchens, Aislinn Molinos, Austin Norton, and Rebecca Wijnja.
This achievement represents the tremendous work of the 23 student performers, 12 student technical crew, and Stagecraft students who began work over the summer to conceive, design, and create the world of Hadestown: Teen Edition. We felt it was something very special last fall, and it is a true honor to be able to "sing it again" while representing our school and Creator among the region's best high school musical theatre programs.
The Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 8 at 7pm at the Hobby Center in Downtown Houston. Tickets will be on sale to the public on March 25 @ TUTS.COM
NewsHub