The 14th Annual Sutton Foster Award Winners Crowned!
Michigan’s next generation of musical theatre talent had its spotlight moment this weekend as Lillian Tang from Bloomfield Hills High School and AJ Denomme (Tuck Everlasting) from Dakota High School were named the 2026 Sutton Foster Award winners. The honors were announced during the 14th annual Sutton Foster Awards Showcase, held Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Wharton Center for Performing Arts.
The annual showcase brings together some of the most promising high school musical theatre performers from across Michigan, celebrating not only polished stage presence but the discipline, growth, and artistry that go into leading a musical production. For Tang and Denomme, the night marked more than a local achievement. It also earned them the opportunity to represent Michigan on a national stage at the 2026 Jimmy Awards in New York City.
Named in honor of Michigan-born Broadway star Sutton Foster, the awards recognize outstanding individual achievement in high school musical theatre. Students are evaluated across the core skills that define a strong stage performer, including vocal performance, dance, acting, and overall artistic presence. This year, Tang and Denomme stood out among 150 high school drama students from across the state who competed for the honor.
Two students headed for Broadway
For Lillian Tang, the win came as an emotional surprise. Reflecting on the moment her name was called, she shared that she never expected to be standing in that position among so many talented, hardworking students. Her reaction captured exactly what makes programs like the Sutton Foster Awards so meaningful. They are not just about handing out trophies. They are about validating the effort of young performers who spend years rehearsing after school, balancing academics with late nights, and learning how to tell stories with honesty and confidence. Tang, representing Bloomfield Hills High School, now joins the long line of Michigan students whose local theatre work has opened the door to national recognition. Her win places her in a rare group of performers selected not only for technical skill, but for the ability to command a stage and connect with an audience.
For AJ Denomme of Dakota High School, the recognition carried a deeply personal meaning. He reflected on how his younger self would have been overwhelmed by the possibility of reaching this level. Denomme shared that his interest in theatre was shaped in part by his mother, who has been an actor throughout his life. Though he did not begin performing until high school, his win at the Sutton Foster Awards is proof that artistic paths do not need to start early to be powerful. That message matters. In a field that can sometimes make young artists feel as though they need to have everything figured out from childhood, Denomme’s story is a reminder that discovery can happen later and still lead somewhere extraordinary. His win is not just a celebration of talent. It is a celebration of courage, timing, and the willingness to step into something new.
Celebrating Michigan high school theatre at The Sutton Foster Awards
The Sutton Foster Awards have become an important annual tradition for Michigan high school theatre programs. They offer students a rare opportunity to perform in a professional environment, receive meaningful recognition, and connect with peers who share the same passion for musical storytelling. The showcase also highlights the strength of theatre education across the state. High school productions are often the first place where young performers learn collaboration, discipline, creative problem-solving, and confidence. Behind every nominee is a larger ecosystem of teachers, directors, choreographers, music directors, families, and classmates helping bring these productions to life.
This year’s finalists reflected that statewide depth of talent. Finalists for Outstanding Actress included Ella Kusina from Milford High School, Eva Leora from Henry Ford II High School, Lillian Tang from Bloomfield Hills High School, and Tierny Tocco from Romeo High School. Finalists for Outstanding Actor included Omar Atasi from Troy High School, AJ Denomme from Dakota High School, Ravi Mampara from Interlochen Arts Academy, and Luis Rodriguez from Lakeview High School.
Each finalist will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship, adding another layer of support for students as they continue their education and artistic development. While only two students advance to the Jimmy Awards, the finalist list itself is a strong reminder that Michigan’s high school theatre scene is filled with performers already doing impressive work.
Next stop: the Jimmy Awards
With their wins at the Sutton Foster Awards, Tang and Denomme will travel to New York City to compete in The National High School Musical Theatre Awards, better known as the Jimmy Awards. The 2026 ceremony will take place on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.
The Jimmy Awards bring together student performers from regional awards programs across the country. For nominees, the experience is more than a one-night ceremony. It includes training, coaching, rehearsals, and the opportunity to work alongside theatre professionals as you prepare to perform on a Broadway stage.
For Michigan’s two representatives, the trip to New York is both a major achievement and a beginning. Whether or not they return home with national titles, Tang and Denomme will have already joined a community of young artists recognized at one of the highest levels available to high school performers.
The Jimmy Awards have become one of the most visible platforms for emerging musical theatre talent in the country. Many students who participate go on to study theatre, perform professionally, or continue contributing to the arts in meaningful ways. Even for those whose paths diverge, the experience can be formative.
A bright moment for Michigan theatre
The 2026 Sutton Foster Awards showcased what theatre lovers across Michigan already know: the state’s high school stages are filled with remarkable talent. From Bloomfield Hills to Dakota, from Troy to Interlochen, from Milford to Lakeview, students are putting in the work, telling big stories, and stepping into roles that challenge them. Lillian Tang and AJ Denomme now carry that momentum forward as they prepare to represent Michigan at the Jimmy Awards. Their wins are personal milestones, but they are also a point of pride for the schools, teachers, families, and theatre communities that helped shape them.
At its best, theatre is about possibility. It asks performers and audiences alike to imagine something bigger, braver, and more connected than what they walked in with. For these two students, that possibility now leads all the way to Broadway. Michigan will be watching and cheering them on.
Make sure to stay up-to-date by checking out The Jimmy Awards!
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