National Youth Theatre is excited to announce the winners of our Fourth Annual National Youth Theatre Awards to honor outstanding work in youth theatre. This year more than 200 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more than 100 different theatres in more than 60 cities spanning 20 states. 

The award winners were selected from nominations by a panel of twelve judges and reviewers. In addition to the youth who performed in the youth theatre companies, anyone age 18 and under who performed at a show reviewed by a National Youth Theatre judge was also considered for the awards, as well as the adults who participated in the youth theatre productions backstage (directors, set designers, costume designers, etc.) and a limited number of guest adult actors in professional theatre for youth. Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year!

The winners will be formally presented with their awards at a ceremony honoring their accomplishments in different regions of the country including one in California, one in Phoenix for the Western half of the country excluding California, and one in New York City for the Eastern half of the country.

The California awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. at San Diego Junior Theatre, Cada del Prado Theatre, Balboa Park, 1800 El Prado in San Diego.

A complete listing of all the national award recipients and nominees can be found at the National Youth Theatre website at www.nationalyouththeatre.com.  Below is a listing of all the Inland Empire honorees. 

2008 – 2009 NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE * INLAND EMPIRE AWARDS

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
  Adrienne Tooley as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:
  Bryan Inman as Orin Scrivello DDS in Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
  Brian Smith as Professor Bhaer in Little Women: The Musical (Act One Theater Arts, Temecula, CA)
  Eryk Waligora as Bud Frump in How to Succeed… (Vista Murrieta High School, CA)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:
  Amanda Achen as Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun (CAT Corona, CA)
  Gabrielle Green as Phyllis Trout in Willy Wonka (CAT Corona, CA)
  Brooke Henton as Amy in Little Women: The Musical (Act One Theater Arts, Temecula, CA)
  Jessica Sharples as Marmee in Little Women: The Musical (Act One Theater Arts, Temecula, CA)
• Outstanding Guest Actor:
  Sean Kiralla as Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
• Outstanding Costume Design:
  Brenda Smith and Debbie Wolgemuth for Cats (Riverside Youth Theatre, CA)

2008 – 2009 NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE * INLAND EMPIRE NOMINATIONS

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
  Brittany Breeding as Sharpay Evans in High School Musical 2 (Riverside Youth Theatre, CA)
• Outstanding Lead Actor (13 and under):
  Joseph Stein as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka, Jr. (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:
  Austin Hinrichs as Laurie in Little Women: The Musical (Act One Theatre Arts, Temecula, CA)
  Austin Kruger as Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:
  Shanti Fyle as Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
  Antonina Pitruzzello as Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
  Alexandria Ray as Beth in Little Women: The Musical (Act One Theater Arts, Temecula, CA)
  Alissa Rae Salvati as Grizabella in Cats (Riverside Youth Theatre, CA)
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical:
  Fisher Kaake as the Masochist in Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
• Outstanding Ensemble:
  Cats (Riverside Youth Theatre, CA)
• Outstanding Costume Design:
  Beverly Baird for Willy Wonka (CAT Corona, CA)
• Outstanding Hair and Make-up Design:
  Aaron Broderick for Peter Pan (CAT Corona, CA)
• Outstanding Lighting Design:
  Ashley Jenks for Willy Wonka, Jr. (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
  Mark McCullough for Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)
• Outstanding Set Design:
  Chris Tornow for Peter Pan (CAT Corona, CA)
• Outstanding Choreography:
  Marcus S. Daniel for Cats (Riverside Youth Theatre, CA)
• Outstanding Direction:
  Jillian Stones for Little Shop of Horrors (Temecula Performing Arts Company, CA)