CAPA Reveals Winners Of 2026 Marquee Awards
Marysville High School's ANYTHING GOES and stars from URINETOWN and PIPPIN take top honors at the Ohio Theatre.
The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) announced the winners in all 13 categories of the 2026 CAPA Marquee Awards presented by American Electric Power Foundation at its annual showcase, held May 13 at the Ohio Theatre.
In addition to announcing the 2025-2026 winners, the event featured performances from the nominees for Best Musical Production, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Best Actress in a Leading Role, as well as opening and closing numbers that incorporated nominated students from participating high schools. A student technical team also worked backstage.
Designed to recognize and celebrate the wealth of high-caliber musical theatre talent in central Ohio, this year-long, educational program offers selected high schools the opportunity to participate in professional theatre education activities throughout the school year. During the 2025-26 school year, each of the 31 participating central Ohio high schools also submitted a musical theatre production for review by the program's team of professional adjudicators.
Best Musical Production
Marysville High School, Anything Goes
Best Actor in a Leading Role Sponsored by Danbert, Inc.
Zeke Moses, Bexley High School, Bobby Strong in Urinetown
Best Actress in a Leading Role Sponsored by Johnson Investment Counsel
Amaya Washington, Reynoldsburg High School, Leading Player in Pippin Revival Version
Best Direction Sponsored by Denison University
Brianna Bizzaro, Marysville High School, Anything Goes
Outstanding Ensemble Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, N.A.
Marysville High School, Anything Goes
Outstanding Dance Execution Sponsored by The McCurdy Family Foundation
Marysville High School, Anything Goes
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Sponsored by Electrical Service Professionals
Malachi Gullick, Eastmoor Academy High School, Sonny in In the Heights
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Sponsored by Huntington
Bella Hines-Chapman, Eastmoor Academy High School, Carla in In the Heights
Outstanding Technical Execution Sponsored by Mary Beth and Luke McCormick
Marysville High School, Anything Goes, Stage Manager: Johanna Olofsson
Outstanding Student Designer Sponsored by The Pam and Jack Beeler Family Fund of The Columbus Foundation
Fynn Asendorf, Arts and College Preparatory Academy, Sound Design, Mamma Mia!
Backstage Excellence Sponsored by ImprovEdge
Costume Crew, Westerville South High School, Les Misérables School Edition
Outstanding Student Orchestra Sponsored by The DiMarco Family Fund of The Columbus Foundation
New Albany High School, Chicago: Teen Edition
National Student Reporter Sponsored by Sinclair Broadcasting ABC6/FOX28/CW Columbus
Alivia Lash, Hamilton Township High School
Payton Theile, Bexley High School
Zeke Moses and Amaya Washington, winners of Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, will now compete nationally at The 2026 Jimmy Awards/National High School Musical Theatre Awards. They will participate in “Jimmys Week,” a theatre intensive led by Broadway professionals and industry experts, and compete on the national level for the 2026 Jimmy Awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress.
Additionally, CAPA nominated two students for the National Student Reporter program – Alivia Lash of Hamilton Township High School, and Payton Theile of Bexley High School. The category is sponsored locally by Sinclair Broadcasting ABC6/FOX28/CW Columbus.
Payton Theile was selected by the Jimmy Awards as one of 10 national finalists.
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