Interview: BROADWAY BOUND: MEET THE 2026 BROADWAY SAN DIEGO AWARDS NOMINEES
Twenty student performers, countless dream roles, and one giant step toward Broadway. Cheer them on at the 2026 Broadway San Diego Awards on Sunday, May 24th
The future of musical theatre is taking center stage in San Diego.
On Sunday, May 24, the Top 20 nominees for the 2026 Broadway San Diego Awards will perform at the historic Balboa Theatre in a one-night showcase celebrating the incredible talent thriving in high school theatre programs across the county. Selected from 31 schools through a Tony Awards®-style adjudication process, these students will spend the week leading up to the event training with theatre professionals through workshops, coaching, and mentorship opportunities at San Diego State University's MFA Musical Theatre Program.
The evening, co-hosted by Marcella Lee and Joey Landwehr, will honor Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Actress, with two students advancing to The Jimmy Awards in New York City this June. Before they step into the spotlight, we asked this year’s nominees to share "What’s one role you dream of playing someday?" and "What’s something people might not realize about being a student performer?"
Chase Boertje - nominated for playing Nick Bottom, SOMETHING ROTTEN! at Carlsbad High School
I think people may not realize how important doing theatre as a student is, both for ourselves and for our communities. For many of us as high schoolers, performing and watching theatre allows us to escape our hardships as we navigate through this often confusing and difficult time in our lives. It allows us to express ourselves in more nuance than we can on our own. More than that, theatre educates. It shows us our faults and how we can improve, reveals our similarities and differences, and it makes us more empathetic towards others. I have learned more about the world and about myself from theatre than I can express, and I hope more efforts are made to encourage young people to step out of their comfort zones and perform themselves.
Isabella Burer - nominated for playing Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, HELLO, DOLLY! at Santa Fe Christian School
Something people may not realize about being a student performer is the amount of work this craft requires outside of the rehearsal space. Dance, voice, and acting lessons can take up a lot of time and, through extra practice, help to build subtle progress that leads up to one certain performance or show!
Gabriela Chait - nominated for playing Catherine of Aragon, SIX THE MUSICAL: TEEN EDITION at Canyon Crest Academy
My dream role is to play Nina in In the Heights. I’ve always had a special connection to that show as a Latina woman, plus the music, dancing, and pride the show carries is absolutely incredible. And to play Nina and be able to tell her story would be a dream come true.
Julia Davidson - nominated for playing Red Cross Nurse/Queen of Hearts, ALICE BY HEART at Coronado High School
Something that people might not realize about being a student performer is just how much work is put into our art. It becomes everything you do, and I find that so beautiful because it allows you to connect with people around you who also love and embrace the performance life.
Sophie Espinoza - nominated for playing Mrs. Dolly Gallagher, HELLO, DOLLY! at Classical Academy
A role I’ve always wanted to play is Sally Bowles in Cabaret. A beautiful yet complex character with so many different layers that I would love to honor and portray her with the dedication that she deserves.
Andrea Felix - nominated for playing Beatrice Bottom, SOMETHING ROTTEN! at Carlsbad High School
Something people might not realize about being a student performer is how much we juggle in a single day compared to a typical student or performer. Along with keeping up with schoolwork, we also have to protect our voices, rehearse for hours, and perform in shows. At the beginning of this school year, I was auditioning for colleges, rehearsing for my school’s fall play and show choir, performing in the play and show choir concerts, and visiting schools, all while still attending classes and keeping up with my responsibilities as a student.
Benji Fox - nominated for playing Harry, MAMMA MIA! at Canyon Crest Academy
One role I dream of playing one day would be Evan Hansen in “Dear Evan Hansen.” This show means so much to me and makes me feel seen in every possible way.
Skylar Grace - nominated for playing Portia, SOMETHING ROTTEN! at Carlsbad High School
One day, I would love to play Alice Paul in “Suffs.” I have a deep interest in stories about complex women whose histories deserve to be told.
Logan Hamilton - nominated for playing Tarzan, TARZAN at Canyon Hills High School
Being a young student performer, you have to work really hard, but still enjoy your time doing it. And through such hard work, making connections will be more plentiful and easier than you may have anticipated.
Sophia Hughes - nominated for playing Katherine Howard, SIX THE MUSICAL: TEEN EDITION at Canyon Crest Academy
My dream role would definitely be Amalia Balash from “She Loves Me.” I would love to bring to life her entertaining songs and her intelligent, funny, and passionate character. I hope someday to play her!
Justin Lee - nominated for playing King Arthur, SPAMALOT at La Costa Canyon High School
One of my dream roles is Don Quixote from “Man of La Mancha” because of his belief in restoring honor, kindness, and chivalry. In today’s world, where it can feel like respect and compassion are sometimes missing. Whether in sports, public discourse, or everyday interactions, I really connect with Quixote’s determination to pursue an “impossible dream” and try to make the world better despite the odds.
Teo Levy - nominated for playing Corny Collins, HAIRSPRAY at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
Something people might not realize about being a student performer is how emotionally demanding it can be. There’s also this strange experience of constantly being perceived and judged before even figuring out who you are as a person. A lot of young performers become incredibly emotionally aware very quickly because theater forces you to study human behavior, empathy, and connection at an age when most people are still trying to understand themselves.
Logan Loerzel - nominated for playing Nostradamus, SOMETHING ROTTEN! at Carlsbad High School
A role I dream of playing someday is probably Quasimodo from “Hunchback of Notre Dame” because I've always wanted to dive into the character and try my take of the character and show a side I don't really see other performers do.
Jackson Martin - nominated for playing Cornelius Hackl, HELLO, DOLLY! at Classical Academy
A role that I dream of playing someday is the Balladeer in Sondheim’s “Assassins.” It’s been one of my favorite shows for quite a long time, with some of my favorite music, and the vocals of the Balladeer are some of Sondheim’s best. Even though it’s a niche show, it’s just been one of my dreams to even be in it.
Elijah May - nominated for playing Edward Bloom, BIG FISH at Cathedral Catholic High School
I’d love to play Michael Jackson someday. I don’t really sound like him, I can’t sing like him, and I can’t really dance like him, but he has an amazing backstory, and I’d love to be able to do it justice someday.
Marcellino Mendoza - nominated for playing Trent Oliver, THE PROM at Westview High School
The student part of being a student performer is a little challenging at times. Alongside long rehearsals after school, at times, it can be hard to balance training with homework and social life. However, doing so really proves to be the fruits of your labor, and having gratitude to acknowledge where you’re at really helps to bring you back to the present moment.
Addison Nesbitt - nominated for playing Katherine, FREAKY FRIDAY at Coronado High School
I have loved exploring the character of Celie Harris Johnson from “The Color Purple” and how strong she is as a character. I also really appreciate the artistry of the soundtrack and the journey that this amazing show brings us on as an audience.
Ali Nelson - nominated for playing Seaweed J. Stubbs, HAIRSPRAY at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
Something people don’t realize is that the amount of hard work that goes into it, and still approaching it as if we are professionals — that’s it’s something we love, but it is also serious and hard work.
Amanda Nurding - nominated for playing Ellie, FREAKY FRIDAY at Coronado High School
My biggest dream role currently would have to be Natalie from “Next To Normal”. But when I get older, I would love to play Diana. They're both such interesting characters who share some of the same experiences, but overall, the messages they portray are so different and important that it would be so fun to play both of them in very different periods of my life.
Therese Schanzenbach - nominated for playing Mrs. Molloy, HELLO, DOLLY! at Classical Academy
One role I dream of playing is Anya in Anastasia! Since I was a little girl, I have always loved that musical. My Best Friend and I would sing the songs together in my bedroom and dance around with my music box. I always hoped I would one day get to do that on stage!
This year’s nominees prove that the next generation of theatre artists is already shining bright. Whether they’re Broadway-bound or simply soaking in every moment of this experience, these students represent the passion, talent, and joy that make live theatre so special — and this showcase is only the beginning.
You can support them on Sunday, May 24th at 6pm at the historic Balboa Theatre. Tickets are $20.00, and you can purchase them at www.Awards.BroadwaySD.com
Photo Credit: Broadway San Diego
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