Student Winners Announced for 2026 Ocean State Star Awards
This season, 22 high schools and 29 musicals participated in the program.
The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) just announced the winners of the 2025/2026 Ocean State Star Awards (OSSA) program. These winners will be recognized and honored on the PPAC stage during a live Showcase event on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 6:30P. A community outreach initiative of PPAC, the Ocean State Star Awards celebrate the talent, dedication and passion of students and educators, both onstage and behind the scenes, in high school musical theatre programs throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
This season, 22 high schools and 29 musicals participated in the program. Students and adults were recognized across 18 performance and technical categories; each production was evaluated by an adjudication team made up of theatre educators, professionals and aficionados.
Six productions earned the program’s highest honor of Outstanding Musical:
THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL — Bishop Hendricken High School (Warwick, RI)
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT — Joseph Case High School (Swansea, MA)
THE PROM — South Kingstown High School (South Kingstown, RI)
SHREK THE MUSICAL — St. Mary Academy – Bay View (East Providence, RI)
ANASTASIA — West Warwick High School (West Warwick, RI)
THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY — West Warwick High School (West Warwick, RI)
Twenty female performers received the award for Outstanding Lead: Actress and fifteen male performers were recognized with the award for Outstanding Lead: Actor. Additional performance awards were given for Outstanding Ensemble , Outstanding Supporting Performer, Outstanding Acting Performer, Outstanding Youth Performer, Outstanding Dance Performer and Honorable Mention in Performance.
Technical award categories include Outstanding Technical Achievement, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Music Director, Outstanding Stage Manager, Outstanding Orchestra, Outstanding Choreographer, Outstanding Set Designer, Outstanding Lighting Designer, Outstanding Sound Designer, Outstanding Costume Designer and Honorable Mention in Technical Achievement.
A musical number from five out of the six Outstanding Musicals will be showcased during the Ocean State Star Awards ceremony on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 6:30P. Throughout the evening, students honored for their achievements in acting, dance and performance will shine in a series of high‑energy group performance medleys and the winners in each category will also receive their awards on stage. The Showcase will culminate with the announcement of two Outstanding Lead Performers and two Alternate Lead Performers who will have the exciting opportunity to represent the state of Rhode Island at the prestigious national Jimmy Awards® in New York City. Performing in the Jimmy Awards® is a distinct honor for young people, as countless current Broadway performers have begun their careers at the Jimmy Awards®.
Tickets for the Ocean State Star Awards Showcase are available at ppacri.org/OSSA26. Students may purchase tickets for $22 with code OSSA26 (price is inclusive of all fees). A valid student ID is required for pickup at the PPAC Box Office.
Please visit ppacri.org/ossa for a complete list of winners across all 18 award categories.
PPAC congratulates all of the high schools, students and creative teams for their participation in the program and for all of their hard work in bringing musical theatre to life this season:
About the Providence Performing Arts Center
Located in the heart of Providence’s arts and entertainment district, the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) presents top-notch touring Broadway productions, comedy shows and concerts. Since 2008, 24 national tours have launched at PPAC. OPERATION MINCEMEAT: A NEW MUSICAL will be the 25th when it launches in September 2026.
PPAC is the second largest theatre of its kind in New England, with a seating capacity of 3100. The Loew’s Theatre Building, which is the historic home of PPAC, opened in October 1928 and is acclaimed for its stunning architectural design and grandeur. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977, PPAC consistently ranks among the top ten entertainment venues of its size nationwide, according to Pollstar/Venues Now and Billboard Magazine.
In addition to presenting all types of theatrical presentations, dance, comedy, concerts and more, PPAC is committed to providing the communities of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts with extensive educational and community outreach and engagement programs.
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