The Rita Moreno Awards Reveals 2026 Nominees

Today, The Rita Moreno Awards revealed the 2026 nominees who will compete in front of a panel of judges on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM. This regional awards competition recognizes outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre from San Mateo County down to Kern County in Southern California. This year, 42 productions from 30 schools across 18 counties were submitted, with 382 students evaluated for their individual performances.
 
Nominees in the Overall Production, Lead Actor, and Lead Actress categories will perform live on stage at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, May 18, 2026 before a panel of judges as well as their family and friends.
 
Winners in the Lead Actor and Lead Actress categories will travel to New York City for the 17th Annual Jimmy Awards ceremony, where they will make their debuts on a Broadway stage alongside 114 other students from around the nation. During this unforgettable event at the Minskoff Theatre, a panel of judges will bestow a number of awards and scholarships, including the coveted awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress. Participants in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards will be in New York City from Friday, June 12, 2026, through Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Tickets for The Rita Moreno Awards are $25 and available now online.

OVERALL PRODUCTION:

Be More Chill
Abraham Lincoln High School (San Jose, CA)

A Chorus Line: Teen Edition
Bellarmine College Preparatory (San Jose, CA)

Something Rotten!
The Harker School (San Jose, CA)

Hadestown: Teen Edition
Highland High School (Bakersfield, CA)

In the Heights
Justin Garza High School (Fresno, CA)

Urinetown
San Luis Obispo High School (San Luis Obispo, CA)

LEAD ACTOR:

Jack Gunter as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady
Valley Christian School (San Jose, CA)

Tav Gur as Mr. D. in The Lightning Thief – Trident Cast
Sequoia High School (Redwood City, CA)

Izaiah Guttierez as Scuttle in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Abraham Lincoln High School (San Jose, CA)

Simon Kirjner as Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!
The Harker School (San Jose, CA)

Aidan Vega as Mark in Rent: Teen Edition
Burlingame High School (Burlingame, CA)

Grady White as Marius in Les Misérables: School Edition
Archbishop Mitty High School (San Jose, CA)

LEAD ACTRESS:

Bellanissa Aldape as Nina in In the Heights
Justin Garza High School (Fresno, CA)

Haileigh Anderson as Donna in Mamma Mia!
Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA)

Jasmine Peck as The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone
Woodside High School (Woodside, CA)

Gina Saccuman as Maureen in Rent: Teen Edition
Burlingame High School (Burlingame, CA)

Mia Salas as Eurydice in Hadestown: Teen Edition
Highland High School (Bakersfield, CA)

Lyra Ramayrat as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Abraham Lincoln High School (San Jose, CA)

SUPPORTING PERFORMERS:

Luke Bonner as Van Buren in Damn Yankees
Archbishop Mitty High School (San Jose, CA)

Scarlett Buatte as Officer Barrell in Urinetown
San Luis Obispo High School (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Maddy Fox as Clarisse in The Lightning Thief – Trident Cast
Sequoia High School (Redwood City, CA)

Sydney Frischer as Betany in Once Upon a One More Time
San Mateo High School (San Mateo, CA)

Avery Hartman as Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone
Woodside High School (Woodside, CA)

Charlotte Hunter as Chef Louis in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Abraham Lincoln High School (San Jose, CA)

Adam Johnston as Fate #3 in Hadestown: Teen Edition
Highland High School (Bakersfield, CA)

Na’ima Jones as Daniela in In the Heights
Justin Garza High School (Fresno, CA)

Omar Khan as Shylock in Something Rotten!
The Harker School (San Jose, CA)