For the first time in its history, the Heller Awards for Young Artists honored two productions with the Best Production accolade. This prestigious event recognizes outstanding achievements in musical theater across 37 regional high schools. Held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on April 16, the ceremony captivated a nearly full audience as Cedar Ridge High School’s “Catch Me If You Can” and Zach Performing Arts Academy’s “Into the Woods” shared the top prize. Additional highlights included Walker Wallace from Round Rock High School and Raegan Gonzales from Weiss High School being chosen to represent Austin at the Jimmy Awards, Broadway's equivalent of the Tony Awards for high school talent.
This year marked another milestone as Langston Lee of Rouse High School became the first-ever nominee from Austin's Heller Awards to win nationally in 2023. The awards show, produced and directed by Ginger Morris of Impact Arts, featured an impressive array of performances, including selections from eight nominated shows and medleys by select ensembles. A significant announcement during the ceremony revealed that next year’s event will relocate to the larger Bass Concert Hall on the University of Texas campus, aligning with UT Texas Performing Arts’ partnership initiatives.
The 2025 ceremony celebrated numerous categories, recognizing excellence in choreography, musical direction, orchestra, lighting design, costume design, scenic design, technical execution, and more. Cedar Ridge High School excelled in both choreography and costume design for their production of “Catch Me If You Can,” while Vista Ridge High School earned praise for its musical direction in “Once Upon A Mattress.” Georgetown High School's orchestra for “Sweeney Todd (School Edition)” was also lauded.
Additional honors went to East View High School for lighting design in “Bright Star” and Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) for scenic design in “Hadestown (Teen Edition).” McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy received commendation for best technical execution in “Tuck Everlasting.” Individual performers were recognized for their exceptional contributions, including Writer Collis from East View High School and Elora Clarke from McCallum High School.
As the ceremony concluded, it underscored the growing prominence of the Heller Awards in nurturing young talent. With plans to expand into larger venues and further collaborations with UT Texas Performing Arts, the future looks bright for these aspiring artists. Moving forward, the program continues to inspire and elevate high school musical theater across the region.