Altoona Community Theatre is pleased to announce the area high schools and individual students nominated for this season’s ISAAC AWARDS.

ACT’s 2026 ISAACS will be presented Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24 in the Historic Mishler Theatre. The Mission of the ISAAC AWARDS is to encourage & support excellence in high school musical theatre in our region through an annual awards and scholarship event that recognizes student achievement.

This year is the 21s Annual ISAACS AWARDS, the popularity of which has grown so large that ACT has expanded the event to two nights to accommodate the number of schools wishing to participate. Each night has its independent winners, meaning there will be two equal winners announced for each category over the weekend.

Tickets to the event are sold to the participating schools for their entire group. Family and friends wishing to attend the ceremony should contact their school for a ticket. It is very unlikely that there will be tickets for sale to the public.

Each year THE ISAACS distributes more than $60,000 in college scholarships to students participating in their high school musicals, underwritten by Title Sponsor Reliance Bank and others, including Penn State Altoona, Mount Aloysius College, Juniata College and Saint Francis University. The Steven C. Helsel Legacy Scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior who has been actively involved in some capacity with ACT. In addition, Bill and Ann Benzel (a long-time sponsor) presents each of the 18 schools in the ISAACS with $500 for their upcoming production budgets.

The 2026 ISAACS will feature 18 schools from a six-county area (Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon). During the year, two panels of judges from ACT views the schools’ musicals and determines the nominations in a variety of production and individual categories, the winners of which will be announced onstage at the Mishler between musical numbers from each school’s entry.

More information about the ISAACS can be found at altoonacommunitytheatre.com/isaac-awards

 

The schools and individual students for this year’s ISAACS nominations are:

⭐️SATURDAY, MAY 23, ISAACS⭐️

ACHIEVEMENT IN DESIGN NOMINATIONS

🏆STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY:

  • Altoona Area High School – The Secret Garden – Emma Lang, Lillian Goodman, Aubrey Huber for “Prologue”
  • Bellefonte Area High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Samantha Nedrow
  • Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School – Into the Woods – Paislee Lloyd (for Bird Sequence during the Prologue)
  • Huntingdon Area High School – The Addams Family – Jillian Tanner
  • Southern Huntingdon Area High School/Middle School – Disney’s Frozen – Madelynn Irvin for “Let it Go”
  • West Branch High School – Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins – Emily Shingledecker and Aubree Good for “Jolly Holiday”

🏆STUDENT DESIGN:

  • Altoona Area High School – The Secret Garden – Owen Carmel for Costume Design
  • Bellefonte Area High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Sierra Kolk for Scenic Design
  • Bellwood-Antis High School – Little Shop of Horrors – Lily Briggs for Prop Design and Construction
  • Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School – Into the Woods – Israel Hartman for Design and Operation of the Milky White puppet
  • Huntingdon Area High School – The Addams Family – Emilie Hayden for Proscenium Painting
  • Southern Huntingdon Area High School/Middle School – Disney’s Frozen – Kara Harper for Logo Design
  • West Branch High School – Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins– Ella Slabon, Codee Foster, Hilde Lautier, Juliette Hall, Ali McCamley, Lillian DeMoss and Evan Wooster for Set Construction & Painting and Prop Design

🏆STUDENT CREW:

  • Altoona Area High School – The Secret Garden – Stage Crew
  • Bellefonte Area High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Nick Confer and Sofa Malee for Lighting Design & Operation.
  • Bellwood-Antis High School – Little Shop of Horrors – Lily Briggs, Student Stage Manager; Dean Hoffer, Crew; Lucas Fulmer and Thad Norton as Audrey II Puppeteers.
  • Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School – Into the Woods – Stage Crew
  • Huntingdon Area High School – The Addams Family – Student Stage Crew and Spotlight Operators
  • Southern Huntingdon Area High School/Middle School – Disney’s Frozen – Blake Wible, Macy Book and Jakenzy Benson for Set Construction & Painting
  • West Branch High School – Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins – Ella Slabon, Codee Foster, Hilde Lautier, Juliette Hall, Ali McCamley, Lillian DeMoss and Evan Wooster – Stage Crew

PERFORMANCE NOMINATIONS

🏆BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MALE ROLE:

  • Owen Carmel – Archibald Craven – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • Aran Corey – The Baker – Into the Woods – Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
  • Brogan Little – Gomez Addams – The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School
  • Collin Matthews – Seymour Krelborn – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • Tony Swander – Lonny Barnett – Rock of Ages – Cambria Heights High School

🏆BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A FEMALE ROLE:

  • Lily Burns – Audrey – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • Lila Eamigh – Mary Lennox – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • Alice Haslam – The Baker’s Wife – Into the Woods – Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
  • Emily Schreffler – Janet Van De Graaff – The Drowsy Chaperone – Bellefonte Area High School
  • Braylinne Shaw – Princess Winnifred – Once Upon a Mattress – Tyrone Area High School

🏆BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MALE ROLE:

  • Christian Jennings – Audrey II – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • Zach McCamley – Aldolpho – The Drowsy Chaperone – Bellefonte Area High School
  • Logan Schaffer – Dr. Neville Craven – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • Lucas Snyder – Stacee Jaxx – Rock of Ages – Cambria Heights High School
  • Greg Wenzel – Dickon – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School

🏆BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FEMALE ROLE:

  • Gabrielle Beldin – Lily Craven – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • Sydney Hinish – Little Red Ridinghood – Into the Woods – Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
  • Camille Krug – Martha – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • Jalyn Meckley – The Drowsy Chaperone – The Drowsy Chaperone – Bellefonte Area High School
  • Layla Smith – Wednesday Addams – The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School

🏆BEST FEATURED ACTOR:

  • Connor Beeler – Oaken – Disney’s Frozen – Southern Huntingdon Area High School/Middle School
  • Takota Bracken – Franz Klinemann – Rock of Ages – Cambria Heights High School
  • Shalee Hoover – Bird Woman/Miss Andrew – Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins – West Branch High School
  • Tristin Riva – Orin Scrivello – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • Leah Solomon – Alice Beineke – The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School

🏆BEST ENSEMBLE:

  • The Dreamers Ensemble – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • Tottendale and Underling – The Drowsy Chaperone – Bellefonte Area High School
  • The Urchins – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • The Princes – Into the Woods – Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
  • The Ancestors – The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School

🏆BEST DANCE OR DANCER(S):

  • “Prologue” – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • “Cold Feets” – The Drowsy Chaperone – Bellefonte Area High School
  • “Skid Row (Downtown)” – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • “Tango De Amor” – The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School
  • “Spanish Panic” – Once Upon a Mattress – Tyrone Area High School

🏆BEST MUSICAL NUMBER:

  • “How Could I Ever Know” – The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • “Suddenly Seymour” – Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • “Act II Finale” – Into the Woods – Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
  • “When You’re An Addams” – The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School
  • “Happily Ever After” – Once Upon a Mattress – Tyrone Area High School

🏆BEST PRODUCTION:

  • The Secret Garden – Altoona Area High School
  • The Drowsy Chaperone – Bellefonte Area High School
  • Little Shop of Horrors – Bellwood-Antis High School
  • Into the Woods – Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
  • The Addams Family – Huntingdon Area High School

 

⭐️SUNDAY, MAY 24, ISAACS⭐️

ACHIEVEMENT IN DESIGN NOMINATIONS

🏆STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY:

  • Bishop Carroll Catholic High School – Disney’s Newsies – Annika Cassol, Madison Rezk and Taylor Shutty
  • Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – The Sound of Music – Kaitlyn Link
  • Central High School – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Marah Goff
  • Great Commission Schools – Singin’ in the Rain -Danny Kurty and Grant Michael
  • Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School – The Wizard of Oz – Madelyn Kay and Adison Manno
  • Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School – Grease – Grace Henry, Chloe Dunlap, Kyra DeLucia

🏆STUDENT DESIGN:

  • Bishop Carroll Catholic High School – Disney’s Newsies – Andrew Ostinowsky, Ella Beiswenger, Annika Cassol for Set Painting and Decorating
  • Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – The Sound of Music – Arielle Beisinger for Costume Design
  • Central High School – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Kaitlyn Olivieri, Scenic Artist
  • Glendale Jr./Sr. High School – Disney’s Frozen – Kara Smith for Set Design, Construction and Painting.
  • Great Commission Schools – Singin’ in the Rain – Alyson Miller for Set Design
  • Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School – The Wizard of Oz – Deakon Evans for Scenic Design and Painting.

🏆STUDENT CREW:

  • Bishop Carroll Catholic High School – Disney’s Newsies – Elaina Smith, Stage Manager and Crew
  • Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – The Sound of Music – Construction Crew – (Ty Halerz, Bianca Melgar, Leah Byrne, Julia Wesner, Dorothy Servello, Rebekah Adams, Caley Halerz, Mary Haigh and Griffen Chwatek)
  • Central High School – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Set and Water Crew
  • Great Commission Schools– Singin’ in the Rain – Stage Crew
  • Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School – The Wizard of Oz – Andrew Waslosky and Joey Woodring, Stage Managers
  • Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School – Grease – Stage Crew led by Stage Managers Belle “E” Paul, Anna Walker, Jonah Parsons and Layla Westwood and Stage Crew

PERFORMANCE NOMINATIONS

🏆BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MALE ROLE:

  • Izzy Boyer – Prince Eric – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • Roman Cienfuegos – Emmett Forrest – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School
  • Braydan Jones – Danny Zuko – Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • Grant Michael – Don Lockwood – Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • Andrew Ostinowsky – Jack Kelly – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School

🏆BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A FEMALE ROLE:

  • Michaela Edson – Kathy Selden – Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • Marah Goff – Ariel – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • Grace Henry – Sandy – Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • Sarabeth Lloyd – Elsa – Disney’s Frozen – Glendale Jr./Sr. High School
  • Hannah Smith – Elle Woods – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School

🏆BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MALE ROLE:

  • Evan Brumbaugh – Sebastian – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • Alex Krug – Davey – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • Daniel Kurty – Cosmo Brown – Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • Johnny Levonick – Kenickie – Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • Grier Williams – Hunk/Scarecrow – The Wizard of Oz – Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School

🏆BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FEMALE ROLE:

  • Claire Campbell – Paulette – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School
  • Abigail Pelesky – Marty – Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • Callie Smith – Scuttle – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • Kayelynn Summers – Lina Lamont – Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • Reagan Wharton – The Wicked Witch of the West – The Wizard of Oz – Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School

🏆BEST FEATURED ACTOR:

  • Brianna Clossin – Sister Berthe – The Sound of Music – Bishop Guilfoyle Academy
  • Chloe Gailey – Medda Larkin – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • Emma Gilbey – Olaf – Disney’s Frozen – Glendale Jr./Sr. High School
  • Elijah Sossong – Crutchie – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • Rainey Walker – Brooke Wyndham – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School

🏆BEST ENSEMBLE:

  • The Newsies – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • The Von Trapp Children – The Sound of Music – Bishop Guilfoyle Academy
  • The Trolls – Disney’s Frozen – Glendale Jr./Sr. High School
  • The Burger Palace Boys – Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • The Greek Chorus – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School

🏆BEST DANCE OR DANCER(S):

  • “Seize the Day” – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • “Under the Sea” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • “Make ‘Em Laugh” – Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • “Greased Lightnin’” – Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • “Whipped Into Shape” – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School

🏆BEST MUSICAL NUMBER:

  • “Once and For All” – Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • “Kiss the Girl” – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • “Singin’ in the Rain” – Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • “The Merry Old Land of Oz” – The Wizard of Oz – Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School
  • “What You Want” – Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School

🏆BEST PRODUCTION:

  • Disney’s Newsies – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
  • Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Central High School
  • Singin’ in the Rain – Great Commission Schools
  • Grease – Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School
  • Legally Blonde The Musical – State College Area High School

🏆SPECIAL AWARD: The “Rising Star Award”

  • Colston Chamberlain – Greg Heffley – Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Tussey Mountain Middle/High School
For complete information about the ISAAC AWARDS, visit ACT’s website at www.altoonacommunitytheatre.com/isaac-awards/
 
Businesses or individuals wishing to join ACT’s sponsorship roster for THE ISAACS may contact Tara Enedy, Executive Director, at
(814) 943-4357.