Congratulations to all six Leander ISD theatre programs for earning nominations in the 2025 Heller Awards for Young Artists! The awards will be held on April 16 at the Long Center in Austin. 

Cedar Park High School’s “Titanic,” Glenn High School’s “Into the Woods,” Leander High School’s “9 to 5,” Rouse High School’s “Cinderella,” Vista Ridge High School’s “Once Upon a Mattress,” and Vandegrift High School’s “Chicago” have all been nominated in multiple categories, including best musical direction, best costume design, and best production. 

The Heller Awards for Young Artists are held annually in Austin to celebrate excellence in musical theatre and arts education in the Central Texas region. 

LISD Heller Award Nominees

Best Choreography 

  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS

Best Musical Direction

  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS
  • 9 to 5 The Musical | Leander HS
  • Titanic | Cedar Park HS

Best Orchestra

  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS
  • Titanic | Cedar Park HS

Best Lighting Design

  • Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS
  • Titanic | Cedar Park HS

Best Costume Design

  • Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS
  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS

Best Scenic Design 

  • Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS
  • Chicago: Teen Edition | Vandegrift HS

Best Ensemble 

  • Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS
  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS

Best Featured Performer | Individual Category

  • Calleigh Bowers | Milky White | Into the Woods | Tom Glenn HS

Best Supporting Performer | Female Category 

  • Graylin Malwitz | Marie | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS
  • Bella Tamayo | Cinderella | Into the Woods | Tom Glenn HS

Best Supporting Performer | Male Category 

  • Reilly Favacho | Jack | Into the Woods | Tom Glenn HS

Best Lead Performer | Female Category 

  • Kinsley Keen | Ella | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS
  • Avery Linden | Judy Bernly | 9 to 5 The Musical | Leander HS
  • Chanse Solis | Queen Aggravain | Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS

Best Lead Performer | Male Category 

  • Grayson Levee | Barrett | Titanic | Cedar Park HS
  • Isaiah Barafwala | Topher | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse HS

Best Direction

  • Cinderella | Rouse HS
  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS

Best Production

  • Cinderella | Rouse HS
  • Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge HS

Student Achievement | Design 

  • Ryan Fontaine | Cedar Park HS
  • Sara Nishimura | Leander HS
  • Mya Barry | Rouse HS
  • Priscilla Burton | Tom Glenn HS
  • Carly Klein | Vista Ridge HS

Student Achievement | Marketing

  • Lily Hardie | Leander HS
  • Emma Bannister | Rouse HS
  • Ava Ludwig | Tom Glenn HS
  • Nicolas Pacelli | Vista Ridge HS

Student Achievement | Stage Management 

  • Charlotte Adair | Cedar Park HS
  • Mary Shammas | Leander HS
  • Savannah DeVille | Rouse HS
  • Grace Thomas | Tom Glenn HS
  • Kiera Aston | Vista Ridge HS
  • Lourdes Hernandez | Vandegrift HS