San Dieguito Academy performers win National Youth Arts Awards

An awards ceremony was held July 12 for San Dieguito Academy students who were winners in the 10th annual National Youth Arts Awards event.

SDA winners recognized at the matinee ceremony held at Canyon Crest Academy included these students:

Outstanding lead actor in a play went to San Dieguito Academy’s Caleb Gibson as Lennie in “Of Mice and Men.”

Outstanding lead actress in a musical went to San Dieguito Academy’s Samantha Steinberg as Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins.”

Outstanding supporting actress in a musical went to SDA’s Rachel Dovsky as Jane Banks and Shea Fairbanks Galaudet as Michael Banks, both for “Mary Poppins.” In addition, Galaudet won as Page in “The Mouse that Roared. SDA was also awarded outstanding ensemble for “Mary Poppins.”

NYA is a member-based organization that honors outstanding work by youth in the arts. This year more than 400 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more than 160 different members in more than 70 cities spanning 13 states.

Winners were selected from nominations by a panel of more than 25 judges and reviewers. In addition to the youth who performed in schools and youth theatre companies, anyone age 18 and under who performed at a show reviewed by a National Youth Arts judge was also considered for the awards, as well as adults who participated in the youth productions as directors, designers or choreographers, according to NYT’s website.

Locally, a team of 17 volunteer judges saw 64 shows among 27 different groups for the North County awards, said Rob Hooper, NYT executive director.

Photos by Jon Clark.