The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) announced nominees in all 13 categories of the 2026 CAPA Marquee Awards, presented by American Electric Power Foundation. The program, now in its latest edition, had 31 central Ohio high schools submit musical theatre productions for review by professional adjudicators during the 2025-26 school year.

Leading nominees include Eastmoor Academy High School’s production of In the Heights, which earned nods for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Malachi Gullick), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Bella Hines-Chapman), Outstanding Dance Execution, and Outstanding Ensemble. Grove City High School’s Chicago: Teen Edition received nominations for Outstanding Student Orchestra, Outstanding Dance Execution, and Outstanding Ensemble. Marysville High School’s Anything Goes earned recognition for Backstage Excellence, Outstanding Dance Execution, and Outstanding Technical Execution.

Best Musical Production nominees are Bexley High School (Urinetown), Bishop Watterson High School (The Wizard of Oz), Eastmoor Academy High School (In the Heights), Grove City High School (Chicago: Teen Edition), and Westerville South High School (Les Misérables School Edition). Nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role went to Estefania Garcia (Eastmoor Academy), Payton Gernhard (Pickerington Central), Maggie Homan (Bishop Watterson), Faith Morton (Westerville South), and Zoie Williams (Grove City).

The awards ceremony will take place at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus. CAPA’s Marquee Awards program offers participating schools professional theatre education activities throughout the school year in addition to production adjudication.

Source: https://www.capa.com/news/capa-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-marquee-awards-presented-by-american-electric-power-foundation/