A Dickens of an Emily

National Youth Theatre has announced the winners of its Second Annual National Youth Theatre Awards to honor outstanding work in youth theatre. This year more than double the shows from last year were considered for the awards, including 89 youth productions from 56 different theatres in 44 cities spanning 11 states.

Emily Laudeman, a Round Barn Theatre veteran, has been selected for an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. Emily, who is home schooled, is on her way to Elon University in North Carolina to study music theatre in its performing arts program. Yes, Emily has a God given talent. But here’s the story of how she honed her talent to achieve this national recognition. At the age of 14 she took to our stage with a flourish as one of the fluorescent Bird Girls in Suessical: The Musical. She began taking voice lessons for Marty Fox and others or our company. She filled in as Katie Yoder in Plain and Fancy when she was needed. She starred in Bye Bye Birdie. She sweat out dance rehearsals while attending untold rehearsals. She was the role model for 16 other high school student actors in our sold out production of High School Musical. She fulfills all of her roles with maturity well beyond her years. There is always a smile on her face. No contemporary athlete works harder or applies his or her talent with more concentration than Emily. She makes being in the business of live musical theatre a joy.

The award winners were selected from nominations by a panel of eight judges and reviewers. In addition to the youth who performed in the youth theatre companies, any minor (under age 18) who performed at a show reviewed by a National Youth Theatre judge was also considered for the awards, as well as the adults who participated in the youth theatre productions backstage (directors, set designers, costume designers, etc.).

The winners will be formally presented with their awards at a ceremony honoring their accomplishments the night of Sunday, August 12 at the Herberger Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona, a space generously hosted by Valley Youth Theatre who will be performing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the theatre.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:

Hannah Bentley as Rose Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)

Veronica Domingo as Kim in Miss Saigon (Las Vegas Academy, NV)

Amanda Duvall as Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical (Christian Youth Theater-Chicago, Elmhurst, IL)
Ariel Ellis as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (The Rising Curtain Theatre & Dance Academy, Arvada, CO)

Kaitlyn Hickey as Jo March in Little Women (Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix, AZ)

Bethany Kelly as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Horizon High School, Thornton, CO)

Emily Laudeman as Gabriella Montez in Disney’s High School Musical (Amish Acres, Nappanee, IN)

Ashley Machacek as Gabriella in Disney’s High School Musical (Kids on Stage, Stevensville, MI)

Kelly Oury as Lola in Damn Yankees (The Rising Curtain Theatre & Dance Academy, Denver, CO)