The Kentucky Performing Arts (KPA) Bradley Awards is officially announcing this year’s nominees and the ceremony will take place on May 31, 2026 at the historic Brown Theatre in Louisville. This program is an official regional awards program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), known also as The Jimmy Awards®. The KPA Bradley Awards will introduce talented youth in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to the national stage while celebrating the importance of theatre arts education.
The KPA Bradley Awards are named in honor of Bradley Broecker, whose central role in bringing touring Broadway shows to Kentuckiana has made an immeasurable impact on the region’s vibrancy. The KPA Bradley Awards are presented by KPA in partnership with the Louisville Theatrical Association.
The winning students awarded Best Actor and Best Actress in a Leading Role will represent the region at the 2026 Jimmy Awards® in New York City, which includes 10 days of individual coaching, master classes and rehearsals with theater professionals, all-expenses paid. The week will culminate in a national awards ceremony at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway Monday, June 22, 2026.
The KPA Bradley Awards seek to build community amongst the region’s high school musical theatre programs and amplify the significant accomplishments of our region’s educators and students.
The nominees for the 2026 KPA Bradley Awards are:
Behind the Scenes Excellence, sponsored by Bradley Broecker
- Sophie Stokley / Stage Manager
- Sydney Jeffries / Costume, Graphic & Scenic Design
- Sofia Martinez / Asst. Student Directing
- Daniel Amaral / Asst. Student Directing
- Taylor Glass / Makeup & Hair
Bryan Station High School, Lexington, KY – SWEENEY TODD: SCHOOL EDITION
- Ayla Starks / Costume Run Crew Lead
- Ralyne Moss / Costume Run Crew
- Aja Dawson / Costume Run Crew
Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA
- Anna Waddell / Stage Manager & Props Lead
Mercer County Senior High School, Harrodsburg, KY – THE WIZARD OF OZ
- Bailey Gilbert / Stage Manager
- Marita Smith / Stage Manager
- Cheyenne Poynter / Stage Manager
Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
- Ruby Laffin / Asst. Director and Student Conductor in the Pit
New Albany, New Albany, IN – PETER PAN
Outstanding Student Designer, sponsored by Think Tank Marketing
- Marita Smith, Scenic Design
Floyd Central High School, Floyd’s Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
- Ryan Chapman, Scenic Design
Assumption High School, Louisville, KY – ANASTASIA
- Eva Donis, Lighting Design
- Lily Jester, Hair & Makeup Design
Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, KY – HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION
- Gillian McClellan, Scenic Design
George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, KY – URINETOWN
Outstanding Technical Execution
- Rowan County Senior High School, Morehead, KY – LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION
- Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
- George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, KY – URINETOWN
- Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA
- McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA!
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Blake Martin as Mayor Shinn – Lafayette High School, Lexington, KY – THE MUSIC MAN
- Finn Eddleman as Amos Calloway – Larry A. Ryle High School, Union, KY – BIG FISH
- Tobin Love as Barnaby Tucker – Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
- Malakai Johnson as Wesleton/Oaken – Western Hills High School, Frankfort, KY – FROZEN
- Emmett Rathgeber as Ali Hakim – McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA!
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Addison Taylor as Little Becky
George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, KY – URINETOWN - Ellie Rue as Hilda Klinemann
Daviess County High School, Owensboro, KY – ROCK OF AGES: SCHOOL EDITION - Hadley Bauer as Minnie Fae
Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY! - Clara Pierce as Aunt Eller
McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA! - Hadley Roach as Widow
Lafayette High School, Lexington, KY – THE MUSIC MAN
Outstanding Dance Execution, sponsored by Caesars Foundation of Floyd County
- Lafayette High School, Lexington, KY – THE MUSIC MAN
- Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA
- McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA!
- Rowan County Senior High School, Morehead, KY – LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION
- Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
Outstanding Arts Mentor, sponsored by Bruce Merrick and Karen McCoy
- Jay Schwandt
Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA - Kate Osterloh
Franklin County High School, Frankfort, KY – HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION - Phyllis Westerfall
John Hardin High School, Elizabethtown, KY – MEAN GIRLS: HIGH SCHOOL VERSION - Angela Hampton
Floyd Central High School, Floyd’s Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY! - Savannah Fallis
McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA!
Outstanding Community Engagement
- Mercer County Senior High School, Harrodsburg, KY – THE WIZARD OF OZ
- Our Lady of Providence High School, Clarksville, IN – GODSPELL
- Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA
- Bryan Station High School, Lexington, KY – SWEENEY TODD: SCHOOL EDITION
- John Hardin High School, Elizabethtown, KY – MEAN GIRLS: HIGH SCHOOL VERSION
Outstanding Ensemble Performance, sponsored by Frank and Paula Harshaw
- McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA!
- Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
- Lafayette High School, Lexington, KY – THE MUSIC MAN
- Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA
- West Jessamine High School, Nicholasville, KY – HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Joey Paulin as Nick Bottom
Trinity High School, Louisville, KY – SOMETHING ROTTEN! - Jack Nelson as Curly
McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA! - Liam Curry as Prince Topher
Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA - Sterling Coleman as Jean Valjean
Rowan County Senior High School, Morehead, KY – LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION - Logan Yates as Tin Man
Mercer County Senior High School, Harrodsburg, KY – THE WIZARD OF OZ
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Haylee Miko as Cosette
Rowan County Senior High School, Morehead, KY – LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION - Halle Hunter as Elsa
Western Hills High School, Frankfort, KY – FROZEN - McKinley Harper as Penelope Pennywise
George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, KY – URINETOWN - Lyvia McCutchen as Hermes
Franklin County High School, Frankfort, KY – HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION - Sarah “Clay” House as Winthrop Paroo
Lafayette High School, Lexington, KY – THE MUSIC MAN
Overall Musical Production, sponsored by Michael E. Berry
- Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY – CINDERELLA
- Floyd Central High School, in Floyds Knobs, IN – HELLO, DOLLY!
- Rowan County Senior High School, Morehead, KY – LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION
- McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – OKLAHOMA!
- Trinity High School, Louisville, KY – SOMETHING ROTTEN!
The KPA Bradley Awards selected two student reporters to provide coverage of this year’s program and host the red carpet experience livestream, sponsored by Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), before the awards ceremony. Both students were submitted for consideration to serve as The Jimmy Awards® Student Reporters as well.
The 2026 KPA Bradley Awards Student Reporters
- Audrey Harris from Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, KY
- Colby Pennington from Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, IN
The 2026 KPA Bradley Awards will take place at the Brown Theatre (315 West Broadway in Louisville) on Sunday, May 31. The red carpet experience begins at 3:30PM and the ceremony begins at 5:00PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 15 at 12:00PM at KentuckyPerformingArts.org.
