A record 48 high schools will participate in 2026-27 Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards

FreshWater Staff Thursday, September 24, 2026
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MIra Cahalane at the Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards on Saturday, May 17, 2025.MIra Cahalane at the Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards on Saturday, May 17, 2025.Playhouse Square’s 2026-2027 Dazzle Awards presented by Pat and John Chapman set a new new record this season, with 48 Northeast Ohio high schools in seven counties participating in the program.

The Dazzle Awards recognize and foster excellence in high school musical theater programs across the region. The annual awards ceremony in May honors the efforts and achievements of students, both onstage and behind the scenes, and features performances from nominated schools and students.

Beyond the ceremony, the Dazzle Awards offer educational programming throughout the school year—providing a variety of educational resources for young artists. Programs include workshops, classes, and apprenticeship programs to help students hone their craft by learning from industry professionals.

The 48 schools participating in this year's Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards presented by Pat and John Chapman are:

  • Akron School for the Arts
  • Andrews Osborne Academy
  • Aurora High School
  • Avon High School
  • Avon Lake High School
  • Bay High School
  • Beaumont School
  • Bedford High School
  • Benedictine High School
  • Brunswick High School
  • Buckeye High School
  • Chagrin Falls High School
  • CMSD All-City Musical
  • Columbia High School
  • Copley High School
  • Eastlake North High School
  • Elyria Catholic High School
  • Euclid High School
  • Gilmour Academy
  • Hathaway Brown School
  • Hawken School
  • Highland High School
  • Hudson High School
  • Independence High School
  • Lake Catholic High School
  • Lakewood High School
  • Laurel School
  • Lutheran West
  • Magnificat High School
  • Marion L. Steele High School
  • Mayfield High School
  • Medina High School
  • Nordonia High School
  • North Ridgeville High School
  • Oberlin High School
  • Padua Franciscan High School

  • Playhouse Square Dazzle AwardsPlayhouse Square Dazzle AwardsRocky River High School

  • Saint Ignatius High School
  • Saint Joseph Academy
  • Shaker Heights High School
  • Solon High School
  • Strongsville High School
  • Thomas W. Harvey High School
  • Trinity High School
  • Walsh Jesuit High School
  • West Geauga High School
  • Western Reserve Academy
  • Willoughby South High School
The Dazzle Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 22, 2027. Awards are presented to outstanding musical theater productions and to students in 15 categories, including Best Student Scenic Design, Best Ensemble/Chorus, and Best Musical.The 2025 Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square.The 2025 Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square.

Nominations and awards are based on the evaluations of an independent panel of judges.

The Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards Program presented by Pat and John Chapman is affiliated with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards ("The Jimmy Awards") presented by The Broadway League Foundation.

The Dazzle Awards winners for Best Actor and Best Actress will represent Northeast Ohio at The Jimmy Awards in June 2027 at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City.