{"id":510,"date":"2026-06-20T17:01:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T17:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fortworthmovingnews.com\/?p=510"},"modified":"2026-06-20T17:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T17:01:20","slug":"casa-manana-honors-best-in-high-school-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fortworthmovingnews.com\/?p=510","title":{"rendered":"Casa Manana honors best in high school talent"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fort Worth is renowned as one of America\u2019s best cities for top-notch theatre. It has produced its fair share of Broadway talent and a plethora of other stars criss-crossing the country on a variety of tours.<\/p>\n

Read more Commentary: To help kids learn, parents need to Go Beyond Grades<\/a><\/p>\n

Such stars as Major Attaway (longest-running Genie in Broadway\u2019s \u201cAladdin\u201d), Jay Armstrong Johnson (\u201cMoulin Rouge\u201d and \u201cHair\u201d) and Adrianna Hicks (\u201cSIX\u201d and \u201cSome Like It Hot\u201d) hail from Fort Worth.<\/p>\n

One of the long-standing traditions of the Fort Worth Theatre scene is Casa Manana. Built in 1958, just 114 days after city council approval, it was the first permanent musical arena theatre in the United States. And it was where Tony Award winner and Fort Worth\u2019s Betty Buckley got her start with her professional debut at age 15 in \u201cGypsy.\u201d She would also perform in productions such as \u201cThe Sound of Music\u201d in the early 1980s, and has taught master classes, along with having a high school excellence award named after her, the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards.<\/p>\n

The 26th annual edition of those awards were held recently. The event recognizes the best in Tarrant County and surrounding area high school talent. In true transparency, high school theatre has long been dear to my own heart. As a high school actor, doors were opened for me to go to college, spend a decade as a radio broadcaster and now as a theatre writer\/critic.<\/p>\n

I even met my wife, the lovely Mrs. Junell, while performing onstage 15 years ago. Theatre has impacted my life in so many positive ways \u2013 and it all started in high school, as it has with the many winners and nominees of the Buckley Awards over the years.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s ceremony was led by host Quinn VanAntwerp, actor\/writer\/producer with the national tour of \u201cShucked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe beauty of the Buckley Awards is the attention the ceremony brings to high school arts. We are bringing together theater departments from across the area to celebrate and highlight the students\u2019 achievements throughout the year,\u201d Casa Manana President\/Executive Producer Wally Jones said. \u201cIt is our way of showcasing the productions happening on stage and the work these students put into every show.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also gives us a glimpse into the future of theatre in Fort Worth \u2013 and even beyond. A host of these award winners have gone on to great success in the world of theatre, as likely will several of this year\u2019s winners and nominees.<\/p>\n

The big winners at this year\u2019s event was the theatre department at Trophy Club Byron Nelson High School. Their production of \u201cMatilda\u201d walked away with five awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoon Over Buffalo,\u201d by Richland High School, won four and Flower Mound\u2019s \u201cSunset Boulevard\u201d captured two. Liberty Christian High School also won twice, once each for separate productions of \u201cCurtains\u201d and \u201cFreaky Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The complete list of this winners:<\/p>\n

*Excellence in Scenic Design: Jack Layton, \u201cMoon Over Buffalo,\u201d Richland High School.<\/p>\n

*Excellence in Lighting Design: Jenna Dyer and Sam Springston, \u201cMatilda,\u201d Byron Nelson High School.<\/p>\n

*Herb Silverberg and Stan Kolker Youth Orchestra Award: \u201cMatilda,\u201d Byron Nelson High School.<\/p>\n

Read more Perryman: Despite global turmoil, international trade is growing \u2013 and that\u2019s good<\/a><\/p>\n

*Excellence in Sound Design: Peyton Meyer, \u201cMatilda,\u201d Byron Nelson High School.<\/p>\n

*Bobbie Wygant Scholarship Award: Malachi Cooks.<\/p>\n

*Excellence in Costume Design: Addy McKinley and Elizabeth Graybiel, \u201cSunset Boulevard,\u201d Flower Mound High School.<\/p>\n

*Excellence in Choreography: Emma Brown, Bryanna Coffee and Ella Jaymes Saltzgiver, \u201cHadestown: Teen Edition,\u201d Weatherford High School.<\/p>\n

*Excellence in Stage Management: Elisa Kelly, Caitlin Benedict and Grayson Zimmerman, \u201cMatilda,\u201d Byron Nelson High School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (Play): Ramon Hernandez as \u201cHoward\u201d in \u201cMoon Over Buffalo,\u201d Richland High School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Play): Kylie Martin as \u201cNick Bottom\u201d in \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream,\u201d Birdville High School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (Musical): Spencer Ritsema as \u201cRobert Martin\u201d in \u201cThe Drowsy Chaperone,\u201d Waxahachie High School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Musical): Emma Hurd as \u201cCarmen Bernstein\u201d in \u201cCurtains,\u201d Liberty Christian School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Play): Oliver Morgan as \u201cGeorge Hay\u201d in \u201cMoon Over Buffalo,\u201d Richland High School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Play): Ava Martin-Sanchez as \u201cToinette\u201d in \u201cThe Imaginary Invalid,\u201d Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts.<\/p>\n

*Karen and Stanley Pirzchalski Award: Isabella Green<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Musical): Benjamin Kegg as \u201cJoe Gillis\u201d in \u201cSunset Boulevard,\u201d Flower Mound High School.<\/p>\n

*Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Musical): Hadley Hill as \u201cMatilda Wormwood\u201d in \u201cMatilda,\u201d Byron Nelson High School.<\/p>\n

Read more Tyler McCarty<\/a><\/p>\n

*Outstanding Educator Award: Brian Ketcham; Keller High School.<\/p>\n

*Excellence in a Play: \u201cMoon Over Buffalo,\u201d Richland High School.<\/p>\n

*Excellence in a Musical: \u201cFreaky Friday,\u201d Liberty Christian School.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fort Worth is renowned as one of America\u2019s best cities for top-notch theatre. It has produced its fair share of Broadway talent and a plethora of other stars criss-crossing the country on a variety of tours. Read more Commentary: To help kids learn, parents need to Go Beyond Grades Such stars as Major Attaway (longest-running […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture"],"yoast_head":"\nCasa Manana honors best in high school talent - Fort Worth Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fortworthmovingnews.com\/?p=510\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Casa Manana honors best in high school talent - Fort Worth Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fort Worth is renowned as one of America\u2019s best cities for top-notch theatre. 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