Gilmour Academy Joins Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards Program

Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, has announced its participation in this year’s Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards program. This initiative, which has celebrated the significance of musical theater and arts education in Northeast Ohio high schools for the past decade, highlights the achievements of students and productions in local schools.

Significance of the Dazzle Awards Program

Presented by Pat and John Chapman, the Dazzle Awards program culminates in a ceremony scheduled for May 16, 2026. This annual event recognizes outstanding musical theater productions and student performances across 15 categories, including Best Musical, Best Actor/Actress, Best Student Orchestra, and Best Student Technical Execution. Nominations and awards are determined through evaluations by an independent panel of adjudicators.

Since its inception, the program has engaged approximately 18,000 students from 57 schools in the region, fostering a vibrant arts education community. The Dazzle Awards are also affiliated with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, known as The Jimmy Awards, presented by The Broadway League Foundation. Winners in the Best Actor and Actress categories will represent Northeast Ohio at The Jimmy Awards during the summer.

Opportunities for Students

Lucas Clark, Gilmour Academy’s Fine and Performing Arts Program Coordinator, expressed the importance of participation in the program, stating, “Not only does our participation in the Dazzle Awards allow us to showcase our students’ talents to a wider local audience, but it also opens the door to boundless educational opportunities offered through Playhouse Square.”

The Performing Arts program at Gilmour Academy provides a comprehensive range of opportunities for students at all levels. Young children start with Music & Movement, while Lower School students in grades K-6 participate in Christmas and spring concerts, learn various instruments, and receive formal vocal instruction. They can also join the chorus and take part in Upper School drama performances.

Middle School students engage in band or chorus and participate in the annual Middle School musical, presented each spring. Upper School students have the option to select from a variety of electives, including Pops Ensemble, music theatre workshop, play directing and production, set design, and scene painting. The Drama Club stages a production each fall and spring. This fall, the club will perform “Hairspray” at 7 p.m. on November 21 and 22, and at 2 p.m. on November 23, in The Lorraine and Bill Dodero Center for Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art facility on Gilmour’s campus.

For more information about the Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards, interested parties can visit playhousesquare.org/dazzleawards.