Hennepin Arts is proud to announce the 2025-2026 Spotlight Showcase Select Track participants for Triple Threat on Hennepin, Technical Theater Career Pathway, Student Publicist and Spotlight Orchestra. Selected through a competitive process, these Minnesota high school students represent the next generation of performers, creators, leaders and storytellers.

Spotlight Showcase is Minnesota’s largest celebration of high school theater, bringing more than 1,200 students together at the historic State Theatre for an unforgettable experience. Throughout the program, students work alongside theater professionals from Minnesota, Broadway and beyond while developing skills, building connections and gaining hands-on experience in all areas of theater.

Meet this year’s Select Track participants:

Triple Threat on Hennepin

Triple Threat on Hennepin engages junior and senior students with interest or experience in singing, acting, dancing and leadership. These students auditioned for a panel of theater professionals and will participate in intensive coaching and rehearsals during Spotlight Showcase.

  • Kiara Angline (Burnsville High School)

  • Maddy Campbell (Rogers High School)

  • Naomi Carter (Central High School, St. Paul)

  • Ethan Christensen (White Bear Lake Area High School)

  • Chloe Erickson (Prior Lake High School)

  • Gabbie Fadina (Creative Academy, Maple Grove)

  • Luzi Feldmann (Delano High School)

  • Holly Flood (White Bear Lake Area High School)

  • Indigo Gabriel (Kennedy High School, Bloomington)

  • Heaven Gordon (Two Rivers High School, Mendota Heights)

  • Mannat Kamal (Woodbury High School)

  • Jacob Marckel (PiM Arts High School, Eden Prairie)

  • Isaac Miller (Saint John’s Preparatory School, Collegeville)

  • Eli Murphy (White Bear Lake Area High School)

  • Emma Nelson (Rosemount High School)

  • Zola Ranum (Minneapolis Washburn High School)

  • Fritz Reding (Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis)

  • Jordan Rivera (Lakeville South High School)

  • Kaitlyn Rudolf (Mankato West High School)

  • Braylon Vollbrecht (Chaska High School)

  • Harry Wallace (The Blake School, Hopkins)

  • Luca Walz (East Ridge High School, Woodbury)

  • Logan Warner (St. Michael-Albertville High School)

  • Taniyah Willsun (Shakopee High School)

Technical Theater Career Pathway

Technical Theater Career Pathway engages graduating senior students with an interest or experience in stage management, audio or lighting. These students interviewed with a panel of theater professionals and six Career Pathway Technicians were selected to work alongside professional mentors in creating Spotlight Showcase.

  • Grant Conley, lighting (Minnetonka High School)

  • Althea Forstner, stage management (Kennedy High School, Bloomington)

  • Hailey Gillies, stage management (St. Francis High School)

  • Keira Gray, sound (Pierz Healy High School)

  • M Lyboualong, lighting (Lakeville South High School)

  • Easton Spehar, sound (Minnetonka High School)

Student Publicist

Student Publicist engages high school students (grades 9–12) with interest or experience in writing, marketing and social media. These students work closely with Spotlight Education staff to create content and promote Spotlight Showcase. Both Student Publicists receive a scholarship that may be used to further their training.

  • Nick Ciarrochi (Tech High School, St. Cloud)

  • Chloe Keller (Woodbury High School)

Spotlight Orchestra

Spotlight Orchestra engages high school student musicians (grades 9–12) with instrumental interest or experience in musical theater. These students participate in mentorship and rehearsals alongside industry professionals and perform in the pit orchestra for Spotlight Showcase at the historic State Theatre. Two Spotlight Orchestra musicians receive a scholarship that may be used to further their training.

  • Lily Ark, violin (Champlin Park High School)

  • Anna Bach, violin (Edina High School)

  • Ella Beske, horn (St. Croix Preparatory Academy, Stillwater)

  • Titus Bobendrier, trumpet (Andover High School)

  • Kylan Hess, oboe/English horn (Champlin Park High School)

  • Isaac Howard, cello (Stillwater Area High School)

  • Amelia Osterhaus, baritone sax/bass clarinet (Mayo High School, Rochester)

  • Kamau Pegg Rodriguez, viola (Minneapolis Washburn High School)

  • Keith Robertson III, horn (St. Michael-Albertville High School)

  • Reese Shopa, flute (Chisago Lakes High School)

  • Evan Smejkal, violin (White Bear Lake Area High School)

  • Tristan Souder, trumpet (St. Michael-Albertville High School)

  • Zurie Tolle, violin (Owatonna High School)